My First Orchestra Book



Last updated Sunday, March 2, 2025

Author: Genevieve Helsby
Illustrator: Karin Eklund
Date of Publication: 2014
ISBN: 1843797704
Grade Level: 3rd    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2025

Synopsis: An original, colorful, and lively approach to learning about music, this book follows the huge success of My First Classical Music Book. Thirty-seven classical music tracks are on the included CD. Every instrument is featured, with clear audio examples.

Note to readers:
•  Meet the most amazing team ever: the orchestra! A little green troll guides children through the orchestra, featuring every instrument, with audio examples and classical works on keyed to the text. Charmingly illustrated, plus a musical quiz. There won’t be enough time to go through the entire book, listen to the musical compositions and do a craft project before the early dismissal. Read pages 1-28 (and only if time permits, pick another instrument family to discuss. Let the club chose which one.) Go over the other instrument families as you begin their craft project for this book. Use your cell phone to pull up some of the musical compositions from the book to play in reference to what you are reading. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cee8KCxvJCk). See if they can hear that particular instrument.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Show the children the cover of the book and see if they can name some of the instruments from the cover. Ask the children, “If they or someone they know plays an instrument.  If so , which one?  How long?  If not, would they like to play an instrument?  Share with them if you yourselves play an instrument.
•  Ask the children have they been to an event (i.e. concert, school recital or may community event where musical instruments were played.  A band, street concert, or mariachi?  See if they can tell you what instruments were played)

Vocabulary
•  music:  n. vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony
•  orchestra: n. a group of musicians who perform instrumental music using mostly stringed instruments
•  composer:  n. a person who writes music
•  opera:  a play in which usually the entire text is sung with orchestral accompaniment
•  conductor: n. the leader of a musical group using holding a wand
•  instrument: n. a device used to produce music
•  instrument families: string, woodwind, brass, and percussion

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  When reading the book, prepare to stop, use your cell phone, to play some of the music that is showcased in the book. This book is on YouTube or see If there is a CD player in the room. You can play some of the music from the actual CD.
•  Ask why do they think the instruments are arranged in a particular family? What do they notice about each instrument family?

Craft ideas:
•  Make a musical instrument out of paper, toilet/paper towel rolls, paper plates. One idea is making toilet paper roll maracas.
•  Supplies needed: Cardboard toilet paper roll, Colored paper, Glue stick, Pencil, Dry pasta, beans or rice (anything that rattles - some schools have pony beads, some have buttons, etc.
•  Step 1: Set the toilet paper roll on the colored paper.
•  Step 2: Carefully use a pencil to draw the dimensions of the roll on paper. It's okay if the paper is longer than the roll—you'll just glue over it.
•  Step 3: Let the child cut out the colored paper along your penciled lines.
•  Step 4: Glue the colored paper on the toilet paper roll.
•  Step 5: Encourage the child to draw and cut out fun shapes, designs, and fringes from other sheets of colored paper.
•  Step 6: Have them glue their decorative pieces on the roll.
•  Step 7: Help the child make "caps" for their homemade maraca out of the colored paper. The caps should be slightly larger than the paper roll openings.
•  Step 8: Put a small amount of glue around one end of the paper roll.
•  Step 9: Place one cap gently over the glued end.
•  Step 10: Let the child add beans, pasta or rice into the paper roll.
•  Step 11: Glue the cap on the other end. Wait for the maraca to dry.
•  Step 12: Give your maraca shake! How does it sound?

Here are a sample picture of the maraca and a paper plate tambourine: https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/march-2025-music-entertainment/grade-3/

Special activities:
•  Try playing My First Orchestra Book playlist on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL__6KsuOBYvpEfftkHty3SFhQbGkwlcqE .

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!