Grades 2–4
How Instruments Make Sound
Every sound starts with something that vibrates. Match each family to how it makes sound, then answer the questions.
Music theory worksheet · Instrument families
Instrument Families Sort
Write each instrument from the word bank under its family: strings, woodwinds, brass or percussion.
- Grade level
- Grades 1–3
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Topic
- Instrument families
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Naming the four instrument families, Sorting instruments into families, Explaining how each family makes sound, Describing an instrument
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Write four instruments in each family.
- Surprise: the saxophone is made of metal, but it is a woodwind because you blow past a thin wooden reed to play it.
Words on this sheet
trumpetharpviolinflutesnare drumoboecelloguitartubaFrench horncymbalsStringsBrass
Teacher tip
Before sorting, ask one question about each instrument: do you bow or pluck it, blow it, buzz your lips into it, or hit it?
How to use it
- Bring in any real instrument you can and let kids see how it works.
- Sort picture cards as a class before kids sort on paper.
- Read the reminder box at the top of the sheet together, then do the first item as a class.
Watch for
Thinking the piano is only a string instrument. Hammers hit its strings, so many people call it percussion too.
Talk about it
- Which family would you like to play in?
- What does this symbol tell a musician to do?
Take it further
Make a shoebox guitar or a straw oboe and talk about its family.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More instrument families worksheets
Grades K–5
Invent an Instrument
Draw a brand new instrument. Then tell how you play it, what family it is in and how it sounds.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.