- Origins of Music
  - Prehistoric ancestors made music with natural objects
    - Horns, leaves, bones, and shells
  - First musical sounds
    - Whistle from blowing on grass
    - Plucking string of a bow
    - Rhythmic slapping
- Orchestra Instruments
  - Origin of the word "orchestra"
    - Greek origin, referring to area in front of stage
  - Four instrument families
    - Woodwind family
      - Includes piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon
      - Played using breath
    - Brass family
      - Includes trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba
    - String family
      - Includes violin, viola, cello, double bass
      - Larger instruments produce lower sounds
    - Percussion family
      - Includes timpani, snare drum, bass drum, xylophone, cymbal, triangle, tambourine, whip, gong
      - Instruments played by hitting
- Musical Themes and Composers
  - Benjamin Britten's composition based on Purcell’s theme
    - Instruments play together then in family groups
  - Characteristics of instruments
    - Similar appearance within families
    - Produce similar sounds in similar ways
- Student Introductions and Instruments
  - Gu Chou Rong
    - Flute major student
    - Flute part of woodwind family
  - Jin Hui
    - Violin major from Heilongjiang province
    - Studied under professor Li Qingxiao
  - Mao Wei
    - Born into a musical family
    - Plays violin in orchestra and chamber music
    - Participating in string quartet
- Comparisons and Recap
  - Music as universal language
    - Transcends cultural boundaries
  - Comparison between Chinese traditional and Western instruments
  - Recap of lecture points
    - Music origins from prehistoric sounds
    - Evolution into modern orchestral families
    - Reinforcement of terms through practice