Bobby is learning a lot from his new mentor, Strauss the Conductor, but he still has more to learn before he can become a member of the orchestra. Through the antics of these two engaging puppet characters, this program introduces the percussion section of the orchestra, examining the history and development of ancient membranophones and idiophones to modern day orchestral percussion instruments. Viewers see these instruments in action, and explore a range of playing techniques and timbres.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on February 10, 2013. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Preparing for the Concert (0:57) -- Percussion Instruments: History and Development (2:37) -- Indefinite Pitch and Definite Pitch Instruments of the Percussion Family (1:36) -- Percussion Tools (1:42) -- Indefinite Pitch: Non-Tuned Instruments (3:29) -- Definite Pitch: Tuned Instruments of the Orchestra (1:25) -- More Definite Pitch Instruments (1:49) -- Percussion Techniques (2:59) -- Orchestral Diversification of the 21st Century (2:12) -- Really Important Concert (1:24) -- Credits: Percussion and Orchestral Diversity--The Orchestra (0:48).