Final answer:
The Bear Dance musicians primarily play stringed instruments like the fiddle, banjo, and guitar which are portable and can be modified for louder sound projection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bear Dance musicians traditionally play instruments that are conducive to outdoor community events where the dance originated. These instruments needed to be loud enough to be heard without amplification and portable. While drums might seem like a good fit due to their volume, they are too large and cumbersome for the mobile nature of these gatherings. Therefore, the instruments more commonly associated with the Bear Dance include the fiddle (which is effectively a violin), the banjo, and the guitar. Each of these instruments has been adapted over time to project sound effectively in an open-air setting, such as the resonator in banjos to make them louder, and the percussive playing of the quiet mandolin to increase volume.