New Beginning Band Student Instrument Info

Finding a good match between student and instrument is essential! Since music is all about sound, choosing an instrument based on its tone quality, or sound, is an excellent place to start. Beyond this are physical considerations — factors such as hand size, dental structure, and mouth shape can significantly impact playing success.

Below are the instruments that are available to play in Beginning Band at the start of the year. A few students will switch to saxophone during the year. If you are interested in saxophone you must start on clarinet.

Flute

This is one of the highest-sounding instruments in the band. Very small and can often fit into a student’s backpack! Despite its size, the flute takes as much air to play as the tuba. Students will either have an easy time producing a sound on the flute or a challenging time due to the unique way the instrument is played. It is crucial for your child to have a strong second choice if they wish to play the flute.

Oboe

The oboe is a double reed instrument. This means the player will blow through two tightly joined cane reeds instead of a mouthpiece to produce a brilliant and distinct sound. This is a challenging instrument to play without patience for creating a consistent sound and care with a fragile double reed. Because of this, students wanting to play oboe are strongly encouraged to take private lessons. It does present some initial challenges, but oboe players are highly sought after in bands in high school and college, giving them a higher chance of making honor bands and earning college scholarships.

Bassoon

The bassoon is also a double reed instrument. It is the lowest member of the woodwind family and has a dignified and majestic sound. To successfully play bassoon, a student must have large hands. This is a challenging instrument to play without patience for producing a consistent sound and care with a fragile double reed. Because of this, students wanting to play bassoon are strongly encouraged to take private lessons. It does present some initial challenges, but bassoon players are highly sought after in bands in high school and college, giving them a higher chance of making honor bands and earning college scholarships.

Clarinet

This instrument is also small. Like the flute, it often plays the tune in band music. It is an easy instrument to start on, although, like all instruments, it has its own difficulties later on. It also requires a constantly replenished supply of reeds. We can never have too many clarinets in the band! The clarinet is also an excellent choice if the student decides to switch to bass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, or saxophone.

Alto Saxophone

Similar to the clarinet, the saxophone is a larger and heavier cousin. Rental fees for saxophones are generally higher than clarinets due to the instrument's cost of materials and construction. It also uses reeds, like the clarinet. To successfully play the sax, a student must have large hands. Students wanting to play saxophone will begin on clarinet, then try out for a saxophone spot in December after the first concert. A few taller, large-handed students can play the tenor saxophone.

Trumpet

The trumpet is the highest-sounding brass instrument. The sound is made by the students buzzing their lips in the mouthpiece. Like all brass instruments, the trumpet takes a good deal of air and practice time to produce a quality sound. Trumpets are one of the instruments most needed in jazz bands and can play a variety of other popular music styles.

French Horn

The French Horn, is a warm, mellow instrument that adds great ‘color’ to the band! It can play high and low notes and is known for playing cinematic melodies and fanfares. This is a challenging instrument to play without a good ear for hearing pitch. Because of this, students wanting to play French Horn are strongly encouraged to take private lessons. French Horn players will rent a school instrument to leave home and have another horn to use at school.

Trombone

The trombone is a low brass instrument and is easily carried home for practice! It might be the coolest instrument in the band, being the only one that changes notes using a slide! Trombones are one of the instruments most needed in jazz bands and can play a variety of other popular music styles.

Euphonium

The euphonium is essentially a small tuba, although smaller and lighter than a full-sized tuba. It uses the same mouthpiece as the trombone but uses valves (like trumpet) to change notes. Euphonium players will rent a school instrument to leave at home and have another instrument to use at school.

Tuba

The lowest instrument in the band! It looks like a larger version of the euphonium. It provides the foundation for the whole band sound, which might also make it the coolest! It does require a large amount of air, but tuba players are highly sought after in bands in high school and college, giving tuba players a higher chance of making honor bands and earning college scholarships. Tuba players will rent a school instrument to leave at home, and have another tuba to use at school.

Percussion

The majority of our instruction with percussionists is with the keyboard percussion instruments (xylophone, marimba, etc.) and snare drum. Percussionists will need to rent a “Percussion Combo Kit” for home that includes a small metal keyboard percussion instrument called a “bell set” and a snare drum. Percussion students are responsible for maintaining lots of delicate and expensive equipment, mastering a variety of orchestral percussion, and curating a variety of sticks and mallets. Drum set is not typically taught to percussionists until after 6th grade.

FAQ

Q. Does my child need any previous musical training or experience to be successful in band?

Not at all! Although prior experience helps, Beginning Band is a course designed to teach all 6th grade students not only how to play their instrument, but read and write music as well.

Q. We already have an instrument at home, can my child play that?

Provided it is a quality instrument, of course! Sometimes an older instrument will need to be brought into a music store to return it to proper playing condition, but if well kept, musical instruments can be played for decades. However, please check with Mr. Windham about the model and condition of the instrument you have at home before counting on your child playing it in band!

Q. We could not make the Instrument Test Drive Nights, what should we do?

For students who already have prior experience on a band instrument, or a family that has already committed to a band instrument based on home availability, an instrument testing experience is not necessary! Families should inform Mr. Windham of this prior to summer.

Students who were not able to attend the test drive nights can schedule another time with Mr. Windham for instrument testing prior to May 24th. Students who have not completed testing in the spring will be assigned an instrument based on class need and instrument availability.

Q. Should I buy or rent an instrument?

Renting offers a low risk alternative to buying; month to month agreement, built in maintenance programs, and easy exchange policies. A rented instrument can take the dents and dings of a beginner band student before upgrading to a more expensive instrument. Buying can be less expensive in the long run if the student stays in band and won’t want a performance instrument eventually.

You can buy good instruments on the internet, but it’s important to know if the brand is actually one that your local music store can service. If you are looking to purchase an instrument online, deals that seem too good to be true usually are, unfortunately. In many cases, repair shops are unable to get parts, the instruments are easily broken, and the tone quality is poor due to low quality materials and construction, which can be very frustrating to a young musician.

Q. Are there school instruments available to rent?

Yes, we have a limited supply of school instruments to rent. The cost is $100 for the year, charged in IC to a family’s PayForIt account. They are available on a first come, first serve basis to student who need them in class. We have enough of the larger instruments most music stores do not rent (tuba, bassoon, euphonium, French horn) for band students to rent one to leave at home, and one to have at school.

Q. When do we need instruments?

We will begin basic instrument instruction at our Beginning Band Start Up Camp July 29th - August 2nd. Participation in this camp is highly encouraged! Students unable to attend will get caught up in the first week of class (starting August 12).

Instruction will begin slowly, with students first learning in class how to put their instruments together correctly, hold them properly, make first sounds with just the mouthpieces of the instruments, clean and maintain them all before learning their first notes. Instruments will remain at school in assigned band room lockers until after these skills have been mastered.

Q. Will my child need anything else for band?

A full list of supplies is found in the music department handbook, but they will need other maintenance and cleaning supplies and the book we will use in class “Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician.” All items are included in a rental from on of our local music retailers.

Q. Should my child take private music lessons outside of band, even if we’re only beginning on an instrument?

While it is by no means required, private lessons are great for students of all ability levels! In private lessons, students work one-on-one with their instructor which helps them advance at a faster rate and with more comprehension. A private instructor can notice and correct minor technique issues and bad habits before they become a problem and become harder to correct. Students will get help with developing a more professional tone on the instrument, and this individual attention increases the likelihood of future success on that instrument.

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