Band Instruments
Band Instruments
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maintenance - accessories - brands - examples
Instrument Rental
Instrument Rental
Rent an instrument until you are sure you like it. Music and Arts gives you the first three months of rental for the price of one so you take your time. Keep renting until you are sure you want to keep playing. Optional theft and damage insurance for your rental will protect you while you are learning to take care of it. You are renting to own so once your total payments equals the price of the instrument it is yours to keep, or you could pay off the instrument early for a discounted price.
Instrument Purchase
Instrument Purchase
If you don't want to make monthly rental payments, want to save money, or want a higher quality model instrument you could consider purchasing an instrument, but make sure to get a good brand. Low quality brand instruments are more difficult to play and break more often. Repairs are expensive, and you won't have damage insurance if you aren't renting. It is usually better to buy a used quality brand instrument than a new cheap generic brand. If you are currently renting, check with the rental store to see if they have any upgrade or purchase discounts. The longer you have been renting the better those discounts could be.
Contact your band director to for advice on instrument brands and prices!
Contact your band director to for advice on instrument brands and prices!
A high quality instrument will be easier to play, sound better, and be more durable.
YAMAHA is a recommended brand for all instrument types because they are consistently well crafted and are a good value, especially if you are purchasing a used student model instrument.
YAMAHA is a recommended brand for all instrument types because they are consistently well crafted and are a good value, especially if you are purchasing a used student model instrument.
Donate your old instrument
Donate your old instrument
People who purchase an intermediate or professional model instrument are sometimes left with an unused student model instrument. If you no longer have a use for your old beginner instrument please consider donating it to the Ashland Public Schools. Your instrument will be used as a loaner instrument for students with instruments out for repair. Also it may be loaned to students who cannot rent or buy an instrument of their own. Upon request you will receive a receipt for tax credit.
Flute
Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening. Because of this, it can sometimes take a while for the beginning flute player to find the correct lip positioning and angle to create a sound. The flute is small and portable and fairly soft in volume, making it perfect for practicing in an apartment or late at night.
RECOMMENDED BRANDS
Yamaha (student model is YFL-221)
Pearl
Powell Sonare
Gemeinhardt
FLUTE ACCESSORIES
Clarinet
The name "Clarinet" is derived from adding the suffix -et (meaning little) to the Italian word clarino (meaning a type of trumpet), as the first clarinets had a tone similar to that of a trumpet. It is highly portable, when disassembled it fits into a case the size of a lunch box. It is has a relatively soft sound and a wide range of pitches.
RECOMMENDED BRANDS
CLARINET REEDS
Ideal reed strength and brand vary from student to student. Here are some general recommendations:
Rico #2.5 (first few months only)
Mitchell Lurie #2.5 (5th grade, beginning middle school)
Vandoren #2.5 (advanced middle school, high school)
MOUTHPIECE & LIGATURE UPGRADES
Advanced middle school and high school students may improve with an upgraded mouthpiece or ligature. Ideal mouthpieces and ligature vary from student to student but here are some of the more popular ones:
CLARINET ACCESSORIES
Alto Saxophone
Saxophones are made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by Adolphe Sax in 1841. The alto saxophone is the second smallest of the four commonly used saxophones. Students will have the option to play the larger tenor and baritone saxophones in middle school and high school.
RECOMMENDED BRANDS
ALTO SAX REEDS
Ideal reed strength and brand vary from student to student. Here are some general recommendations:
Rico #2 (first few months only)
Rico Royal #2.5 (5th grade, beginning middle school)
Vandoren #2.5 or #3 (advanced middle school, high school)
MOUTHPIECE & LIGATURE UPGRADES
Advanced middle school and high school students may improve with an upgraded mouthpiece or ligature. Ideal mouthpieces and ligature vary from student to student but here are some of the more popular ones:
Ligature: Rovner 1RL
Mouthpiece: AL3 OPTIMUM or S-80 C*
ALTO SAXOPHONE ACCESSORIES
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. It can also be the loudest. It has three piston valves.
RECOMMENDED BRANDS
Yamaha (student model is YTR-2335)
Bach
TRUMPET MUTES
Mutes change the sound of the trumpet to create different musical "colors." They can also be used to make the trumpet softer for less disruptive practice! (Denis Wick brand recommended for straight and cup mutes)
straight mute (needed for some AMS and many AHS pieces)
cup mute (needed for some AHS pieces)
practice mute (used at home to prevent noise complaints!)
other mutes include the harmon (wah wah or bubble) mute and the plunger mute (remove stick before use!) The harmon and plunger mute are not used in concert band very often but more commonly called for in jazz bands.
TRUMPET MOUTHPIECE UPGRADES
Middle school students using good technique (especially good air support) may benefit from a larger mouthpiece like a 5C. Strong high school players may move from a 5C to a 3C.
TRUMPET ACCESSORIES
cleaning kit (it is important to clean the instrument at least twice a year, see the cleaning video above)
cleaning kit (it is important to clean the instrument at least twice a year, see the cleaning video above)
French Horn
A brass instrument similar to a trumpet but with a generally softer and darker sound. Many trumpet players are able to play french horn without much effort.
RECOMMENDED BRANDS
FRENCH HORN MOUTHPIECES
Good mouthpieces for the first few years:
Advanced middle school and high school students should try:
FRENCH HORN ACCESSORIES
cleaning kit (it is important to clean the instrument at least twice a year, see the cleaning video above)
cleaning kit (it is important to clean the instrument at least twice a year, see the cleaning video above)
Trombone
A brass instrument with a slide instead of valves to change notes.
RECOMMENDED BRANDS
Yamaha (student model is YSL-354)
Holton
Bach
TROMBONE MOUTHPIECES
Good mouthpiece for the first few years:
Advanced middle school and high school students should try:
TROMBONE ACCESSORIES
cleaning kit (it is important to clean the instrument at least twice a year, see the cleaning video above)
cleaning kit (it is important to clean the instrument at least twice a year, see the cleaning video above)
Baritone Horn
The baritone horn and its very close relative the euphonium are members of the brass instrument family. They have three valves like a trumpet so they are easy to switch to from trumpet.
RECOMMENDED BRANDS
Yamaha (student model euphonium is YEP-201)
Besson
MOUTHPIECES
Student model euphoniums use small shank mouthpieces
Good mouthpieces for the first few years:
Bach 6 1/2 AL or almost identical Yamaha 48
Advanced middle school and high school students should try:
BARITONE/EUPHONIUM ACCESSORIES
cleaning kit (it is important to clean the instrument at least twice a year, see the cleaning video above)
cleaning kit (it is important to clean the instrument at least twice a year, see the cleaning video above)
The percussion family are instruments that are struck to produce their sound. A metronome or practice pad/coach like the Roland RMP-5 helps the percussionist focus on reading and performing rhythms with a good sense of time. Some of the common instruments in the percussion section include: snare drum, bass drum, crash cymbals, suspended cymbals, woodblock, triangle, wind chimes, tamborine, tom drums, rain stick, and the gong. Most Ashland band percussionists will eventually perform all these instruments and more.
Below are additional instruments that middle school and high school students can play after starting with one of the instruments listed above. For many of these there is a school instrument that the student can use. Ask your teacher if you are interested in playing one of them.
Tuba
Tuba
Oboe
Oboe
Tenor Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Bassoon
Bassoon
Piccolo
Piccolo
Mallet Percussion
Mallet Percussion
Timpani
Timpani
Bass Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
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