How do I choose and get an instrument?

Spring/Summer 2025: 

Rising 7th graders: Plan to attend Open House. Use the paper sign up sheet for instrument selection will be at the band room so you can write down your name beside the instrument you want to play. 

Not able to make it to the in person meet and greet? Please send Mrs. Webb an email at crystal_webb@catawbaschools.net. 

Choose an instrument that you like and would enjoy learning! That is most important. Watch these videos to hear what each instrument sounds like. 

If you select flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone you may go ahead with purchasing an instrument and a book (Tradition of Excellence, Book 1 for 7th graders) for class next year. Baritone and Tuba instruments are automatically provided by the school. 

There are only 5 spots open for alto saxophone and that is determined by first to sign up. As long as you sign up on the sheet within the first 5 spots, you can move forward with purchasing/getting a saxophone and that will be what you play in band. 

If you select percussion, please note that will be determined by an in person audition process happening during the first week of school. Please chose a backup instrument choice just in case. There are only 8 spots for percussion. Please note percussionists are responsible for learning all percussion instruments, not just snare drum. Students will learn to play mallet instruments (bells, xylophone, marimba), bass drum, cymbals, snare drum, and auxiliary instruments (triangle, maracas, sleigh bells, claves, tambourine, etc.). 

Where should I look to purchase or rent an instrument for my child?

If you and/or your family cannot afford an instrument, please let Mrs. Webb know by emailing at crystal_webb@catawbaschools.net If at all possible, please try to purchase your own instrument, as the school only has a limited amount of instruments to loan to students in need. The school automatically provides baritones and tubas. We also provide large percussion (drums, marimba, cymbals, timpani). 

If you need a school owned instrument, a contract and a small, one time fee will be required at the beginning of the school year. You will still need to purchase a band book and materials required for the instrument (like reeds for the clarinet, sticks for percussion, oil for trumpet, etc.).