Instruments & Supplies

Supplies for middle school orchestra must be purchased or rented by the student.  Below is a list of the required supplies for orchestra class.  Please refer to the instrument dealers on the next page to obtain these items.  Contact me if you have any questions or concerns. 

Binders, a luggage tag, and a t-shirt will be given to all orchestra students for a $30 fee. Checks are preferred and can be made out to the School District of Clayton.  Please put your student’s name in the memo.

Supplies and fees are due by Thursday, August 31st.  If you need any help getting these supplies please let me know.

Required Supplies:

              · Instrument and bow (all students must have an instrument to practice on at home)

· Rosin

· Pencils 

· Shoulder Rest for violins and violas***

· Rock Stop for cellos and basses – please bring to concerts!!

· Cleaning cloth-soft, lint-free (an old piece of t-shirt works well)

Students will use a classroom set of method books. If you'd like to purchase one for at-home use, I'm happy to let you know which one/where to find it! 

Instrument accessories should be available at most local music shops but can also be purchased online at midwsetsheetmusic.com (local!), sharmusic.com or on amazon.com. 

*** All violin and viola players are required to have a shoulder rest in lieu of a sponge in middle school for your instrument.  It is the most important factor in correct instrument posture for violin and viola players.  These can be purchased at your local area music stores.  Quality brands include Wolf, Kun, and Everest.  Please let me know if you need any help acquiring a shoulder rest for your student***

I recommend that students rent an instrument during middle school.  Students may change sizes more than once and may want an upgraded instrument in high school.  If you choose to purchase an instrument, look for a vendor who has a program in which students may trade-in their purchase for a different size or an upgrade in the future.  Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

PLEASE THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU PURCHASE AN INSTRUMENT ONLINE.  It is best to try out an instrument before it is purchased since it will be a long term commitment!  String instruments are rarely sold as bargains, so if it sounds like it is too good to be true, it probably is.  An instrument that looks good in a picture may actually need hundreds of dollars of repair work, be unplayable, or may be the wrong size for you.

-You must bring your child with you to the music store to rent the instrument.  The staff there will size your child so that they have the correct instrument for their height and arm length.  If there are any problems in sizing I will let you know during the first two weeks of school. An incorrect instrument size can be the difference between success and frustration for string players.

-Purchase the insurance-especially cello and bass players!  Accidents happen and can be very costly!

-All instruments should include:  rosin, bow, and four fine tuners (none on bass).

-You must purchase a shoulder rest (violins and violas) or rock stop (cellos and basses) if not provided with your rental.