Required Materials

Materials for All Students

Metronomes & Tuners

Everyone MUST have access to a metronome and tuner. You are required to own one, or have access to one, and use it regularly during practice. There are online tools and smartphone apps that are free to use.


Recording Devices

All band members must have a recording device for tape tests. Most students either use an app on their phone or an app such as Twisted Wave or Sound Corset on their Chromebook. If students do not have access to these resources, they can use the Band Department iPad during lunch or study hall.

Woodwinds

Flute:

  • Cleaning Rod

  • Soft Cloth


Oboe & Bassoon:

  • 3 good WOODEN reeds

    • Recommended: Please see the directors to order handmade reeds)

  • Reed soaker cup

  • Cork Grease

  • Cleaning Swab


Clarinet & Saxophone:

  • 3 good WOODEN reeds (see below for more about reeds)

  • Reed Case

  • Cork Grease

  • Cleaning Swab (silk preferred)

  • Neck Strap (sax only)


Single Reeds:

You must have at least 5 working reeds at all times, so just buy a big box now (and plan on buying one again later in the year!). High school players should have a minimum strength of 3—we do NOT want to see any 2½’s. Use your reed guard to ROTATE your reeds—they will sound better and last longer. As soon as a reed is at all chipped or cracked, it’s time to throw it away. Brands to consider include Vandoren, Vandoren V12, and Rico Reserve. Orange box Rico reeds are NOT allowed!

Brass

Trumpet, Horn, Euphonium, & Tuba:

  • Valve Oil*

  • Tuning Slide Grease

  • Mouthpiece Brush

  • Straight Mute (trumpets only)

*There are two types of valve oil: Regular and Rotor oil. Trumpets, euphoniums, and most tubas have piston valves that can use regular valve oil. Horns and some tubas have rotory valves and should use rotor oil.


Trombone

  • Slide cream and spray water bottle (Slide oil is NOT recommended!)

  • Mouthpiece Brush

  • Tuning Slide Grease

  • Straight mute

Percussion

All Percussionists:

  • A stick bag with a name tag

  • 1 pair of hard rubber/cord mallets (such as Balter Basic BB8)

  • 1 pair of hard yarn mallets (such as Balter Basic BB1)

  • 2 pair of WOODEN snare sticks, one must be a concert pair (Vic Firth SD1 for example) that is not used for drum set and has wooden tips.

  • 1 pair of timpani mallets (staccato preferred but general are okay)

  • A chromatic pitch pipe (circular with all 12 pitches)

If you "used to" have these items, you'll need to buy them again! You MUST label your sticks and mallets since most students end up with similar equipment. Every year many sticks are lost or “borrowed” by other students.