Beginning Band students can choose from the following instruments to start on at Foxview...
Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, and Percussion**
Below are examples of instruments beginners can choose from.
More information is listed in the frequently asked questions section below.
FLUTE
A flute can be described as a woodwind instrument, generally of a tubular shape, that is played by blowing across a specially-shaped opening (known as the embouchure) in such a way as to produce a vibrating column of air whose pulsations we hear as sound.
CLARINET
The clarinet is a woodwind instrument played with a single reed placed on a the lower lip, teeth on the top of the mouthpiece, and blowing a straight column of air. Clarinets come in many different sizes, with different pitch ranges. Beginners usually begin on the Bb Clarinet(soprano).
TRUMPET
A trumpet is a brass wind instrument noted for its powerful tone sounded by lip vibration against its cup-shaped mouthpiece. A trumpet consists of a cylindrical tube, shaped in a primary oblong loop that flares into a bell and uses three piston valves as well.
TROMBONE
The trombone is a large brass instrument with tubing that has been split into three distinct sections. The tubing begins narrow at the mouthpiece and ends in a open bell that extends over the players left shoulder. The trombonists then slide the tubing with their hand to adjust the pitch. When the tube is moved out into a longer position the air travels further creating a lower pitch.
PERCUSSION
Percussion instruments produce sound when struck by hand or with an object. Often considered the heartbeat of music, percussion provides rhythm, keeps time, and can produce a variety of tones, pitches, and melodic sounds. Percussion is found in almost all types and genres of music, usually playing a fundamental role.
** QUESTION... What if my child hasn't had music lessons and wants to play in the percussion section?
If a student wants to play drums in our district they will start by developing their percussion skills first on the bells/mallets. Next they will learn snare drum and bass drum, and then timpani, auxiliary equipment, cymbals, chimes, and much more throughout the school year. Because beginners in the percussion section will be learning 4 to 9 instruments their first year, students must audition to be in the percussion section by showing they have piano skills, and or show they have music theory and note reading skills to keep up with the learning pace. A student with at least two years of lessons on piano will play a prepared song on piano for the auditions. If a Band student can successfully complete a semester's worth of time on a wind instrument, and show they have learned the music theory and note reading skills, they can switch to percussion is so desired. Feel free to email me to discuss this further!
QUESTION... What if my child picked an instrument they don't like?
If your Band student realizes they made the wrong instrument choice, and he or she has discussed it with the Band director and you at home, switching instruments is no problem. If you are renting, you can exchange an instrument easily through the music store without delaying the learning for to long.
QUESTION... Can my child start on saxophone?
At Foxview students usually start on clarinet first and then move to saxophone in our district. Students must first complete and pass a number of required exercises on clarinet, and then they can try out the saxophone with their director and then switch to saxophone. There are many reasons for this procedure being in place, such as weight of the saxophone, muscle develops faster on clarinet, fingerings are similar, etc....and our saxophone students are highly successful at an early age because of the process we use.
QUESTION... When do other instruments become options?
Over the course of a student's musically development, interest in what a Band student play in Band may change due a great many factors. If a Band student is successful and is showing good progress on their current instrument choice there will be options for them to try other instruments sooner than later. Sometimes a band director will say "hey, want to try this instrument," because the director sees potential to switch to another instrument, or, as the year goes by, students learn about the other instrument options and their interest is peaked, they can then ask to try one out. Students sometimes switch to Oboe, Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, French Horn, Baritone/Euphonium, or Tuba. If a student is interested they should ask their director about more information.
QUESTION... Should I just let my child pick an instrument?
It seems to work best if we can sit down with the students to first discuss instrument choices with them before making a choice. It really helps the beginning Band student decide what they want, and helps the minimization of switching instruments within the population of 280 Band students at Foxview. Our goal is to help your child, and all of the Band students, find the right fit that gets them excited to learn, and minimize the frustration because they thought they knew what they wanted to play, or their muscles disagreed with their instrument choice.