Common Questions About Band

What is Band?

Band is an interactive class which meets before school for the entire year in which you learn how to read music and how to play an instrument of your choice.  We will perform music at an end of the year performance.  After getting your start in 5th grade, you can continue to be a part of the band for all three years at Dover Middle School, and then continue in high school, college, and beyond!

What instruments can I play in Band?

We have 3 families of instruments to choose from: Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion. 

If you want to play a woodwind instrument, you can choose the Flute, Clarinet, or Alto Saxophone.
If you want to play a brass instrument, you can choose the Trumpet or Trombone. Horn, Baritone and Tuba will come later.
If you want to be a percussionist you will begin playing Bells.

How should I get a Band instrument?

PLEASE, DO NOT WASTE MONEY ON A CHEAP “INSTRUMENT” ONLINE

I am aware that cheap “instruments” are available online through Amazon or eBay, or even major big-box retail stores. These are knock-offs, not real instruments. Please, please do not buy them. Really. They stop working within a year, and they cannot be repaired because the parts are not available to licensed repair technicians.

I have had too many good kids quit band because their instrument breaks, and I would like to avoid this. I understand you may want to save money, but buying a cheap instrument so you have to buy another one later because it broke is not a way to save money, it is a way to waste money. I also understand families may be hesitant to invest money in a real instrument since there is uncertainty if the student child will stick with band. It is my experience that kids do not stick with band  when they're frustrated after their knock-off instrument breaks.

Reputable music stores will have many options to make it very affordable to give your child a high-quality real instrument that will set them up for success. Please consider these options, instead of buying a toy for your child to play in our band.

THE LIST MR. CARRICK WAS TALKING ABOUT...

The following are quality brands that I recommend and that can be serviced by our local professional repair technicians: Armstrong (not Aristocrat), Bach (not Prelude or Aristocrat), Blessing, Bliss, B&S, Conn, Getzen, Gemeinhardt, Haynes, Holton, Jupiter, Kanstul, King, Ludwig, Leblanc, Musser, Pearl, Selmer (not Prelude or Aristocrat), Vito, Yamaha.