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6th Grade Band Sign-Up &
Instrument Selection Guide
Instrument Selection Guide
We believe that every student can be successful on ANY instrument. You may find the physical characteristics and considerations helpful, but the most important factor is that you love the sound of the instrument you play!
Tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest sounding instrument in the brass family. All brass instruments make a sound by "buzzing" into a cup shaped mouthpiece. While many believe the tuba is the largest instrument in the band and would be hard to physically manage, the tubas we use for beginners are ¾ size and easy to handle. Tuba players get a school-owned instrument to use at school and another one to keep at home.
We begin study of tuba in 6th grade when students arrive to Beaumont.
Physical Characteristics: Tuba players need to have full lips and a large lung capacity.
Other Considerations: The tuba provides the musical foundation for the band and requires players that are self-motivated over-achievers.
6% of students will be selected for TUBA
Euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium (you-PHONE-knee-yum) is sometimes known as the baritone. It is a member of the brass family and looks like a small version of a tuba. Its sound is similar to that of a trombone, but it uses valves like a trumpet instead of a slide (like trombone). Euphonium players get a school-owned instrument to use at school and another one to keep at home.
Some students will begin studying euphonium in 5th grade but most begin in the 6th grade.
Physical Characteristics: Euphonium players should have moderately full lips, and a slight overbite is okay.
Other Considerations: Students with an above average amount of orthodontia will find the mouthpiece of the euphonium more comfortable than trumpet or French horn.
10% of students will be selected for EUPHONIUM
Trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a brass instrument. Trombone players should have good “musical ears”. The trombone is played like the other brass instruments (buzzing into a cup-shaped mouthpiece), but uses a slide instead of valves. The slide is not marked or notched and players rely on their memory and hearing to tell if they are in the EXACT proper location. Students with good musical ears should consider Trombone.
This is 1 of 5 instruments that we start in our 5th grade feeder elementary schools!
Physical Characteristics: While some might think that trombone players must have long arms, the truth is there are numerous accommodations that make it possible for students of all shapes and sizes to play. A slight overbite is okay. Trombone players should have moderately full lips.
Other Considerations: Great trombone playing takes good concentration and study.
12% of students will be selected for TROMBONE
French Horn
French Horn
The French horn is the also a member of the brass family. Students with good musical ears should consider French Horn.
Students can begin studying french horn at the beginning of their 6th grade year.
French Horn players get a school-owned instrument to use at school and another one to keep at home.
Physical Characteristics: A slight overbite is okay, but an underbite can severely hinder progress on French Horn. The French horn’s keys are manipulated with the LEFT hand.
Other Considerations: Because of the difficult nature of French horn notes (mentioned above), students should exhibit GREAT ability to match sung or played pitches by humming or singing. Perhaps this is a good instrument choice for students who have participated in piano lessons or choir groups.
10% of students will be selected for FRENCH HORN
Trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the smallest member of the brass family.
This is 1 of 5 instruments that we start in our 5th grade feeder elementary schools!
Physical Characteristics: While orthodontia is somewhat troublesome at first to a trumpet player, it is not impossible to make good sounds with braces. Trumpet players come in all shapes and sizes.
Other Considerations: Trumpet parts usually have the melody (recognizable) part, therefore students who choose and are selected for trumpet should exhibit a confident demeanor, strong personality, and demonstrate a high level of self-motivation.
12% of students will be selected for TRUMPET
Flute
Flute
The flute is the smallest of the beginner instruments. It is a very popular selection each year, but only a small portion of those wishing to play flute will be selected.
This is 1 of 5 instruments that we start in our 5th grade feeder elementary schools!
Physical Characteristics: Flute tones are produced by being able to focus an extremely small airstream to an exact location on the tone hole. The tear-drop-shaped lip will make it difficult to direct the air so precisely. Flute players should also have agile fingers for moving this multi-keyed instrument through a fast musical passage.
Other Considerations: Students with double-jointed fingers (other than thumb) should avoid selecting flute as double-jointedness can cause lack of agility in the fingers.
10% of students will be selected for FLUTE.
Oboe
Oboe
The oboe is similar in its appearance to a clarinet, but it is played using a “double reed” instead of a single reed and mouthpiece. Selection of oboe players is EXTREMELY limited. VERY few will actually be selected for oboe.
At Beaumont, we do not start the oboe until students get to 6th grade! Students will start on a different instrument in 5th grade and be able to switch to oboe after showing a high level of proficiency.
Physical Characteristics: Students with profound overbites or underbites would have EXTREME difficulties producing good sounds on the oboe since the embouchure (mouth position) requires equal pressure on both sides of the reed at the same placement.
Other Considerations: Because the oboe is such a difficult instrument to master, only students with high academic performance records will be considered. Students who choose (and are selected) to play oboe are to take weekly private lessons with an applied lesson teacher. Private lessons cost roughly $20.00 per week and. Students are required to maintain a supply of 3-4 high-quality reeds at ALL times. Students with a history of disciplinary trouble will NOT be considered for oboe.
1-2 students selected for OBOE.
Clarinet
Clarinet
Unlike the oboe, the clarinet uses a “single reed” and a mouthpiece to produce the sound. Willingness to purchase or rent a director-recommended clarinet is a MUST! Unfortunately, there are some clarinets on the market whose poor design and craftsmanship will make it next to impossible for your student to succeed. We can help you avoid that pitfall.
This is 1 of 5 instruments that we start in our 5th grade feeder elementary schools!
Physical Characteristics: One necessity of clarinet tone production is the ability to make the chin flat. Orthodontia is okay, but if a student has an extremely rounded bottom row of teeth, the mouthpiece will be hard to place in the proper position for tone production.
Other Considerations: Instruction in clarinet can be meticulous. Students who are able to focus on and perform a detailed series of instructions could do well on clarinet. Clarinet players are also responsible for maintaining a working stock of 4-6 quality reeds. Clarinet students will have the opportunity to audition for Bass Clarinet later in the year.
20% of students will be selected for CLARINET
1-2 students selected for BASS CLARINET
Bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is to the oboe what the bass clarinet is to the clarinet. It is the larger, lower sounding version of the double reed instrument. However, bassoon students will not play oboe before switching, instead they will begin on the bassoon itself. VERY few students will be selected to play Bassoon.
At Beaumont, we start the Bassoon on 6th grade. Students wishing to play this will start a different instrument in 5th grade and be switched after showing a high proficiency level on their 5th grade instrument.
Physical Characteristics: A slight overbite is okay for students wishing to play bassoon, however, a student with an underbite should avoid bassoon. Agile thumbs is a necessity for playing bassoon proficiently as well as a medium or greater hand span.
Other Considerations: Like the oboe, the bassoon is such a difficult instrument to master, only students with high academic performance records will be considered. Students who choose (and are selected) to play bassoon are REQUIRED to take weekly private lessons with an applied lesson teacher. Private lessons cost $20.00 per week and scholarships are available based on financial need and demonstration of diligent work ethic. Students are required to maintain a supply of 3-4 high-quality reeds at ALL times.
This instrument is generally rented from the school.
1-2 students will be selected for BASSOON
Saxophone
Saxophone
The alto saxophone gives the impression of being both a brass AND woodwind instrument, however it is indeed considered a woodwind instrument. The alto saxophone (which uses a single reed like the clarinet) is a very popular instrument like flute and only a few students will be chosen to play it.
This is 1 of 5 instruments that we start in our 5th grade feeder elementary schools!
Physical Characteristics: Since the balance of the saxophone is maintained by the use of a neck strap, it is extremely important that students be able to sit up completely straight when asked to.
Other Considerations: Saxophone players are responsible for maintaining a working stock of 4-6 quality reeds. Alto Saxophone students will have the opportunity after their first year of instruction to audition for Tenor Sax or Baritone Sax (based on their proven musical and behavioral abilities while in alto saxophone class).
8% of students will be selected for SAXOPHONE
Percussion
Percussion
Just because you are always tapping on things does not mean you are a natural percussionist (drummer). In fact, the percussion section must be the most select, hand-picked section of the band. Only students with the highest grades, lowest discipline problems, preferred backgrounds in piano lessons, and extremely high gross and fine motor skills will be considered for percussion.
We begin study of percussion in the 6th grade when students arrive to Beaumont.
Percussionists MUST rent a bell kit for at home practice.
Percussionists MUST be able to stand during an entire class period, as well as have exhibited the ability to be able to be left alone without causing constant disruptions. Students will be asked to audition to demonstrate coordination and ability to keep a steady pulse to be considered for the percussion section.
Physical Characteristics: Students should exhibit a great deal of coordination in gross and fine motor skills.
Other Considerations: The study of percussion includes bells, triangle, tambourine, maracas, claves, among many other instruments.
ONLY 5-7 students will be selected for PERCUSSION
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