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Flute
Flute
The flute is a member of the woodwind family and makes the highest sound in the band. Because of the physical demands of playing in the upper register, this instrument requires a specific lip shape. It is necessary to create an extremely small aperture to play high notes on the flute. Thinner lips that are even with a flat top lip are fantastic for playing the flute and are rewarded with gorgeous sounds!
Clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a member of the woodwind family and uses a single reed and mouthpiece to produce a beautiful sound. This is a very versatile instrument. It can play very high and very low. It has the largest range (the most number of notes) of all the instruments in the band! This is normally a large group of kids in the band with multiple parts so if you like playing solos there is a great part for you and if you like playing in a group there is a fabulous part for you too!
Physical Characteristics: The clarinet mouthpiece is held with your lips kind-of like holding a soda-straw in your mouth. Full lips are great. Curvy lips are great. Long fingers are a plus. Lots of lip-styles and faces are well suited for the clarinet!
Alto Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
The Alto Saxophone is a member of the woodwind family and uses a single reed and mouthpiece (similar to the clarinet) to produce the tone. The alto saxophone plays the “middle tones” in the band, not low or high. Rather than playing the melody in the band (like clarinet or flute) it more often plays the harmony or accompaniment. This is one of the smaller instrument groups in the band and therefore has a limited enrollment.
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. Saxophones are surprisingly heavy. Long fingers are important to reach the pinky keys. Saxophone enjoys a “cushy” bottom lip, a “puckery” rather than “smiley” lip shape and a slightly pronounced overbite.
Trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the highest sounding instrument in the brass family. Sound is produced on the trumpet by blowing through a small mouthpiece. The trumpet often has the melody, so the band relies on trumpet players to get the job done! Natural-born leaders are a good choice for this instrument.
Physical Characteristics: There is nothing more fun than playing the trumpet if you are physically well suited for it! Unfortunately, because of the small size of the mouthpiece, very full or curvy lips or a top lip with a teardrop shape usually do not work as well. Not-so-large or thin lips that are even with a flat top lip are the very best for trumpet and are rewarded with gorgeous trumpet sounds!
Trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a member of the brass family. Blowing into a large mouthpiece produces sound on the trombone; therefore, it is a low brass instrument, producing deep, rich and often extremely powerful tones. The trombone is unique in that rather than valves like the other brass instruments, the trombone changes notes by using a slide. Trombone players rely on their memory and listening skills to hear if they are “in tune,” with the slide in the perfect position (the slide is not marked or notched). Therefore, students with outstanding “musical ears” thrive on the trombone!
Physical Characteristics: Trombone players come in all shapes and sizes. Students should have a willingness to play “loud” at times! The instrument looks large but it is not heavy. The large trombone mouthpiece happily accommodates most lip shapes!
Hear what the Trombone sounds like HERE! (my dog's name is Princess Peach...)
Percussion
Percussion
In addition to drums (snare, bass, timpani), percussion includes the keyboard instruments (bells, xylophone, marimba) cymbals and accessory instruments (triangle, tambourine, maracas, etc.).
The percussion section provides the fundamental pulse (heartbeat) of the band. For this reason, percussionists are very carefully selected following a percussion “rhythm and coordination” evaluation. Percussionists are often the only person playing a specific instrument in a piece of music. Therefore, a confident, outgoing personality is perfect for a percussionist!
Physical Characteristics: Potential percussionists must exhibit a great deal of coordination and control in gross and fine motor skills. A strong feeling of time (pulse) and the ability to coordinate rhythm and pulse is critical.
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