The flute plays the highest notes in the woodwind family and is the only one played by blowing across a hole. The earliest flutes were hollow bones used by cavemen. Today's flute is made of silver alloy. The best flute players have a rather flat upper lip with no "tear drop" in the center.

The oboe is a double reed instrument. This means that the player will blow through two tightly joined cane reeds instead of a mouthpiece to produce a brilliant and distinct sound. The oboe is a very unique instrument, and only a few students will be chosen to play it. Good oboe players are hardworking and usually independent with good grades. Good oboists are highly sought after by universities and colleges, often receiving substantial scholarships. We encourage private lessons in addition to daily practice for a beginning oboist.

(Oboes will be rented through the school.)

The bassoon is also a double reed instrument. It is the lowest member of the woodwind family and has a very dignified and majestic sound. The bassoon is a highly specialized instrument in the band, and only a select few students will be chosen to play it. Good bassoon players are usually curious and often enjoy puzzles and mind-bending games. Exceptionally small hands can be problematic for the bassoon. Good bassoonists are highly sought after by universities and colleges, often receiving substantial scholarships. We encourage private lessons in addition to daily practice for a beginning bassoonist.

(Bassoons will be rented through the school.)

The clarinet has a single, flat piece of wood (reed) attached to a hollow mouthpiece. The instrument itself is made of wood. It has a remarkable range from low to high sounds and from loud to soft. It can be a good choice for students who did well with the recorder in elementary music.

A relatively recent invention (1840) compared to the other instruments, the saxophone combines the single reed of the clarinet and the metal body of the brass instruments. Its mellow sounds blend well with both woodwinds or brasses. In the beginner year, we teach students to play the alto saxophone. Students then have the opportunity to play the tenor or baritone saxophones in their second year and beyond.

The trumpet, with its high-pitched brilliant tone, is the leader of the brass family. A trumpet player can produce all the notes of the scale by pressing the valves and changing the lip vibration speed. The best trumpet players tend to have smaller sized lips, but this is not a rule. 

The French horn is made from 12-16 feet of brass tubing circled around and around. The tone is very mellow. In addition to using the lips and valves to change the pitch, the player places a hand in the bell to help make the appropriate tone. Good horn players can match pitches well with their voices and usually have a good academic record. Piano experience is helpful. 

(French horns will be rented through the school.)

The trombone sounds very brassy like the trumpet, but it makes a lower sound and is a part of the low brass family. The player changes pitches by sliding one tube in and out of the other, rather than by pressing valves. Because of its slide, the trombone is the only brass instrument that can perform smooth, gliding changes between notes, called "glissandos."

Like a mini-tuba, the euphonium (also called a baritone) plays the same notes as the trombone, but has a rounder, more mellow sound. Due to its valves, it can play faster passages of music with more smoothness and ease. 

(Euphoniums will be rented through the school.)

The tuba is the largest and the lowest of the band instruments. Its bass voice gives the deep, low tones that are the foundation of the band. When unwound, a tuba is 16 feet long. Students do not hold the tuba up while playing; it sits on the seat of the chair. We use 3/4-size tubas at first, and then our student graduate to full-size tubas when ready. Petite girls and boys are just as capable of playing the tuba as anyone else. A second tuba will be given to tuba students to keep at home for practice.

(Tubas will be rented through the school.)

The percussion section of the band keeps the beat, builds excitement, and adds color to the band. We teach two primary instruments to our beginner percussionists - snare drum and large keyboards. Percussionist will also learn to play other instruments like timpani, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, chimes, gong, and many auxiliary instruments. Percussionists do not learn how to play drum set in band. After their beginner year, percussionists do have the opportunity to play on drumline (marching) instruments.

Many of our instruments (oboe, bassoon, French horn, euphonium and tuba) are school-owned and will be rented through the school at $80 for the school year. Other smaller, less expensive instruments (flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, trombone, and percussion) can be rented from a local music store through a rent-to-own program with a monthly rental fee. We are committed to working with all families to make band affordable them! If you have any concerns, please email Mrs. Aicher at danielle.aicher@comalisd.org to discuss options.

In the beginner year, there are 3-4 performances and 2-3 after-school rehearsals total. Everything else is taught during the school day during your student's band class! We also offer several optional social events throughout the school year. Other than that, we ask families to help their students develop a regular practice routine at home.

No! We will teach you everything you need to know. Your elementary music teachers have already established a firm foundation of music education. We will build on that knowledge as you learn to play an instrument.

Students will be in "like-instrument" classes for Beginning Band (i.e. Trumpet class with only trumpets) so they can first learn HOW to play that instrument. Then, in 7th and 8th grade, they will be in one of our Advanced Band class with all of the instruments playing together every day! 

YES! We have band students in every thinkable activity (especially athletics in 7th and 8th grade.) We regularly communicate with all coaches and sponsors.

These instruments are not taught formally in our program. However, students who already know how to play them have the opportunity to play these instruments in Jazz Band in 7th and 8th grade.