The Ulrich Beginner Band is made of students who are new to band. Beginner Band students will get to participate in the Winter Concert, Spring Concert and perform at the Klein ISD Music Festival. Beginner Band students also get to participate in all of the Ulrich Band’s social events. Below are the instruments students will get to try when they sign up to become part of the Ulrich Band.

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.

Physical Characteristics: Flute players should have a slight "frown" to the upper lip with NO tear drop shape in the middle of the top lip. 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 precisely. Flute players should also have agile fingers for moving this multi-keyed instrument through a fast musical passage. Students with extreme overbites should avoid choosing flute as this make it difficult to produce quality sounds.

Other Considerations: Students with double-jointed fingers should avoid selecting flute as double-jointedness can cause lack of agility in the fingers.

10% of students will be selected to play FLUTE

FLUTE PERSONALITY: Conscientious

Oboe

The oboe is similar in appearance to a clarinet, but is played using a double reed instead of a single reed and mouthpiece. Selection of players is EXTREMELY limited. VERY few will actually be selected to for oboe.

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.

Other Considerations: Because the oboe is such a difficult instrument to master, only students with high academic performance records will be considered. Students are also required to maintain a supply of 3-4 high quality reeds at all times. Students with a history of disciplinary issues will not be considered for oboe.

2% of students will be selected to play OBOE

Oboe Personality: Studious

Clarinet

Unlike the oboe, the clarinet uses a single reed and a mouthpiece to produce the sound. Willingness to purchase or rent the proper brand of clarinet is 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.

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.

20% of students will be selected to play CLARINET

Clarinet Personality: Focused

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 the oboe before switching, instead they will begin on the bassoon itself. VERY few students will be selected to play bassoon.

Physical Characteristics: A slight overbite is okay for students wishing to play bassoon, however, a student with an underbite should avoid bassoon. Agile thumbs are a necessity for playing bassoon proficiently as swell as a medium or greater hand span.

Other Considerations: Like the oboe, the bassoon is a difficult instrument to master, therefore only students with high academic performance records will be considered. Students are required to maintain a supply of 3-4 high-quality reeds at ALL times.

2% of students will be selected for BASSOON

BASSOON PERSONALITY: Serious

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 the flute and only a few students will be chosen to play it.

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

SAXOPHONE PERSONALITY: Mellow

Trumpet

The trumpet is the smallest member of the brass family. The sound on trumpet is produced by buzzing into a small mouthpiece.

Physical Characteristics: While orthodontia is somewhat troublesome at first to a trumpet player, it is not impossible to make good sounds with braces. A slight overbite is okay, but an underbite can severely hinder progress on trumpet. 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

TRUMPET PERSONALITY: Confident

French Horn

The French Horn is also a member of the brass family. Its sound is produced by buzzing into a small mouthpiece similar to a trumpet. Students with good musical ears (such as Honor Choir students) should consider French Horn.

Physical Characteristics: A slight overbite is okay, but an underbite can severely hinder progress on French Horn. Because the bell of the French Horn rests on the knee of the player while playing, it is imperative that a student's upper torso be long enough to accommodate the size of the French Horn to make good sounds and that players be able to demonstrate sitting up straight when asked to do so. 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 honor choir groups. Students with a history of academic or behavioral problems will NOT be selected for French Horn. Ulrich provides French Horns for students at a cost of $50 rental for an entire school year.

10% of students will be selected for FRENCH HORN

FRENCH HORN PERSONALITY: Academic

Trombone

Like the French Horn, 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 (such as Honor Choir students) should consider Trombone.

Physical Characteristics: A slight overbite is acceptable, while an extreme underbite would hinder success. Trombone players should have slightly fuller lips than average.

Other Considerations: Great trombone playing takes good concentration and study. Many quiet academicians have excelled at trombone.

12% of students will be selected for TROMBONE

TROMBONE PERSONALITY: Analytical

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 a trombone).

Physical Characteristics: Euphonium players should have moderately full lips, but not too full. A SLIGHT overbite is okay, but an underbite would hinder a good sound. The euphonium requires a medium-sized hand span to reach the valves and students should have an above average lung capacity.

Other Considerations: Students with an above average amount of orthodontia will find the mouthpiece of the euphonium a bit more comfortable than trumpet or French Horn. Ulrich provides euphoniums at a cost of $50 rental for an entire school year, but students are required to purchase their own mouthpiece.

10% of students will be selected for EUPHONIUM

EUPHONIUM PERSONALITY: Artistic

Tuba

The tuba is the largest instrument in the band, and while many believe it would be hard to physically manage, the tubas we use for beginners are 3/4 size and are easy to handle.

Physical Characteristics: Tuba players need to have full lips and a large lung capacity. While the size of the student doesn't matter TOO much, a long torso (upper body) helps a student reach the mouthpiece of the tuba while resting the bottom of the tuba on the edge of their chair or across the thighs.

Other Considerations: The tuba provides the musical foundation for the band and requires that are self-motivated over-achievers. Students with a history of academic trouble should not consider tuba as we rely heavily on the ability of the tuba players to be consistently UIL eligible. Ulrich provides tubas for students at a cost of $50 rental for an entire school year, but students are required to purchase their own mouthpiece.

TUBA PERSONALITY: Unique

Percussion

Just because you are always tapping on things does not mean you are a natural percussionist. In fact, the percussion section is one of the most select, hand-picked sections of the band. Only students with the highest grades, lowest discipline problems, background in piano, and extremely high gross and fine motor skills will be considered for percussion. The percussion class is NOT a drum-set class.

Physical Characteristics: Students should exhibit a great deal of coordination in gross and fine motor skills.

Other Consideration: The study of percussion includes timpani, bells, triangle, tambourine, maracas, claves, among many other instruments.

PERCUSSION PERSONALITY: Coordinated

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