Getting Ready for another year of Band @ the Bend!
Band 7 – (AKA: Intermediate Band) is a co-curricular ensemble. Like beginning Band, most of our meetings occur during the regular school day, and students receive a grade. Along with the Winter and Spring Band Concerts and Rehearsals, students will also be participating in the All-District Concert Assessment. This will require a few extra rehearsals compared to 6th grade to prepare for. 7th grade is also when students can join Jazz Band or Percussion Ensemble! Band 7 is open to all 7th grade students who have at least one year of band experience.
Since you are in 7th grade you probably already have your instrument. As a reminder, students should remain on the same instrument unless they received permission from your students band director.
Here is some reminder information about renting instruments: Percussion please look for some changes below!
We highly recommend RENTING a quality, durable band instrument and materials from the following places:
In-person Physical Store:
Music & Arts
46900 Cedar Lake Plaza STE 160, Sterling, VA 20164
Online Rental Options:
School Rental options:
If you are playing Baritone or Tuba, you will rent your instrument through the school.
If you are playing Bassoon or French Horn, you may consider renting from the school rather than getting your own.
The school rental fee is a one time $100 fee that covers you for the whole year.
Note: The school does have a very limited supply of all other instruments, these are available on a first come, first served basis and for students who need financial assistance. Please email the band directors to check on availability.
Note: Please use the above vendors for your instrument purchasing needs. Though websites like Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, or Ebay may be tempting... the instruments you get from these places are typically poor quality and break within the first month of school.
All students: All-Black 1 inch Binder & Pencils. Students should still have their method book (Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician), if they lost it you will need to purchase a new copy.
Concert Attire: All Black pants, shoes & socks. (Flats okay, no high heels). RBM Provided Music T-shirt. (If you lost or outgrew your 6th grade Music t-shirt it is $10 to replace)
Below are other accessories specific to instrument:
Flute: Cleaning rod, cleaning swab( <--- Should come with a new flute) finger rest*
Clarinet/Alto Sax: Box of Reeds strength 3 or 3.5 (Vandoren or Juno Brand), reed case*, cleaning swab, cork grease, mouthpiece pad*
Oboe/Bassoon: 2-3 reeds, cleaning swab, cork grease, reed case, soaking cup for reed (Think: old medicine bottle)
Trumpet/Baritone/Tuba: Synthetic light valve oil, slide grease
French Horn:, Rotor Oil, slide grease
Trombone: Slide grease, mini-spray bottle
Percussion: Percussion bell kit/learning kit (includes practice pad, bell set, snare drum sticks, and mallets) Yarn mallets, Timpani mallets, rubber mallets, drum sticks (See below)
PERCUSSION DIFFERENCE: You will no longer bring your bell kit back and forth, but you should have it at home for practice.
Students need a stick bag, drum sticks, yarn mallets, acrylic or rubber mallets, and timpani mallets
Please consider purchasing an educational set, we recommend the following brands from the linked site:
Steve Weiss Best Seller Pack #2 (perfect for 8th grade)
There are more advanced stick packs that include a wider variety of sticks, this can be great if your student plans to continue percussion in the future
*denotes optional materials that are highly recommended
We recommend NOT BUYING from the following brands:
Flutes: Glory, Mendini/Cecilio, Etude, Lazzaro, Jean Paul
Oboes: Glory, Mendini/Cecilio, Etude, Yinfente, Amoon, Selmer
Bassoons:
Clarinets: Glory, Mendini/Cecilio, Lazzaro, Etude, Kaizer
Saxophones: Glory, Mendini/Cecilio, Etude, Eastar, Antigua, Nuvo
Trumpets: Glory, Mendini/Cecilio, Etude, Taylor, Harrelson, Lätzsch
French Horns: Glory, Mendini/Cecilio, Etude, Antigua
Trombones: Glory, Mendini/Cecilio, Etude, Bundy
Baritones/Tubas: Glory, Mendini/Cecilio, Etude, Antigua
Anything from Amazon, Costco, Walmart, etc…
Considering an upgraded instrument? Talk to Mr. Durgin or Ms. McHugh, or look here!