8th Grade Band

Since you are in 8th 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. 

Since you are in your third year of band, you may be considering upgrading your instrument from a beginner level to a intermediate or professional grade instrument. This is a fantastic choice, but certainly not required, especially if your student is planning on continuing band in high school! We highly recommend reaching out to your students band director so we can help guide your search. 

Here is some reminder information about renting instruments:

All students: All-Black 1 inch Binder & Pencils. 

Concert Attire: Be on the lookout for an email for ordering instructions.

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 #1

    • Steve Weiss Best Seller Pack #2 (perfect for 8th grade)

    • Liberty One Basic Stick Pack

    • 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

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. 

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!

More specific information about the class can be found in the Band Handbook!