Resources

Audition Requirements: District Honor Band

Scales

• The following scales will be required every year for all Middle School students auditioning for the Honor Band: C Concert, F Concert, Bb Concert, Eb Concert, Ab Concert and Chromatic (Percussion will NOT play the Chromatic).         

Percussion Rudiments

• Buzz roll (soft-loud-soft; minimum of 20 seconds), Single Paradiddles, (Alternating) Flams

Prepared Music

                      2024-2025: Set II                            2025-2026: Set III                   2026-2027: Set I                           2027-2028: Set II

Links to Audition Music and Scales

                 Set I                       Set II                     Set III             Scales

                Set I Audio           Set II Audio                 Set III Audio

When you are ready to upgrade from your first instrument, here are some good options!

Flute

Look for flutes that have these features:

• Solid silver head joint. (Gold lip plates are expensive, but great!)

• Open holes

YAMAHA: YFL-362H (Intermediate); YFL-222 (Student)

Other acceptable brands (contact Ms. Mulkey for model numbers): Pearl, Di Zhao, Gemeinhardt, Powell, Haynes

Clarinet

Buying used clarinets is the highest risk. There are so many things that can go wrong with the mechanics and maintenance of the wood. BUT it is possible. Please contact us with used purchases!

For step-up instruments, wood or similar composites are preferred.

YAMAHA: 400AD (Intermediate); 200ADII (Student)

BUFFET: E11 (Intermediate)

Other acceptable brands: Jupiter, Backun, Selmer

Accessories

Mouthpieces

VANDOREN: M13, M13 Lyre, M15, 5RV Lyre, B45 (All 13 Series)

YAMAHA: 4C

Ligatures

Rovner ligatures

Bonade inverted metal ligature

Saxophone

Lacquered brass is preferred over silver plated. Be wary of "vintage" options. While they are beautiful and work great for solo work, they are more difficult to control/play in tune and lack some chromatic fingerings.

YAMAHA: YAS-480 (Intermediate ALTO); YTS-480 (Intermediate TENOR); YAS-200ADII (Student ALTO); YTS-200ADII (Student TENOR)

SELMER sets the standard for professional saxophones, but are fairly expensive. Contact me for more information on this option.

Accessories

Mouthpiece

VANDOREN:  Optimum AL4 (Alto), Optimum TL4 (Tenor), or Optimum BL4 (Bari)

YAMAHA: 4C

Trumpet

Only buy Bb trumpets. Beware of trumpets in different keys! (Eb, C, pocket, piccolo, bass, etc.)

BACH: TR200 (Intermediate horn; Higher quality); BTR201 (Student)

YAMAHA: YTR-4335GII (Intermediate); YTR200-ADII (Student)

Other acceptable brands (contact Ms. Mulkey for model numbers): Holton, Getzen, Shires

Mouthpieces

BACH: 3C

Trombones with F Attachment (which is critical for the advancing performer)

J.P. RATH: 300 Series (Intermediate+)

YAMAHA: 400 Series (Intermediate); 600 Series (Intermediate+)

Trombones without F Attachment (more affordable, not fully recommended)

Used recommendations: Yamaha, Olds, King, Bach, Holton, Conn

New recommendations: Yamaha, J.P. Rath, Getzen

Mouthpieces (be careful when purchasing because shank size can be different. Ask Ms. Mulkey if you are unsure!)

BACH: 6 1/2 AL

YAMAHA: 48

Euphonium and Tuba

Please contact Ms. Mulkey if you choose to purchase your own Euphonium or Tuba.

Euphonium Mouthpieces (be careful when purchasing because shank size can be different. Ask Ms. Mulkey if you are unsure!)

BACH: 6 1/2 AL

YAMAHA 48D, 51D

SCHILKE: 51D

Tuba Mouthpieces

CONN: Helleburg 7B

Here are some recommendations of method books to use in private lessons or in personal study

Flute

• Rubank Intermediate Method for Flute by A.C. Peterson

Clarinet 

• Rubank Intermediate Method for Clarinet by J.E. Skornicka

Oboe

• See Ms. Mulkey

Saxophone

• Rubank Intermediate Method for Saxophone by J.E. Skornicka

Trumpet

• Rubank Intermediate Method for Cornet or Trumpet by J.E. Skornicka 

French Horn

• Rubank Intermediate Method for French Horn by Joseph Skornicka

Trombone/Euphonium

• Rubank Intermediate Method for Trombone or Baritone by J.E. Skornicka and E.G. Boltz

Tuba

• Rubank Intermediate Method for Tuba by Himie Voxman and William Gower

Recordings

Students must have an appropriate model to emulate when playing their instrument. Below are suggestions of artists for each instrument.

Flute Jean-Pierre Rampal, Jim Walker, Paula Robison

Clarinet Harold Wright, Larry Combs, Martin Frost

Oboe Joseph Robinson, John Mack

Bassoon Bubonic Bassoon Quartet, Christopher Millard

Saxophone Jean Rousseau, Joseph Lulloff, Steven Mauk

Trumpet Phil Smith, Adolph Herseth

Horn Dale Clevenger, Dennis Brain

Trombone Joseph Allesi, Christian Linberg

Euphonium Brian Bowman, Roger Behrend

Tuba Arnold Jacobs, Sam Pilafian

Private lessons are not mandatory! However, one of the fastest ways for students to see improvement in their playing is to participate in private lessons. Think of it as a tutoring session where you will get one-on-one attention from an instructor who specializes in your instrument. Below are reliable resources for local instructors. Rates and availability may vary

Flute

Clarinet

Ian Flores- iflore4@lsu.edu

Brandon Lawrence (virtual only)- blgordon.clarinet@gmail.com

Kayla Ramos- kaylaavery01@gmail.com

Saxophone

Lydia Nelson- lydiagnelson03@gmail.com/985-445-8115

Trumpet

French Horn

Trombone

Jarris Folse- jfols14@lsu.edu

Sierra Price- spric4@lsu.edu

Baritone/Euphonium

John Blair IV-

Tuba

Percussion

• Mutual Consent Form 2025

• Instrument Checkout Form