WONDERING HOW THE WHOLE SCHOOL INSTRUMENT THING WORKS?

FLUTE, OBOE, CLARINET, ALTO SAX, TRUMPET, TROMBONE          

These instruments are all leased from Ward Brodt or owned (no Amazon instruments please!). Please email Ms. Thuli directly with any instrument needs based on financial/extenuating circumstances. 

FRENCH HORN AND BARITONE

The school owns a limited supply of these expensive-to-rent instruments. If you have the financial resources available to lease from Ward Brodt, we highly recommend you take advantage of the quality and maintenance you receive from their lease program.  The French horns and Baritones we have are functional, but are NEITHER NEW or BEAUTIFUL. In the event we have more players interested than instruments available, we will have to resort to a lottery.  We will contact French horn or Baritone players directly if we find ourselves in this situation.

TUBA

All tubas must be rented through the school as Ward Brodt does not rent tubas. In the event we have more players interested than instruments available, we will have to resort to a lottery.  We will contact tuba players directly if we find ourselves in this situation.

PERCUSSION

Percussionists will rent their equipment through the school. Please make sure that percussionists have all of the necessary supplies from the supply list above. 

INSTRUMENT RENTALS

Ward-Brodt Music

Ward Brodt is the company that handles our instrument rentals and repairs. During the school year, they send out a sales representative weekly to help with rentals, repairs, supplies, etc. See below to learn more about instrument rental and supplies information.

Ward Brodt Instrument Rental Information

2025 Instrument Supply List

Ward Brodt Instrument Supplies  (if you order online, they'll deliver to the MS by the first day of summer lessons)

OWN YOUR OWN or LIKE TO BUY?

If you have your own instrument (or will be using grandpa's!) for your child to use, please make sure it has been checked and serviced so it is in good working condition for a new beginner. Your Mt. Horeb band teachers can help with this - send us an email!

If you would like to purchase an instrument, please read our document (below) about buying an instrument! We want to help you make the right choice! No Amazon.com instruments please!

So You'd Like To Purchase An Instrument?

2025 Instrument Supply List - Please make sure to have all of the necessary instrument supplies, too! 

Ward Brodt Instrument Supplies  (if you order online, they'll deliver to the MS by the first day of summer lessons)

As always, please send us an email if you have any questions or concerns!

Please view the 2025 Summer Band Lesson Schedule

• 5th Grade Band Parent Meeting Information (from April 22nd meeting)

• Parent Introduction Letter

• Be a Part of the Band! Instrument Information

• NAMM Why Learn to Play Document

Band

CHOOSING an INSTRUMENT for BAND

In the next few weeks, we will be meeting with all 6th grade students in their homeroom classes. We will present a lot of information about participating in band, introduce the band teachers, and give students information and demonstrations of the instrument choices. At the end of these meetings, students will fill out an interest survey and select instruments they are interested in trying out.

Ms. Thuli, Mr. Leising, Mr. Dorner, and Ms. Schlafer will be at the Intermediate Center during April to assist students in choosing the perfect instrument match for them.  

MOUTHPIECE TESTING and SAFETY!

We share your concerns regarding safety, and we’ve taken many precautions to help keep everybody as safe as possible. We had a successful round of mouthpiece testing last spring with our current 6th grade students, and we will use the same testing and clearing procedures again for this round.

PARENT MEETING 

There is a meeting for all interested parents on Tuesday, April 22 @ 6:30 p.m. in the Middle School gym (immediately following the 6th Grade Parent Meeting which begins at 6:00pm). This meeting is very important and addresses the specific questions you have regarding your child’s participation in the world of music (instruments, how to get them, how we chose instruments, summer lessons and schedule, etc.). Sign ups will occur at that meeting. If you can not attend, materials are available on Ms. Thuli’s teacher web page.  

SUMMER BAND

We are fortunate to be able to offer 12-sessions of beginning band instruction over the summer.  All incoming sixth grade students are invited to participate.  This allows for very small groups of like instruments to meet for longer intervals than would be possible during the school year.  We have found this format to be an ideal way to get the students off to a great start and essential to learning.  Band directors Alyssa Thuli, Dominic Leising, and Kellen Dorner will begin lessons in the summer.

The three-week program begins August 4 and runs through August 21.  Students attend for 45 minutes four days per week.  You will receive a specific schedule once the young musicians have chosen instruments.