We recommend watching all of the MISD created instrument videos so you have a brief overview of each instrument we offer in band at the middle school level! Keep in mind that it is not necessary for you to have a musical background to be successful at any instrument! We will help you try any instrument you wish at your selection day!
The videos might take a few seconds to load on the page; you can watch them in their current video box or make them full screen once they start playing.
There are 2 YouTube videos included at the bottom of this page (in the green & blue sections) that are produced by Be A Part of the Band and the US Army Field Band that demonstrate the instruments as well. These are great videos, but they do include more advanced music demonstrations that might deter a student from wanting to try a certain instrument. We will teach you everything you need to know to play like that one day!
KEEP AN OPEN MIND! THERE ARE NO "BOY" and "GIRL" INSTRUMENTS - ANYBODY CAN PLAY ANYTHING!!
The flute produces sound from the flow of air across a tone hole. Flutes will often play melodies - beautiful and slow, or fast and flying!
Students with teardrops, overbites or double jointed fingers might find it difficult to play the flute.
Most flute players tend to be shy or studious students who like to work hard, however, anyone can play the flute!
The oboe is a double reed instrument that is considered a "color" instrument in band. We usually have anywhere from 1-4 oboes in a band, so it is one of the smallest sections.
Oboes are rented directly from the school. Reeds are the main expense - if you take care of them properly, they will last for a month or more in rotation!
The oboe can be a tough instrument to learn, so oboe players should be patient and like a challenge!
Made for the student who likes to give thumbs up! (You'll see what we mean!) Bassoon can be one of the more difficult instruments to learn but gets to play with both the woodwind and brass sections!
Students who have long fingers can find the bassoon a good fit. Additionally, bassoon players should be patient and determined.
Bassoons are rented from the school. Reeds are the main expense but will last a month or more if you take care of them!
The clarinet is a single reed instrument that gets to play the melody a lot! The set up of the clarinet is a little more forgiving than other instruments, so students can have quick success!
Students with underbites or double-jointed fingers can have difficulty playing clarinet.
Clarinet can be meticulous, so students who like order and are focused would be a good fit.
The most modern, single reed instrument, the sax is a popular instrument. (This is usually one of the first instruments to fill up and due to it's nature, we "cap" the class at no more than 12 students - size depends on total number of beginners!)
Saxophones use a neck strap to help hold the instrument, so it might be uncomfortable for students with neck/back issues.
Saxophones will definitely be heard, so students who are outgoing and hard workers are a good fit!
A versatile instrument, horns frequently have melodies with the woodwind instruments, and contribute a beautiful color to brass chorales and a heroic sound to big brass fanfares!
The french horn can be a bit like hitting a bullseye every time on a target, so horn players should be motivated and hard workers. The ability to match pitch can help you immensely when playing horn but is not a requirement.
French Horns are rented from the school.
The trumpets have the melody quite often in band! It is not for the faint of heart...trumpets will be heard! Students who are natural leaders or don't mind standing out in a crowd are good for trumpet!
Due to the size of the mouthpiece, thin lips and straight teeth produce sounds easier, but we can work with any student who wants to play trumpet!
The weird slidey one! ☺ Trombone players rely heavily on muscle memory and their ears when learning positions. Students who like to sing are good candidates for trombone!
Students with fuller lips are often successful on trombone. 6th and 7th positions can be challenging for shorter students, but we can teach you some tricks to work around it! Sometimes you have to "grow into" the trombone!
The euphonium is similar to trombone, but uses valves like a tuba! Used in melodies and big brass fanfares!
Euphonium players should have confidence - a smaller section that tends to play melodic lines! Students who like the trombone, but worry about the handling the slide might prefer euphonium.
Euphoniums are rented from the school.
The tuba is the foundation of the band and one of the most important instruments! We often say our tuba players are the most important people in the band!
While tuba is a large instrument, size does NOT matter when it comes to the player! Students should have good balance, firm control over their body, and not be afraid of holding the instrument. This mouthpiece also allows for fuller lips.
Tubas are rented from the school.
Please read all details listed here before watching the Intro to Percussion video!
Percussion is the most popular instrument family for beginning band students and is one of the hand-picked sections in the band. Just because you can tap a cool beat with a pen on a desk does not mean you are a natural percussionist (drummer).
Students wishing to be considered for percussion should have good coordination in gross and fine motor skills, a natural ability to keep a steady tempo, background in piano is a plus, hard working, rhythmically inclined, very detail-oriented, good grades, no discipline problems.
Other Considerations: Many students want to be in percussion so they can be on the drumline. Beginning Band percussion is predominantly snare drum and bell kits. Students will also learn the accessories such as triangle, tambourine, maracas, claves, cymbals; as well as other larger percussion instruments like xylophone, marimba, and timpani. 8th grade Advanced Band percussionists are on the drumline during marching season only.
All students wishing to audition for percussion must first pick another instrument.
Instrument Introductions
(produced by Be A Part of the Band)
This video goes through all instruments back to back.
Keep in mind these students are in high school or college and have been playing for a long time. The musical examples you will hear are advanced!
We will teach you everything you need to know to be able to play like them one day!
Instrument Introductions
(produced by the US Army Field Band)
This video goes through all instruments back to back.
Keep in mind these are professional musicians who also happen to be in the US Army...they have been playing for longer than you have been alive! Their musical examples will be very advanced, but don't let that scare you!
We will teach you everything you need to know to be able to play like them one day!