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Instrument Fitting Day!
Pike Middle School Instrument Fitting
Coming in 2025
What instruments are available for "Band"?
Instrument demonstrations
What are the "brass" instruments?
Click instrument for demonstration video
Euphonium ("Baby tuba", not pictured)
What are the "percussion" instruments?
Percussion demonstration
If you chose "percussion", you will be asked to follow directions to submit a video for initial evaluation. These will be due by May 3rd. If advanced to Phase 2 of the try out, students will meet with Mr. Lennox live on May 8th. Please note that only students who have previously tested wind instruments will be considered for the Phase 2 audition.
No late percussion applications will be accepted.
Do Band students "need" to practice?
Absolutely! Students are learning new skills, which will require daily practice. In order to excel in a skill-based activity, frequent and intentional practice must occur. Much like athletics, learning an instrument will take time and patience.
Practice Video (Skill-based activities)
Amount of practice: typically 20 - 30 minutes (daily)
Type of practice: rhythmic, instrument performance, music theory, body coordination
SmartMusic Subscription: Included in your $75 Beginner Band Fee. Students will use their school-issued chromebooks to play along with practice tracks of assignments. A weekly grade will be given for practice time in SmartMusic.
Personal Instruments
These instruments are provided by the family for their student to play in band. Most families choose to rent the instrument and purchase supplies from a local music company. These instruments include flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, trombone and percussion.
School-Owned Instruments
These instruments are the property of Northwest ISD. This means the school provides the instrument for a $100 annual usage fee and families purchase the mouthpiece/reeds, cleaning supplies, and book. These instruments include oboe, bassoon, French horn, euphonium, and tuba.
School-owned Instruments
(Oboe, Bassoon, French horn, Euphonium, Tuba)
These are provided by NISD to our families. The usage fee is $100, per school year, which covers annual maintenance of district property. Instrument specific supplies will need to be purchased for students to use during class.
Personal Instruments
(Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone)
These instruments are rented and/or purchased from a music company. Bell's Music Shop is the district vendor, but you can use any company you choose. Like school-owned instruments, instrument specific supplies will need to be purchased for students to use during class.
Percussion
(Drums, Mallets, Accessories)
Most percussion equipment is provided from NISD. However, instrument specific supplies will need to be purchased for students to use during class. For at-home practice, a mallet instrument (marimba) rental from a local music company will be necessary.
Beginner Band FAQ
My student wants to play "percussion". What are the steps for this?
Percussion auditions are separate from the "wind instruments". All students will try out woodwind AND brass instruments to be considered for the Beginner Percussion class. Additional information will be sent through Parent Square. Please be aware a strict deadline is required for percussion auditions.
What if we can’t afford an instrument?
Contact us! There are some low-cost options available for getting an instrument. Don’t let this be a reason to keep you from joining the band program. We can help you.
Will band get in the way of making good grades?
Not likely! While the amount of hard work with classes is determined by each individual, over the years we have found the majority of students in band actually do better in all their other classes. Band helps create habits of excellence that carry over to a multitude of other activities.
Does a student need to have prior band or other musical experience?
Absolutely not! While a background in piano or another instrument can be helpful to a student’s understanding of musical concepts, it is not necessary to have prior knowledge or training. Most of the students in the Pike Band had no music training outside regular 5th grade music classes.
Is it possible to be in Band and Pre AP or GT classes? What about band and sports?
Yes! In fact, the majority of our band students participate in higher level classes. And most of them participate in football, volleyball, basketball, etc. in addition to that!
Asthma? Braces? Is it possible?
Absolutely! There are accommodations available for practically every student interested in being part of the band. There are plenty of students in band who wear braces or have asthma. In fact, playing a wind instrument can be beneficial in the strengthening of the lungs!