What do we need for band?

• Students will need an instrument full name of Instruments are:

  • Flute or C Flute

  • Clarinet or BFlat Clarinet

  • Alto Saxophone or Eflat Alto Saxophone

  • Trumpet or Bflat Trumpet/Cornet (a cornet and a trumpet are essentially the same thing cornets are wonderful but you probably won't be able to find a new one this would be more a Used option--which is fine)

  • Trombone-Sometimes called a Tenor Trombone (but not often)

  • Percussion--This would be the "Bell Drum Combo Kit" this would be used for home pracitce only

• Book (NEW BOOK ALERT) This year we are using "Habits of a Succesful Musician" students should have this by the first week of school if possible--Please make sure name is on both the cover and the first page of the inside (covers rip off during the yeart)

Where to get an instrument

• I start the band process in the Spring to help you have time to get an instrument though the music stores are probably your best way to get an instrument I respect and understand this might be difficult for some families.  

• Music and Arts center Music and Arts Center 

• Taylors Music

  • Both of the above have music reps who makes stops to our school so if there are problems that come up they can be more quickly serviced Taylors Music 

• Friends and neighbors: you would be surprised by how many "attic instruments" are out there. Plus every year student graduate means potentially more instruments out there that might be avialable.  

• Amazon---please just be careful the amazon instruments though affordable are not fixable/serviceable by any music store.  They really are disposable instruments--many students have much success with them and I am not talking you out of this route I just want you to know the facts

• Yard Sales

Please make sure if you get an instruments for Friends/Familes/Yard Sales/anywhere that isn't a music store to get it play tested before the school year starts. Instruments that have been out of use for a long time will potentially need $100-$200 of repairs.

What do I need with the insturment (I have all these things at school as well if kids need anything it is very helpful for Clarinet/Saxes to get their own reeds)

Flute: Flutes do not really need alot of extra equipment they come with a rod used from care and maintaining the mouthpiece cork

Clarinet: 

• Reeds: A box of #2 rico/rico royal/vandoren  Please do not order reeds on Amazon these usually are not usable. I have reeds at school when needed

• Cork Greese

• (not required) Swab-used for drying the instrument (not required)

Alto Sax:

• Reeds: A box of #2 rico/rico royal/vandoren  Please do not order reeds on Amazon these usually are not usable. I have reeds at school when needed

• Cork Greese

• (not required) Swab-used for drying the instrument they also have large full instrument swabs which just go in the Sax and stay in it while in the case (not required)

• (not required) Neck Strap upgrade: the sax is a heavy instrument and it will come with a pretty hard on the next strap.  A cushiony strap can be a nice purchase especially for smaller players

  Trumpet

• Valve Oil (there's lots of brands but at the beginning level the cheapest is fine)

Trombone

• Slide Oil/Greese (theres lots of brands but at the beginning level the cheapest is fine)

Percussion

How does band work at the OIS?

This upcoming school year each band student will be put into a small group lesson usually based on how teachers partner with other teachers.  These small group lessons will be "like" instruments so Flutes for instance would only be with other flutes.  Students will have one 35 minute lesson every week which will corilate with the day of the week not the cycle. Lessons will start the second week of the school year.

Band students will also have a large group rehearsal "Band Rehearsal" once a week.  I usually start these pretty early and without instruments at first. Once band rehearsal begins we will have them weekly as well throughout the school year.

Students are missing academic time to come to their band lesson. If students feel stressed or that they are falling behind please just let me know and we can work something out.  I am pretty flexible with students missing lessons

I've Never Played an instrument how do I help my child?

I am going to have Band Parent meetings at least once a month throughout the school year.  I'm thinking the first Tuesday of every month once the school year starts if these prove successful/beneficial I will increase if that is what is wanted (maybe some of you want to learn to play)

The point of these meetings will be to explain what I have been teaching, and how I've been teaching it.  It will be a chance for you to ask questions or concerns--we are all in this together 

• How was my child recommended for their instrument? Students met with me individually and tried the different instruments. Based on what I saw I tried to give them a recommendation (or sometimes two) that would be a good fit for them. This is just a recommendation and students/families are free to pick any instrument they would like.

• When Should I get an instrument by? I start lessons the second week of school. Though we may not get the instrument together and playing right away it is helpful that they have it by the second week.

• What if I can't get an instrument right away?  If you can't get an instrument by the second week of school I understand and your student will have until the end of September to secure an instrument---if you talk to me and need an extension on that it is totally fine we just need to be in this together.

• When Should students have books by? Students should all have students by the second week of the school year.  Without an instrument we can still learn without the book it becomes very difficult.