Students without previous Band experience should stop by Portman's Music (7650 Abercorn St, Savannah) in order to be tested/fitted for an instrument.
Students must have all required equipment necessary to begin playing in class by August 12, 2024.
Students will begin playing assignments in on Monday, August 12, 2024.
The deadline to notify the Band Director of your interest to join the Band class is Friday, August 9, 2024.
Sometimes having an interest in playing a certain band instrument does not mean that a student will necessarily be successful at learning how to play the said instrument. It is important that all students be tested for an instrument because we genuinely want each child to be successful.
There are many factors involved in selecting the correct instrument for a student. Some determining factors are:
Natural ability for student to easily produce a sound.
Ability to imitate a steady rhythm and match pitch.
Shape and size of the student's face and mouth.
Physical size of the student.
First, a Band Instrument Representative will give you a brief lesson on how to produce a sound on each of the woodwind (Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone) and brass (French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba) instruments that are taught in Band.
Next, the representative will instruct you to blow on the instrument. They will measure your natural ability to easily produce different sounds on each horn.
Finally, the representative will help you and your parents decide which instrument will be best for you to learn based on the results of your tryout.
Parents should take their potential Beginning Band student to Portman's Music Superstore in Savannah to be fitted for an instrument. The address is:
Portman's Music
7650 Abercorn Street
Savannah, Ga
912.354.1500
No appointment is necessary for instrument testing/fitting. Simply walk in and ask for a Band Instrument Representative to assist you in fitting your student to a Beginning Band Instrument.
There is no charge to be tested for any instrument. Portman's offers free instrument testing to the community.
Students wanting to play percussion must be tested by the band director.
Now that you have decided which instrument to learn and play:
Secure an instrument through rental or purchase. Purchasing an instrument at this level is not recommended at this time.
Purchase the method books and accessories required for your instrument.
If given the option to have your instrument and accessories delivered to the school (Portman's service only), have them delivered. This way your student can be trained how to put together and care for the instrument before taking it out of the case and accidentally breaking or losing an important part .
Email the your Band Director and let them know you have an instrument and all required books and accessories. Your director can be reached at Richard.Jervis@sccpss.com
It is not recommended that parents of Beginning Band students purchase an instrument at this time. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn't buy now:
Rental programs offer flexibility in returning or exchanging instruments.
If you child decides he/she doesn't want participate in band anymore, simply return the instrument to the instrument dealer.
If your Band director suggests changing instruments, simply return the instrument to the instrument dealer.
You won't get stuck with an instrument your student doesn't play and need to sell it.
Rental programs often include repair policies.
If your instrument needs repair (and it will), most rental contracts will include a repair policy that acts as a warranty. This means the dealer will repair the instrument for no additional charge to you as long as it is not deemed that the instrument has been abused in some way.
School Band rentals are often repaired faster than instruments that are bought outright. This means your student spends less time in class without an instrument and has less opportunities to fall behind.
If available, some dealers will give "loaner" instruments to students who's instruments are in the shop for repair. This is like getting a "courtesy vehicle" from your car dealer when work is required on your automobile.
Apply accrued rent towards future purchase of a "step-up" instrument.
Some dealers offer special programs where you can apply one or two years paid rent toward the purchase of an intermediate or advanced level instrument.
No. You don't have to rent your instrument or purchase accessories from Portman's Music. However, it will be to your advantage to do so. Portman's Music is recommended for the following reasons:
Portman's is a local, family owned business with many years of experience servicing families and students Band instrument needs.
Local means community. Local business pay local taxes that in turn help support our community and students.
The Portman family gives back to local school band organizations by donating many instruments to schools each year for students in need.
Portman's Music has over 80 years of experience in the school Band Instrument business. You don't stay in business that long if you don't know what you are doing.
All Portman instruments are owned and repaired locally.
Many other instrument dealers do not own or repair their own instruments. Instruments from other businesses needing maintenance are often shipped off to different sites for repair. This costs your student missed time in Band class and you money when your student does not even have the instrument in hand. Why pay for a broken instrument if you don't even have it?
Portman's is your One-Stop-Shop and has all your instrument and accessories needs covered.
Portman's works closely with all local Band Directors to make sure they have the items you need in stock when you need them. No need to wait 2-5 days or even weeks for online retailers to ship you the books or reeds your student needs for Band class. Portman's keeps what you need for Band on hand for you.
. Portman's offers services other businesses do not.
Free delivery of rental instruments and accessories to schools for new Beginning Band students.
In store (local) repair facilities.
Free pickup (from school) of rental instruments needing repair.
Private lessons, small ensembles, and music camps for students.
Free startup lessons for new Beginning Band students.
Band instruments made of quality materials and workmanship are not cheap. If it seems cheap, it is because it is and you should not by it.
Beware of online retailers (Music & Arts, Guitar Center, Amazon, Walmart, etc.), and pawn shops offering cheap instruments. The instruments offered by these businesses are often not made of quality materials and break easily, are difficult to play in tune, and not easy to have repaired or replaced.
Pawn shops have no way of verifying if a used band instrument is in good playing condition. Most often instruments sold in pawn shops are not well taken care of before they are sold to customers of the street. For this reason, it is not recommended that you buy from a pawn shop unless you plan to potentially spend a lot of money on instrument repairs from a certified instrument repair technician before learning how to play.
Do not use an instrument passed down from family members unless it has recently been checked by a certified instrument repair technician. (No... Your father, husband, or uncle that is handy or "talented" with tools IS NOT a certified instrument repair technician.)
Portman's Music is a great place to take used instruments needing to be checked and maintained for leaky pads, bad corks, mold, mildew, bugs, and other things that will potentially keep your instrument from working correctly. However, be aware that taking old/used instruments bought from pawn shops to Portman's for repair may take some time to get back depending on the type of repiars needed.
Do not purchase instruments that are colored. They look nice, but are generally of not good quality. These instruments are usually metal or plastic that have been painted red, blue, green, black, white, pink, or purple.
Quality instruments are usually only offered in the following colors:
Flute - silver or nickel plated. Upper level instruments may offer gold keys, gold springs, or gold lip plates
Clarinets - resonite (black plastic) or wood
Oboe - resonite (black plastic) or wood
Saxophone - Gold lacquer or silver plated
French Horn - Gold lacquer, silver or nickel plated
Trumpet - Gold lacquer, silver or nickel plated
Trombone - Gold lacquer, silver or nickel plated
Baritone - Gold lacquer or silver plated
Tuba - Gold lacquer of silver plated
Depending on the type of instrument, quality built band instruments usually cost between $850.00-$3000.00 retail to purchase.
For a complete list of Director approved quality brand instruments, click here.