Instruments and Suggested Materials
Hale Charter Academy has a limited inventory of school instruments available. School instruments are available first to students and families who are unable to rent or purchase an instrument.
Students are encouraged to rent or purchase an instrument before deciding to use a school instrument. Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion, Violin, Viola, Cello are the most commonly rented or purchased instruments.
Instrument Assignments - Size/Stature of Student
The size and stature of a student will determine which instrument the student will learn. Extremely small students for example are advised against learning the upright bass, cello, tuba, or heavy instruments. Students will short fingers or small hands are advised not to learn clarinet or cello. If an instrument is too big for a student, the student struggles.
Instrument Assignments - A Balanced Selection
NOT EVERYONE CAN LEARN THE VIOLIN OR PLAY THE SAXOPHONE! A band or orchestra is like a football or basketball team. And within those teams, not everyone is a center or a quarterback; there are specialties. The success of an orchestra or band depends on if we have a balanced mixture of instruments being performed. With balanced instrumentation, students get to experience live, and in person what quality ensemble playing is like.
Band Instruments Offered
Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax
Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba
Percussion - snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, hand percussion
Orchestra Instruments Offered
Violin, Viola, Cello, and Upright Bass
Band - The Most Important Instruments
The number one most important instrument in the band is the Tuba. It is the largest brass instrument and the band's lowest sounding instrument. The tuba provides the bass and determines how loud the band can play. There is not one band that sounds good without a Tuba. The tuba is the first instrument that must be filled. It is difficult to have a successful band without a TUBA.
Orchestra - The Most Important Instruments
If you have not figured it out, it is the Upright Bass. Officially known as the Double Bass, this is the largest instrument in the string family. Larger means lower sounding. Similar to the tuba, the bass determines how loud the orchestra can play.
Should I RENT, BUY, or use a School Instrument?
At Hale Charter Academy, we suggest you rent your own instrument. We do not expect anybody to rent the larger and more rare instruments such as Tuba, Bassoon, Oboe, Baritone Sax, French Horn and Double Bass. We suggest that you rent if you play the smaller and higher demand instruments such as flute, clarinet, tenor sax, alto sax, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, and cello. While popular and high in demand, Hale has a limited inventory of those instruments. Please consider renting or purchasing an instrument before using a school instrument.
Renting your own instrument has its benefits! When you rent, there is an insurance option. Insurance allows you to have a temporary or loaner instrument while your rental instrument is being repaired. You're not confined to only using the instrument for just the school year. If you really enjoy playing the instrument, you can continue to rent during summer and continue practicing. Renting teaches your child the importance of investing and committing to an instrument, an activity, and a skill. Plus, there are rent to own options. The money you spend on the rental can be used as a down payment for purchasing a brand new instrument or the rental itself (read the fine print with your local music retailer).
We can afford to buy an instrument!
NOT SO FAST! Please, before purchasing an instrument, speak with Mr. Cruz.
Borrowing School Instruments
If you must borrow a school instrument, no questions will be asked. The following will be considered before assigning a school instrument to a student: 1) The size of the student, 2) The balance and instrumentation of the class, and 3) the availability of the instruments If you use a school instrument, please take very good care of the instrument. We will be short on inventory and instruments, and we cannot afford to send too many instruments to the district repair service. Sending too many instruments to the district repair will result in students without instruments. Parents, encourage your child to be responsible and careful with their school issued instrument for it may be the only one they get to play all year. They may be old, but they work!
If you borrow a school instrument, you run the risk of being charged a replacement fee for a lost or unrepairable instrument. If your school instrument needs repair, the instrument goes to the LAUSD repair shop. Turn around time is unpredictable, and in most cases, repairs might take an entire semester. If you use a school instrument and there are no additional instruments left, you are out of an instrument thus you are not participating.
Lastly, our school instruments are old! They work, but they are old! Again, please consider renting from a music store.
Keeping your Wind Instrument Clean
Keeping your instrument clean begins with having a clean and rinsed mouth. Simply rinsing your mouth with water before playing prevents your instrument from smelling bad. Clean the mouthpiece daily if possible or on a regular basis. If you play saxophone or clarinet, change the reed every 1 to 1.5 weeks. A cleaning cloth will keep the instrument free from oils or sweat from your hands.
Keeping your String Instrument Clean
Keep your string instrument clean by having clean hands when performing. Keep the fingerboard clean, and always wipe off any rosin dust on the body or strings of the instrument. With a soft cloth, gently wipe off accumulated rosin from the bowing area. If you allow rosin to accumulate, you will have problems producing a nice tone on the instrument. Clean hands also help the instrument last longer. Very sweaty hands will wear off the finish from a string instrument which may lead to cracks and splitting. Keep your hands as clean as possible.