Band Instruments

Beginning Band

The following instruments can be started in your child's first year of band.

Woodwinds

Flute: The flute is the oldest wind instrument and is part of the woodwind family. Sound is made by blowing across an opening similar to blowing across a bottle. The flute is the highest instrument in the band and often plays the melody and fast passages. The flute requires agile fingers and good coordination as all of your fingers are used to press buttons.

Clarinet: The clarinet is a single-reed instrument and is part of the woodwind family. Sound is made by making a reed vibrate. The clarinet has the largest range of the Woodwinds and can play both very low and very high notes. It often plays the melody and fast passages. Clarinet players should have agile fingers and good coordination as all of your fingers are used to cover tone holes or press buttons.

Alto Saxophone: The saxophone is a newer instrument (in comparison) being created in 1846. Although made of metal, the saxophone is a woodwind instrument as it uses a single reed similar to the clarinet to make sound. The alto saxophone is a middle voice in the band and often plays the melody or harmony. Saxophones are a main instrument in Jazz Band so if your student likes Jazz music, this would be a good choice for them. The Saxophone family includes the Alto, Tenor, and Baritone saxophones, increasing in size in that order. If your child is interested in one day playing a larger member of the family, they should start on Alto.

Brass

Trumpet: The trumpet is the highest voice of the brass family. Sounds is made by the player's lips vibrating in a mouthpiece. There are only three valves to press so the player uses their lip muscles to change the pitch. The trumpet often plays the melody and harmony and because of it's tradition in the military, fanfares. The trumpet is also a popular Jazz instrument.

Euphonium/Baritone: These names are used interchangeably although there are slight differences between the two instruments. This instrument uses valves similar to the trumpet, but often has four valves instead of three. The mouthpiece is quite a bit larger than the than the trumpet, but it is still the vibration of the player's lips which creates sound. While the euphonium often plays the bass part and helps create the foundation of the band, it also will have the melody and eventually is given fast passages similar to what the highest woodwinds play. If you are interested in playing the Tuba, you should start on the euphonium.

Trombone: The trombone is the only brass instrument that uses a slide to change the pitch. It's mouthpiece is a similar size to the mouthpiece used on the euphonium and sound is made by the vibration of the players lips in the mouthpiece. Instead of pushing down a valve, trombone players move their slide to either lengthen their instrument (creating a lower pitch) or shorten their instrument (creating a higher pitch). The trombone is a Jazz instrument.

Percussion

Percussionists create the rhythmic foundation of the band. They play a variety of instruments such as the xylophone, marimba, snare drum, bass drum, timpani, tambourine, triangle, cymbals, drumset, and the list could go on. Percussionists must be able to keep a steady beat, play independently, and should be coordinated. Having experience playing the piano will help with playing percussion. Percussionists should also be able to focus and pay attention even when the teacher is not right next to them. If your student is not patient, Percussion would be a bad choice for them. Because they play both mallets and drums they need to do twice as much practicing and work.

Wolf Band (One or More Years of Experience)

Students may continue on any of the beginning band instruments and the following instruments can be started during your student's second year of elementary band. They are either larger, or are simply more difficult to start on. However, these are some of the coolest instruments in band, so consider switching to one!

Oboe: The oboe is a double-reed instrument, it is similar in size to the clarinet, but sounds like what a snake-charmer plays. This means that sound is made by two reeds vibrating together. The oboe has a clear tone which is more penetrating that the other upper woodwinds. With it's higher register, it often plays the melody, however it also often plays solos due to its unique sound. Private lessons are necessary to switch to oboe.

Bassoon: The bassoon is also a double-reed instrument but it is much larger than the oboe. It has a very large range and because of that plays both bass parts and melodies. It has a very distincitve sound which some compare to a man singing. It does have a very complicated fingering system so any students wanting to play the bassoon should have very good coordination. Private lessons are necessary to switch to bassoon.

Tenor Saxophone: The tenor saxophone is the middle voice of the saxophone family. It is slightly larger than the alto saxophone so it is a lower instrument However, it uses the same fingering system so it is very easy to switch to. It often plays more harmony parts, however it is also given the melody and pairs up with the low brass often. The tenor saxophone is a Jazz instrument!

Horn in F (French Horn): Althougth it is often known as the French Horn, the Horn in F is actually of German Origin. It is the middle voice of the brass family and has one of the largest ranges. The Horn's tone quality is more mellow than the other brass instruments because its bell points backwards. It is often given solos because of that beautiful tone. Since it was originally used to play calls for hunting, it is often given fanfares as well.

Tuba: The tuba is the lowest and largest instrument in the band! It is a member of the brass family and plays the bass line, which provides the foundation for the rest of the ensemble. It is a very large instrument and has a large mouthpiece so it is recommended that you first play euphonium and then later switch to the tuba. Although tuba parts are often not the most complicated, since there are typically only a few tuba players in each band they need to be able to play independently and keep a steady beat.