Picking An Instrument

At school, your child attended an assembly with us. During that time we showcased each instrument to them. They wrote down their top three picks on a handout. Please talk with your child about why they liked those instruments to help them select which one would be best for them.

Instrument Families

Instruments are divided into families. Watch the family videos to see which group you like best. When ready, scroll down and click on an instrument to watch a video about it. Pick the instrument you want to learn.

Woodwind

Brass

Percussion

String

Band Instruments

flute - At Palmyra, piccolo is not played until at least the middle school level. Beginning on the flute gives a solid foundation for them to be able to advance to the piccolo when ready.

oboe - This small instrument focuses on using your fingers in unqiue combinations to change your sound.

clarinet - This small instrument is most similar to the recorder and has a rich sound.

alto saxophone - At Palmyra, we start saxophonists on the alto saxophone. In Middle School, they can switch to the tenor and baritone saxophone.

trumpet - This medium size instrument makes brillant sounds that everyone can hear.

French horn - This medium size instrument has a beautiful warm sound.

trombone - Use your right arm to move the slide in and out to help you change sounds. This medium sized instrument has a low, bright sound.

baritone/euphonium - Use your fingers to push valves to help you change sounds. This medium sized instrument has a mellow and warm low sound.

tuba - This large instrument can be a little challenging for beginners to use. We recommend starting on baritone/euphonium and then transisitoning to the tuba when the student is ready.

total percussion - Percussion is the largest instrument family. In order for your child to have a great start to learning this instrument family, we have students start by learning the bells and snare drum. You can buy or rent kits that have a bell kit, and either a snare drum or drum pad.

Orchestra Instruments

violin - This is the smallest, and the highest sounding instrument of all the strings. This instrument is played under the chin and can be played sitting or standing. In the orchestra, the violin receives many of the melodies and high parts that make it stick out above the other instruments. Click on the violin link to see an example!

viola - This instrument looks very similar to the violin, but it is a larger and lower sounding instrument. The viola has a much deeper tone/sound. Students who enjoy the shape/size of the violin, but do not want the high pitch of the violin may choose the viola. Click on the viola link to see an example!

cello - This instrument is larger than both the violin and the viola and is played while sitting down. One reason that the cello is so popular is because of its deep melodic tone. The cello’s range is that closest to the human voice. The cello is given many of the creative harmonic parts and bass lines of the orchestra. Students who play the cello will not have to bring it back and forth to school. I will supply one at school for them to use, and they will keep their own at home. Click on the cello link to see an example!

bass - This is the largest instrument and the lowest sounding instrument of the string family. The string bass is in charge of keeping the orchestra together. The string bass in the orchestra is just like the electric bass of a rock band. It is part of the rhythm section of the orchestra and is given all the creative beats. Students who play the bass will not have to bring it back and forth to school. I will supply one at school for them to use, and they keep their own at home. Click on the bass link to see an example!