Learn About the Band Instruments

The oboe is similar in its appearance to a clarinet, but it is played using a “double reed” instead of a mouthpiece.  Because the oboe is such a difficult instrument to master, only students with high academic performance records will be considered. Students with a history of disciplinary trouble will NOT be considered for oboe.

Physical Characteristics:  Students with profound overbites or under bites would have EXTREME difficulties producing good sounds on the oboe since the embouchure (mouth position) requires equal pressure on both sides of the reed at the same time.

Other Considerations:  Students who are selected to play oboe are required to maintain a supply of 3-4 high-quality reeds at ALL times.  Reeds average $15 each.  Drakes Creek MS provides oboes for students for a yearly $50 usage fee.

The bassoon is the larger, lower sounding version of the double reed instrument.  Because the bassoon is such a difficult instrument to master, only students with high academic performance records will be considered. Students with a history of disciplinary trouble will NOT be considered for bassoon.

Physical Characteristics:  A slight overbite is okay for students wishing to play bassoon, however, a student with an under bite should avoid bassoon.  Agile thumbs and long fingers are preferred.

Other Considerations:  Students who are selected to play bassoon are required to maintain a supply of 3-4 quality reeds at ALL times.  Reeds average $15 each.  Drakes Creek MS provides bassoons for students for a yearly $50 usage fee.

nlike the oboe, the clarinet uses a “single reed” and a mouthpiece to produce the sound.  Willingness to purchase or rent a good quality clarinet is a MUST as there are some clarinets on the market whose poor design and craftsmanship will make it next to impossible for your student to succeed. Consult a director before purchasing a clarinet.

Physical Characteristics:  One necessity of clarinet tone production is the ability to make the chin flat.  Orthodontia is okay, but if a student has an extremely rounded bottom row of teeth, it may be difficult to form the proper embouchure.  Students with double-jointed fingers should avoid selecting clarinet.  Clarinet players should have agile fingers for moving this multi-keyed instrument through fast musical passages.  The clarinet section is one of the larger sections of the band and is rarely limited to a certain number since bands should have twice as many clarinets as flutes.

Other Considerations:  Students who are able to focus on and perform a detailed series of instructions could do well on clarinet.  Clarinet players are also responsible for maintaining a working stock of 4-6 quality reeds.  A box of 10 reeds costs $25-30 and can last (with proper care) up to 4 months.

The alto saxophone, which uses a single reed like the clarinet, is a very popular instrument like flute and only students with the top scores will be chosen to play it.

Physical Characteristics:  Since the balance of the saxophone is maintained by the use of a neck strap, it is extremely important that students be able to sit up completely straight when asked to.

Other Considerations:  Saxophone players are responsible for maintaining a working stock of 4-6 quality reeds.  A box of 10 reeds costs $25-30.00 and can last (with proper care) up to 4 months.  Alto Saxophone students will have the opportunity after their first year of instruction to audition for Tenor Sax or Baritone Sax (based on their proven musical and behavioral abilities with the alto saxophone).

The trumpet is the smallest member of the brass family of instruments.  The sound on trumpet is produced by buzzing into a small mouthpiece.

Physical Characteristics: While orthodontia is troublesome to a trumpet player, it is not impossible to make good sounds with braces.  A slight overbite is okay, but an under bite can severely hinder progress on trumpet.  Trumpet players come in all shapes and sizes.

Other Considerations:  Trumpet parts usually have the melody (recognizable) part, therefore students who choose and are selected for trumpet should exhibit a confident demeanor, strong personality, and demonstrate a high level of self-motivation

The French Horn is also a member of the brass family.  Its sound is produced by buzzing into a small mouthpiece similar to a trumpet.  It is perhaps the most difficult of all the brass instruments due to the close nature of its notes.  Students with a history of disciplinary trouble will NOT be considered for French horn.

Physical Characteristics:  While orthodontia is troublesome to a French horn player, it is not impossible to make good sounds with braces.  A slight overbite is okay, but an under bite can severely hinder progress on French horn.  Because the bell of the French horn rests on the knee of the player while playing, it is imperative that a student’s upper torso be long enough to accommodate the size of the French horn to make good sounds.  The French horn’s keys are manipulated with the LEFT hand.

Other Considerations:  Because of the close nature of French horn notes, students should exhibit GREAT ability to match sung pitches.  This may be a good instrument choice for students who have participated in piano lessons or choir groups.  Drakes Creek MS provides French horns for students for a yearly $50 usage fee.

Like the French horn, trombone players should have good “musical ears”.  The trombone is played like the other brass instruments by buzzing into a cup shaped mouthpiece, but uses a slide instead of valves.  The slide is not marked or notched and players rely on their muscle memory and hearing to tell if they are in the EXACT proper location.

Physical Characteristics:  While some might think that trombone players must have long arms, the truth is there are numerous accommodations that make it possible for students of all shapes and sizes to play.  A slight overbite is acceptable, while an extreme under bite would hinder success.  Trombone players should have slightly fuller lips than average.

Other Considerations:  Great trombone playing takes good concentration and study.  Many quiet academicians have excelled at trombone.

The euphonium (or baritone) is a member of the brass family and looks like a small version of a tuba.  Its sound is similar to that of a trombone, but it uses valves like a trumpet instead of a slide like the trombone.

Physical Characteristics:  Euphonium players should have moderately full lips, but not too full.  A slight overbite is okay, but an under bite would hinder a good sound.  The euphonium requires a medium-sized hand span to reach the valves and students should have an above average lung capacity.

Other Considerations:  Students with a lot of orthodontia will find the mouthpiece of the euphonium a bit more comfortable than trumpet or French horn.  Drakes Creek MS provides euphoniums for students for a yearly $50 usage fee.

While many believe the tuba is the largest instrument in the band and would be hard to physically manage, the tubas we use for beginners are ¾ size and quite easy to handle.

Physical Characteristics:  Tuba players need to have fuller lips and a large lung capacity.  While size of the student doesn’t matter TOO much, a long torso (upper body) helps students reach the mouthpiece of the tuba while resting the bottom of the tuba on the edge of their chair.

Other Considerations:  The tuba provides the musical foundation for the band and requires that tuba players are self-motivated over-achievers.  Cleburne ISD provides tubas for students for a yearly $50 usage fee.

Just because you are always tapping on things does not mean you are a natural percussionist.  In fact, the percussion section is the most select, handpicked section of the band.  Only students with the highest grades, lowest discipline problems, backgrounds in piano lessons, and extremely high gross and fine motor skills will be considered for percussion.  Students in the percussion class at Drakes Creek MS begin learning on keyboard percussion (bells, xylophone) and practice pads.  Percussion students learn all of the percussion instruments including mallets, battery, accessory, and world percussion instruments.

Physical Characteristics:  Students should exhibit above average coordination in gross and fine motor skills.

Other Considerations:  Percussion students must be able to exhibit the ability to maintain a steady tempo while echoing rhythms.  Only the most mature, self-disciplined, intrinsically motivated students should audition for the percussion section.