Common Q & AQ: Can I be in sports or other clubs and in band?
A: Yes! Band class is during the regular school day as one of your encore classes. It will not interfere with sports or after school clubs and organizations. Q: What instruments can I play in the sixth grade beginner band program? A: Students can choose to play the Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet & Trombone as a starter instrument. When you are successful and recommended to advance to other instruments, Ms. Hutson will help guide you after you master your beginner instrument if you are interested. Q: Why do some instruments have limited spots? A: Many instruments are limited due to the volume of sound that the instrument produces. For example, Alto Saxophones, Percussion instruments such as Drums & Cymbals are very loud instruments. We only need a few in our ensembles in order to have a good and balanced sound. Tenor Saxophones, Bass Clarinets, Euphoniums and Tubas are typically provided by the school, and we have a limited number of instruments available. However, students have used the Music & Arts Rent to Own program which lowers the overall purchase price of the instrument by 30%. Lastly, percussion is a popular instrument family but often there are not enough instrumental music parts to play in our music in comparison to the number of students that want to learn this popular family of instruments. This causes students to be bored during class & at performances because they do not have anything to play. Q: What if I know I want to switch to a different instrument that's not one I can start on? What should I play? A: If you want to play Oboe or Bassoon you should start on Flute and know that you will be required to take private lessons when you switch. If you want to play French Horn you should start on trumpet or flute. Those students that want to play Tuba should start on Trombone or Euphonium. Students that want to play Tenor saxophone or Baritone saxophone should start on either Alto saxophone. Those wanting to play percussion should start on Flute. Always ask Ms. Hutson for advice, after all she is a wealth of knowledge in this subject area. Q: What instruments does the school have available for sixth grade beginning band? A: We have a limited number of school instruments available for students who cannot afford the monthly rental option. Our limited supply includes Clarinets, Alto Saxophones, Trumpets, Euphoniums, Tenor Saxophones, Bari Saxophones, Bass Clarinets and Tubas. Students are still responsible for supplying their book and instrumental supplies to participate in class daily. These instruments are only available during their first year to allow all students the opportunity to try learning an instrument. Larger instruments will be available annually. If a student wishes to continue in band the following year we will discuss options for acquiring an instrument or moving you to a different school owned instrument such as Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, French Horn, Euphonium or Tuba which are available through school all three years of Band. |
Tips for Deciding on an InstrumentInterested in playing the Flute?
One of the most challenging attributes about learning to play the flute is producing your first sounds on the headjoint. There is never a cap on the number of flute players we will have in the band. Do you want to try this process using a soda bottle at home? Click HERE to learn how at home! Interested in playing Clarinet? Clarinet is a great instrument choice if you want to switch to tenor saxophone, or bass clarinet after Winter Break or at the start of 7th grade. Switching instruments isn't guaranteed for all students, the clarinet is one that many students are able start on and switch to play another instrument later. There is never a cap on the number of clarinet players we will have in the band. Interested in playing the Alto Saxophone? Something to consider: students that are small in size will generally struggle with the saxophone due to its size. It is also the most expensive instrument to repair if you choose to purchase rather than rent. Students that are successful on alto saxophone are good listeners and detail-oriented. We take a maximum of four Alto Saxophone players annually in beginning band Interested in playing the Trumpet? Do like the melody in music? Do you want to be able to play loud and quiet? Trumpet is a great instrument and later you may be able to switch to French Horn, Euphonium or Tuba. Want to try learning how to play with just your lips at home? Watch the beginning of this video and even this video example about buzzing you can try at home! There is never a cap on the number of Trumpet players we will have in beginning band. Interested in Trombone or Euphonium? This is a great instrument if you enjoy the bass line in music. TO play these instruments you need to be able to buzz to make sound. Try to make a buzz using just your lips demonstrated in this video! You can also watch the videos in the Trumpet Section as well for more buzzing lessons. Euphonium Info The Euphonium is q school-owned instrument and students that play it will only have to provide a mouthpiece and valve oil. We take a maximum of four Euphonium players each year depending on the number of instruments available. Interested in playing Percussion? Percussion students are required to learn the Bells, Xylophone, Marimba, Chimes, Concert toms, Timpani, Bass drum, Triangle, Suspended cymbal, Crash cymbals, Guiro, Claves, Tambourine, and the snare drum. Students that play percussion will spend the first semester learning the fundamentals on one of the beginner instruments. 5 percussions will make the section after they audition to be in this instrument family. You will need to supply a Percussion Kit as your instrument for this Instrument Family in class and for at home use for the first year of band only. All sticks & mallets are supplied by the studnet. |