FORESTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND
Instrument Selection Guide
Clarinet
We look to start between 18-25 beginning students. Clarinet players will have the opportunity to play the bass clarinet in middle school and high school. Clarinet is a single reed instrument in the woodwind family. It is a very versatile instrument that plays very high and very low. Clarinet is a great instrument to start if you are interested in saxophone, but not able to afford the saxophone.
Recommended Instruments are rent-to-own from a music store from $20-$40 per month.
Avoid: Double Jointed Fingers & small/thin fingers. Students must also provide the recommended reeds.
Trumpet
We will start 18-25 beginning students. Trumpet is the highest sounding brass instrument. It often plays the melody, so the band relies heavily on these players. Natural born leaders are a good choice for this instrument. We look for thin lips on a trumpet player. If you were also good on French Horn, you would be an excellent trumpet player.
Recommended Instruments are rent-to-own from a music store from $20-$40 per month.
Trombone
The trombone is a member of the brass family. Blowing into a large mouthpiece produces sound on the trombone; therefore, it is a low brass instrument, producing deep, rich and often extremely powerful tones. The trombone is unique in that rather than valves like the other brass instruments, the trombone changes notes by using a slide. Trombone players rely on their memory and listening skills to hear if they are “in tune,” with the slide in the perfect position (the slide is not marked or notched). Therefore, students with outstanding “musical ears” thrive on the trombone!
Physical Characteristics: Trombone players come in all shapes and sizes. Students should have a willingness to play “loud” at times! The instrument looks large but it is not heavy. The large trombone mouthpiece happily accommodates most lip shapes!
Euphonium
We are limited to beginning 4-6 students. Euphoniums use valves like a trumpet, but the sound of a trombone. Students with strong finger dexterity tend to do well on euphonium. Singers tend to do well on this instrument.
PRIVATE LESSONS are REQUIRED for this instrument. Playing this instrument requires a 3 year commitment to band.
LISD provides the instrument for an annual fee of $100. Students must purchase the recommended mouthpiece.
French Horn
We are limited to beginning (6) students. French Horn has the largest range of notes of all brass instruments. Because of the many note choices, a good listener and singer/pitch recognition will thrive on French Horn. If you have sung in a choir or play piano, this will help with your French Horn skills, but not required. Singers tend to do well on this instrument. Students with large lips do NOT do well on this instrument. French Horn players tend to be diligent with school work.
PRIVATE LESSONS are REQUIRED for this instrument. Playing this instrument requires a 3 year commitment to band.
LISD provides the instrument for an annual fee of $100. Students must purchase the recommended mouthpiece.
Flute
We look to start between 15-20 beginning students. We are looking for a relaxed lower lip. Great flutists do not have a curvy top lip or “teardrop” center upper lip. The flute is the highest sounding instrument in the band.
Recommended Instruments are rent-to-own from a music store from $20-$40 per month.
Avoid: Double Jointed Fingers and “teardrop” upper lips.
Alto Sax
We are limited to between 8-10 beginning students. The Saxophone is a single reed instrument. Saxophone posture is important for the neck strap balance. Beginning Saxophone students stand up in the first semester of learning. A “puckery” set of lips and pronounced overbite are helpful in learning the saxophone. Saxophone students will start on the alto saxophone. Students will have an opportunity to play tenor or baritone saxophone in middle school and high school band.
Recommended Instruments are rent-to-own from a music store from $40-$80 per month and is the most expensive wind instrument. It is not provided by the school. Good alternative instruments to the saxophone are the flute or clarinet. Students must also provide the recommended reeds.
Oboe
We are limited to beginning 2-3 students. Oboe is a solo instrument. Oboists relish the chance to be heard on their instrument. Oboists demonstrate an immediate ability to “hear” pitch and match pitch by ear. Due to the nature of this instrument, oboists are expected to practice patience, perseverance, and positive attitudes. It is an advanced instrument. Oboe players tend to be diligent with school work, and have a “do it until I can’t get it wrong” attitude.
PRIVATE LESSONS are REQUIRED for this instrument. Playing this instrument requires a 3 year commitment to band.
LISD provides the instrument for an annual fee of $100. Students must provide the recommended reeds.
Bassoon
We are limited to beginning 2-4 students. Bassoon is a solo instrument. Bassoonists relish the chance to be heard on their instrument. Bassoonists demonstrate an immediate ability to “hear” pitch and match pitch by ear. Due to the nature of this instrument, Bassoonists are expected to practice patience, perseverance, and positive attitudes. It is an advanced instrument. Larger hand spread, nibble thumbs, and NO underbite work best for learning Bassoon. Bassoon players tend to be diligent with school work, and have a “do it until I can’t get it wrong” attitude.
PRIVATE LESSONS are REQUIRED for this instrument. Playing this instrument requires a 3 year commitment to band.
LISD provides the instrument for an annual fee of $100. Students must provide the recommended reeds.
Tuba
We are limited to beginning 3-5 students. Tuba is the largest and lowest instrument in band. Tuba plays the bass line. It uses valves like a trumpet or euphonium. It is the most important instrument in the band. Tubists are the most reliable students in the band. PRIVATE
LESSONS are REQUIRED for this instrument. Playing this instrument requires a 3 year commitment to band. Students will large/full lips do very well on tuba.
Singers tend to do well on this instrument. We provided (1) tuba at school and (1) tuba for at home practice. LISD provides the instruments for an annual fee of $100. Students must purchase the recommended mouthpiece.
Percussion
MOST STUDENTS WILL WANT TO DO THIS INSTRUMENT. No more than 10 students will be placed on Percussion. This is an advanced class. The percussion discussion includes the following questions:
Do you have a strong natural sense of internal pulse, gross/fine motor skills?
Do you have piano experience?
You will be singled out in band; can you handle this?
You will not always be playing in band class; how patient are you?
You will be in the back of the band; how is your level of self-control?
You will not always play the instruments you want; can you handle doing something you may not want at first?
2 Round Interview:
Round (1): Students must submit a REQUIRED Coordination Video to the Percussion Director by the indicated deadline-details via email.
Round (2): Selected/High Scoring Students interview in person for Round 2 with band director & perc director.
It is the most expensive upfront cost for band instrument/supplies. You are required to purchase a $150 “stick/mallet pack,” and rent-to-own the recommended mallet instrument from local music store. Also, percussionists are expected to stand during each class and rehearsal due to the nature of the instrument. Previous piano skills are not required BUT those students will receive stronger consideration over those who have none.
PRIVATE LESSONS are REQUIRED for this instrument.
WE DO NOT TEACH DRUM SET OR HAND DRUMMING. Students interested in percussion must also select another band instrument as a second choice should they not be selected. Factors for selection: academics, coordination, piano skills, and deportment.