If you would like to join the 6th-grade band, please email Mrs. Gurule at hgurule@mac.com or call 832-3006.
All band classes meet during school hours. Students will choose their instruments during an Instrument Placement Meeting (April 14th or 16th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the RMSA cafeteria). I usually suggest that students make a list of three instruments they are interested in playing prior to the meeting You will have a chance to sample all three instruments and perhaps a few more until we find one that suits you well.
Most parents rent instruments from a music company the first year. Someone will come out to the school in August to set up instrument rentals. Our school has a few tubas, baritones and french horns that we can rent out for $95/year as well.
Choosing an Instrument
In order for you to discuss with your student their instrument choice, please read the following short summaries of the instruments in beginning band.
The following instruments are available for rental or purchase through McFayden Music Company or the music store of your choice:
Trombone – The trombone is truly a unique brass instrument! It is the only instrument with a slide, which allows you to bend notes and really play around with the music. All of the other brass instruments have valves to push down instead. It is a medium-sized instrument with a big sound! I highly recommend playing the trombone. The success rate is high because of the constant need in all the bands. There can never be too many trombones!
Trumpet – Trumpet players add a nice, bright, brassy sound to music and often play the melody. The trumpet is the smallest of the brass instruments. The trumpet also gives students flexibility throughout their musical career to play other brass instruments such as Baritone or French horn. The number of students chosen to play trumpet will be limited according to our ensemble’s needs.
Clarinet – The warm, dark sound of the clarinet adds richness to any ensemble. Clarinets are typically made of wood (black) and have a long cylindrical shape with a bell at the end of the instrument. The clarinet takes patience and can be difficult to produce a pleasing tone when starting out, but usually by the middle of the first year of playing the tone can be refined. The clarinet is popular because after learning the instrument, one is able to play many different instruments with ease (Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax). Starting on clarinet gives the student many options throughout their musical career. The number of students chosen to play clarinet will be limited according to our ensemble’s needs.
Flute – When starting out, there is no doubt that the flute sounds better than most other instruments. Students are quickly able to play nice melodies within the first few weeks; however, competition can become very intense as students advance, and only the better ones usually stick it out. I recommend that only the students who are highly motivated and really want to play the flute start on this instrument. The number of students chosen to play flute will be limited according to our ensemble’s needs.
Percussion - If your student likes to pound on things at home, please don't assume he or she will make a good drummer! Most kids associate drums as starting out on a "Trap-set" like they see in Rock bands. The modern Concert band does not have drummers, but percussionists. They will be trained on bells, xylophones, chimes, timpani, snare drum and bass drum. The percussion section sometimes gets so large that not everyone can play at the same time. Percussionists must be able to sit quietly for long periods of time with nothing to do because frequently, there are no parts or very small parts to play in the full band setting. Students who are interested in percussion must have excellent grades and excellent behavior. Percussionists are highly encouraged to take private lessons. A piano background is preferred. Students who begin on percussion are required to purchase a set of bells and a snare drum with the appropriate sticks and mallets. The number of students chosen to play percussion will be limited according to our ensemble’s needs.
The following instruments are available for rental throught some companies at a higher cost or can be puchased by students/parents.
Alto Saxophone - Since the introduction of the saxophone to numerous rock bands, this has become a popular instrument to kids. Of all the band instruments available, this instrument has the highest drop out level. Because of the higher cost of the saxophone and its unavailability for rental, I recommend that before starting, you talk to your child about the strong commitment he or she has to make before choosing this instrument. A new student saxophone starts at $1,600; however, students can also find used saxophones in excellent condition for as little as $600. Although the number of students will be limited according to the ensemble’s needs, a dedicated number of saxophone players are greatly needed.
Tenor Saxophone - Like the Alto Sax, this instrument is very popular because of its connection with jazz and rock music. A typical concert band needs two Tenor Sax players. It is often given counter-melodies rather than the melody. Because of its larger size, the tenor can sometimes be difficult for smaller individuals to manage physically. Because of the higher cost of the Saxophone and its unavailability for rental, I recommend that before starting, you talk to your child about the strong commitment he or she has to make before choosing this instrument.
Oboe - In concert band, the oboe is often featured as a solo instrument. Because of this, the oboe section needs very few players. The perspective oboe player needs to have a persistent nature and show strong musical potential. Due to the complexity of the instrument, students who choose to play oboe are highly encouraged to take private lessons. Oboes are not available for rental and must be purchased by the student / parent. A new student oboe typically costs between $1,850 and $3,000. Oboe reeds typically cost $12 - $20 each and need to be replaced every 3 to 4 weeks.
Because of their high cost, the following instruments can be rented from our school for $75/year (based on availability and proper instrument care by the student).
Tuba - Tuba is, perhaps, the most important instrument in any band. If drums are the pulse, the Tuba is the heart of the band. This is the largest instrument in our ensemble. There are usually six Tubas in the band. It requires a strong desire and has a very high success rate.
Baritone/Euphonium - The Baritone is a fun instrument to play since it has many melodic parts in band music. It is a medium-sized brass instrument and renders a pleasing, sonorous sound. There are usually six baritones in the band. It requires a strong desire and has a high success rate.
French Horn - The French horn adds considerable beauty to the band and requires players with above average musical talent and intelligence. Six to eight good French horn players are needed in each grade. If you have a good ear and want to play a major role in contributing to the band, French horn may be for you. Because the horn typically plays notes, which are closer together and harder to distinguish, French horn players are highly encouraged to take private lessons. Our students play the double French horn (F/Bb), which has four valves instead of three. We have a limited number of these horns available for students, but used horns of good quality can be found for $600 - $1,200.
The following instruments are not available for rental and must be purchased by students.
Bassoon - The bassoon is a very important instrument for concert band. Sometimes students do not begin to play bassoon immediately in beginning band. Bassoon is often introduced later in the 7 th or 8th grade to students who have been successful on clarinet, saxophone, or flute. The bassoonist must have very agile fingers with a long reach. Due to the complexity of the instrument, students who choose to play bassoon are highly encouraged to take private lessons. Bassoons are not available for rental and our school does not currently own any of them. Prices for a new student bassoon start at $3,000. Bassoon reeds typically cost $20 each and need to be replaced every 4 weeks.