Flute
|
|
Cleaning the flute
Clarinet
|
|
|
|
After forming your embouchure, push air from your tummy muscles through the clarinet. Do not squeeze the mouthpiece with your lips. Most of the pressure should be the mouthpiece pressing against your top teeth.
Cleaning the clarinet
NEVER leave the reed on the clarinet mouthpiece. It will mold and in extreme cases can attract pests.
Saxophone
The embouchure for saxophone is very similar to clarinet. Follow the same instructions for assembling the mouthpiece.
Cleaning the saxophone
Oiling a trumpet, baritone, or tuba's valves
Oiling a trombone slide
Instrument Introductions
|
Instruments Available to Our StudentsIn order of the video demonstration:
Flute Oboe Bassoon Clarinet Saxophone Trumpet Horn Trombone Baritone Tuba Percussion *Note: String instruments appear in some of the clips, but unfortunately are not offered here at TMS. |
Beginning Band
Instrument selection
PLEASE DO NOT BUY AN INSTRUMENT YET!!!
Many of you have come into Beginning Band with some idea of what instrument you would like to play. While it is good to have that desire already in place, please be aware that just because you want to play a particular instrument doesn’t mean that you were “meant to play” that instrument. Even more importantly, just because you happen to have your uncle’s trumpet in the attic, doesn’t mean that you should play trumpet. There are a variety of factors that go into choosing the right instrument for you. These include:
We begin by making an assessment of your child's physical characteristics-overbites, teeth structures, mouth shapes, hand size, finger length, and overall physical stature. If your child has an unusual physical characteristic that you feel may need to be considered in choosing an instrument, please contact the Band Director. Also, note that students with braces can be successful on any brass or woodwind instrument. Furthermore, braces come off eventually!
Consider your child's musical aptitude. Children who are able to perceive differences in pitch, and who are able to sing well in tune should be encouraged to play the more pitch sensitive instruments like Trombone, and French horn. In addition, students choosing to play these two instruments should be hard working, able to work independently, and willing to take private lessons with a professional.
A balanced instrumentation is very important for our band students if they are to have the best possible musical experience. Children well suited for some of the less popular instruments must be encouraged to study them. Band is a team concept and just like a football team with a few players at each position, the band needs a certain number of players on each instrument. Please be flexible if your child is asked to play an instrument that fits them and is a need in this band. As an added bonus, oftentimes the musicians playing the “less popular” instruments are the ones that colleges are looking for. When colleges are looking for you, they usually come with scholarship money in hand!
To give you and idea of what we need to have a successful band, here is the instrumentation that I am aiming for with the class:
Instrument
Flute 5-6
Clarinet 6-8
Alto saxophone 3-4
Trumpet 4-6
French Horn 2-3
Trombone 4-6
Baritone 2-3
Tuba 2-3
Percussion* 3-5
The interest of your child is very important. Children highly motivated to learn a particular instrument are likely to succeed. Your child may also need to be encouraged to practice. Many children are not able to schedule practice time and stick to it on their own. They do need your help!
*Meet the Band Instrument Family* As you read this, you can check out the instruments and how they sound at www.templetonmsband.weebly.com (the band website) under the beginning band tab. Our syllabus is also located here and the form on the website is due Friday! Note: The term embouchure is defined by the correct formation of the mouth to produce a positive tone on a wind instrument. This word will be used throughout this handout. Note #2: The following are not hard and fast rules. They are guidelines. Some of the greatest musicians of all time don’t meet any of the criteria for their instrument, but they are successful nonetheless.
Note: Please consider the following requirements when choosing a brass instrument:
GETTING AN INSTRUMENT
As far as obtaining the instruments, there are a number of routes to go. The following instruments, because of their size and/or expense can be provided by the school: Tuba, baritone, bass clarinet, tenor and baritone saxophone, bassoon, French horn. All repairs and maintenance of the instrument are the responsibility of the student and his or her family.
While the school owns a number of the other instruments, I am reserving those for families who are without the financial means to pursue one of the options listed below. If you do have the means to rent or purchase, please do so. Please bear in mind though, that there are still some accessories and equipment that must be purchased, regardless of the instrument chosen and regardless of whether you are playing a school owned instrument, a rented one, or a purchased one.
All other instruments should be rented or purchased from the local music dealers. All local dealers’ rental programs operate basically the same: Every dollar you put into renting an instrument goes towards the purchase of a new instrument when you return the rental. It’s a great way to “test drive” an instrument. Rental rates are generally VERY affordable; $20-40 per month, depending on the instrument.
If you choose to purchase an instrument from a private source or online, please do not do so until you have checked with me. With the advent of the internet, there are a ton of junk instruments on the market now. For every good trumpet on eBay, there are literally 20 junk horns. Just because they are shiny and new, does not make them good horns. Plus, many local repair shops will refuse to service these junk horns (and they will need servicing very early in their lives) because they simply cannot be repaired. Repairmen won’t put their reputation on the line for an instrument that can’t ever be fixed. I can provide you with a list of reputable manufacturers with a long track record of excellent quality.
While this may all seem very expensive, consider that most of the expense occurs in the first year. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me at rcromwell@templetonusd.org. Include your child’s name in the subject line in case your email gets caught in the spam filter.
Again,
PLEASE DO NOT BUY AN INSTRUMENT YET!!!
After I have collected the students’ top 3 choices and all student have tried all instruments, I will send out assignments for instruments based on this information and will give you the go-ahead to go to Matt’s Music.
Thank you and I can’t wait to see what these kids can do!
TMS Band Director
THS Choir Director
Instrument selection
PLEASE DO NOT BUY AN INSTRUMENT YET!!!
Many of you have come into Beginning Band with some idea of what instrument you would like to play. While it is good to have that desire already in place, please be aware that just because you want to play a particular instrument doesn’t mean that you were “meant to play” that instrument. Even more importantly, just because you happen to have your uncle’s trumpet in the attic, doesn’t mean that you should play trumpet. There are a variety of factors that go into choosing the right instrument for you. These include:
- Physical characteristics of the student
- Musical suitability for the instrument
- The need for balanced instrumentation
- The interest of the student
We begin by making an assessment of your child's physical characteristics-overbites, teeth structures, mouth shapes, hand size, finger length, and overall physical stature. If your child has an unusual physical characteristic that you feel may need to be considered in choosing an instrument, please contact the Band Director. Also, note that students with braces can be successful on any brass or woodwind instrument. Furthermore, braces come off eventually!
Consider your child's musical aptitude. Children who are able to perceive differences in pitch, and who are able to sing well in tune should be encouraged to play the more pitch sensitive instruments like Trombone, and French horn. In addition, students choosing to play these two instruments should be hard working, able to work independently, and willing to take private lessons with a professional.
A balanced instrumentation is very important for our band students if they are to have the best possible musical experience. Children well suited for some of the less popular instruments must be encouraged to study them. Band is a team concept and just like a football team with a few players at each position, the band needs a certain number of players on each instrument. Please be flexible if your child is asked to play an instrument that fits them and is a need in this band. As an added bonus, oftentimes the musicians playing the “less popular” instruments are the ones that colleges are looking for. When colleges are looking for you, they usually come with scholarship money in hand!
To give you and idea of what we need to have a successful band, here is the instrumentation that I am aiming for with the class:
Instrument
Flute 5-6
Clarinet 6-8
Alto saxophone 3-4
Trumpet 4-6
French Horn 2-3
Trombone 4-6
Baritone 2-3
Tuba 2-3
Percussion* 3-5
The interest of your child is very important. Children highly motivated to learn a particular instrument are likely to succeed. Your child may also need to be encouraged to practice. Many children are not able to schedule practice time and stick to it on their own. They do need your help!
*Meet the Band Instrument Family* As you read this, you can check out the instruments and how they sound at www.templetonmsband.weebly.com (the band website) under the beginning band tab. Our syllabus is also located here and the form on the website is due Friday! Note: The term embouchure is defined by the correct formation of the mouth to produce a positive tone on a wind instrument. This word will be used throughout this handout. Note #2: The following are not hard and fast rules. They are guidelines. Some of the greatest musicians of all time don’t meet any of the criteria for their instrument, but they are successful nonetheless.
- Flute -The flute is one of the most popular instruments for beginners. Students are able to play pleasant little melodies within the first few weeks. The competition is very intense, and only the better ones stick it out. I recommend that only the children who are highly motivated and really want to play the flute start on this instrument. If a child has small hands, the flute might be a better choice. A child with a slight overbite can make an excellent flute player. The child with even teeth and lips that are firm usually will be successful. The child cannot have a “cupid’s bow” on the top lip. The child’s left arm must be long enough to reach across the body in order to hold to flute in proper playing position. Before the final decision is made, the child will be tested with the flute’s head joint in order to check for embouchure and the production of a good tone.
- Clarinet -The clarinet is also a popular instrument for beginners. The clarinet takes more patience. It is more difficult to produce a pleasing tone when starting out, but with consistent practice the tone can be refined. The hard part about playing clarinet is covering the holes. If a student has very small hands, the clarinet may not be a wise choice. The reason for this is that the fingers must be able to cover all the holes properly or you will not get a good sound. Most of the time, you will only get airy sounds or squeaks. Students with different mouth, lip, and teeth formations can be successful. Before the final decision is made, the child will be tested with the clarinet’s mouthpiece in order to produce a good tone. The child has the correct embouchure if a concert C above the staff is produced with just the mouthpiece.
- Alto Saxophone -Since the introduction of the Sax 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. If the child is dedicated, the success rate is quick and beneficial. Because of the higher cost of the saxophone, I recommend that before starting, you talk to your child about the strong commitment he or she has to make before choosing this instrument. The physical qualifications are the same as clarinet.
- Oboe – (Note: My intention is to switch somebody to oboe later in the year as certain strengths become evident. However, if you think oboe is the way to go for you, I will consider it.) In concert band, the oboe is often featured as a solo instrument. Because of this, the oboe section needs very few players. The oboe player needs to have a persistent nature and show strong musical potential. The parent must be willing to let their child take private lessons with a professional. The oboe is an instrument that requires special care and attention that can only come through private lessons. Previous piano experience is strongly recommended. If this sounds like you, maybe Oboe is your instrument. Also, due to the rarity of good oboe players, scholarship money is readily available when college time comes around. The student will have an opportunity to try out an oboe reed to determine a good fit.
- Bassoon – (Note: My intention is to switch somebody to bassoon later in the year as certain strengths become evident. However, if you think bassoon is the way to go for you, I will consider it.) The bassoon is a low voice, double reed instrument. It requires long fingers and a strong ear. Like the oboe, the bassoon is a very delicate instrument that requires some special care and attention. Players benefit greatly from private lessons from a professional or college student. Also like oboe, good bassoon players are highly sought after by colleges and have loads of scholarship money available as well.
- Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – (Note: All saxophone players will begin on alto and later in the year some will be switched to tenor or baritone) Like the Alto Sax, these instruments are very popular because of their connection with jazz and rock music. A typical concert band needs one, maybe two Tenor Sax players and one or two “Bari” Sax players. The Tenor is often given counter-melodies rather than the melody. The Bari serves as the bass voice of the family. Because of their larger size, the tenor and bari can sometimes be difficult for smaller individuals to manage physically. Because of the higher cost of the Saxophone, I recommend that before starting, you talk to your child about the strong commitment he or she has to make before choosing this instrument. See notes on Clarinet and Alto Sax.
- Bass Clarinet – One student will be switched to the bass clarinet later in the year. The qualifications for bass clarinet are similar to that of clarinet and saxophone.
Note: Please consider the following requirements when choosing a brass instrument:
- Proper lower and upper jaw alignment
- Straight teeth
- Lip formation allows for lip vibration
- Adequate muscular development of the lips
- Trumpet - The success rate is very high. The child should have these qualities: no braces, thin lips (bigger lips will require a bigger mouthpiece), no “cupid’s tip” on the top lip, and meet the above requirements. A mouthpiece test is required.
- French Horn -The French Horn is an instrument that adds considerable beauty to the band and requires players with above average musical talent. If you have a good ear and want to play a major role in contributing to the band, French horn is for you. The parent must be willing to let their child take private lessons with a professional. The French Horn is an instrument that requires special care and attention that can only come through private lessons. The child should have these qualities: no braces, thin lips (bigger lips will require a bigger mouthpiece), no “cupid’s tip” on the top lip, and meet the above requirements. A mouthpiece test is required.
- Trombone The Trombone takes time and patience to learn but is one of the most fun instruments to play. It looks harder to play than it actually is. Lots of Trombones are needed!!! The success rate is high because of the constant need in all the bands. The student needs to have longish arms and a good ear and meet the above requirements. A mouthpiece test is required.
- Baritone/Euphonium (Note: Euphonium players will be drawn from within the trumpet and trombone sections later in the year.) The Euphonium, sometimes called the Baritone is a fun instrument to play since it has many melodic parts in band music. It requires a strong desire and has a high success rate. The student must meet the above requirements. A mouthpiece test is required.
- Tuba -Tuba is, perhaps, the most important instrument in any band. The Tuba is the heart of the band. It requires a strong desire and has a high success rate. Some of our most successful graduates play the Tuba. Because of the high cost of this instrument, it will be provided by the school based on availability and proper instrument care by the student. The student must meet the above requirements. A mouthpiece test is required.
- Percussion – NOTE: piano experience recommended. If your child 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 "Drum-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, bass drum, auxiliary percussion, and the marching Drumline when they enter the high school. The percussion section sometimes gets so large that not everyone can play at the same time. Due to this problem, I would like to restrict the few percussion positions to students with piano or percussion background. Also, because of these sometimes independent circumstances, the percussionists should be the best behaved students in the band. Miss Cromwell will be checking the grades and cumulative record of all students interested in percussion. Students who begin on percussion are asked to purchase (rent at first) a set of bells and a snare drum with the appropriate sticks and mallets.
GETTING AN INSTRUMENT
As far as obtaining the instruments, there are a number of routes to go. The following instruments, because of their size and/or expense can be provided by the school: Tuba, baritone, bass clarinet, tenor and baritone saxophone, bassoon, French horn. All repairs and maintenance of the instrument are the responsibility of the student and his or her family.
While the school owns a number of the other instruments, I am reserving those for families who are without the financial means to pursue one of the options listed below. If you do have the means to rent or purchase, please do so. Please bear in mind though, that there are still some accessories and equipment that must be purchased, regardless of the instrument chosen and regardless of whether you are playing a school owned instrument, a rented one, or a purchased one.
All other instruments should be rented or purchased from the local music dealers. All local dealers’ rental programs operate basically the same: Every dollar you put into renting an instrument goes towards the purchase of a new instrument when you return the rental. It’s a great way to “test drive” an instrument. Rental rates are generally VERY affordable; $20-40 per month, depending on the instrument.
If you choose to purchase an instrument from a private source or online, please do not do so until you have checked with me. With the advent of the internet, there are a ton of junk instruments on the market now. For every good trumpet on eBay, there are literally 20 junk horns. Just because they are shiny and new, does not make them good horns. Plus, many local repair shops will refuse to service these junk horns (and they will need servicing very early in their lives) because they simply cannot be repaired. Repairmen won’t put their reputation on the line for an instrument that can’t ever be fixed. I can provide you with a list of reputable manufacturers with a long track record of excellent quality.
While this may all seem very expensive, consider that most of the expense occurs in the first year. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me at rcromwell@templetonusd.org. Include your child’s name in the subject line in case your email gets caught in the spam filter.
Again,
PLEASE DO NOT BUY AN INSTRUMENT YET!!!
After I have collected the students’ top 3 choices and all student have tried all instruments, I will send out assignments for instruments based on this information and will give you the go-ahead to go to Matt’s Music.
Thank you and I can’t wait to see what these kids can do!
TMS Band Director
THS Choir Director