Band Instrument Selection
What instrument should I play?
Instrument Selection
Your student has learned about the various instrument families in music class. Your student will take that knowledge and make three instrument selections that is a combination of instruments from the woodwind, brass, and [or] percussion families. Your student will then be tested on the 3 instruments they have chosen to determine which instrument is the best-fit for your student.
Here are some of our instrument choices!
Instrument Rental Drive
McCarroll Multipurpose Building
4:30pm-7pm
Please do not arrive until the after school bus traffic has cleared!
Woodwind Family
Flute
The flute is the smallest of the beginner instruments.
Personality: Outgoing and Studious
Physical Characteristics: Flute players should have a slight “frown” to the upper lip with NO tear drop shape in the middle. Flute tones are produced by being able to focus an extremely small air stream to an exact location on the tone hole. The tear-drop-shaped lip will make it difficult to direct the air so precisely. Flute players should also have agile fingers for moving this multi-keyed instrument through a fast musical passage. Students with extreme overbites (receded jaw) should avoid choosing flute as this makes it difficult to produce quality sounds. Flexible lower lip desirable.
Other Considerations: Students with double-jointed fingers should avoid selecting flute as double-jointedness can cause lack of agility in the fingers.
Clarinet
The clarinet uses a “single reed” and a mouthpiece to produce the sound. Clarinet is a popular instrument each year and many students will get the opportunity to play. Physical
Personality: Diligent & Focused
Characteristics: One necessity of clarinet tone production is the ability to make the chin flat. Other Considerations: Students who have difficulty remembering a series of instructions should avoid playing clarinet. Clarinet players are also responsible for maintaining a working stock of 4-6 quality reeds.
Saxophone
Personality: Mellow
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 do so.
Other Considerations: Saxophone players are responsible for maintaining a working stock of 4-6 quality reeds.
Brass Family
Trumpet
Personality: Confident & Daring
Physical Characteristics: While orthodontia is somewhat troublesome to a trumpet player, it is not impossible to make good sounds with braces. A slight overbite is okay, but an underbite 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.
Trombone
Personality: Sense of Humor & Good Ear for Music
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. 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.
Euphonium
Personality: Artistic
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 an above average amount of orthodontia will find the mouthpiece of the euphonium a bit more comfortable than trumpet. MMS provides euphoniums for students but students are required to purchase their own mouthpieces.
Tuba
Personality: Unique & Fun Loving
Physical Characteristics: Tuba players need to have full lips and a large lung capacity. While the size of the student doesn’t matter TOO much, a long torso (upper body) helps a student reach the mouthpiece of the tuba while resting the bottom of the tuba on the edge of their chair or across the thighs.
Percussion
Personality: Coordinated & organized
Physical Characteristics: Students should exhibit a great deal of coordination in gross and fine motor skills.
Other Considerations: The study of percussion includes bells, triangle, tambourine, maracas, claves, bells, xylophone, marimba, and timpani among many other instruments.