Meet the Instruments!

FLUTE

The flute is the smallest of the beginner instruments. It is a very popular selection each year.

FLUTE PERSONALITY: Conscientious & Studious

CLARINET

Unlike the oboe, the clarinet uses a “single reed” and a mouthpiece to produce the sound. Clarinet is a popular instrument each year that many students will get the opportunity to play.

CLARINET PERSONALITY: Focused

TRUMPET

The trumpet is the smallest member of the brass family. The sound on trumpet is produced by buzzing into a small mouthpiece.

TRUMPET PERSONALITY: Confident

HORN

The Horn is a member of the brass family. The sound of the Horn is produced by buzzing into a small mouthpiece similar to a trumpet. Students with good musical ears should consider Horn.

HORN PERSONALITY: Academic

OBOE

The oboe is similar in its appearance to a clarinet, but it is played using a “double reed” instead of a single reed and mouthpiece. Selection of oboe players is EXTREMELY limited.

OBOE PERSONALITY: Studious

TROMBONE

Like the French Horn, trombone players should have good “musical ears”. The trombone is played like the other brass instruments, but uses a slide instead of valves.

TROMBONE PERSONALITY: Analytical

BASSOON

The bassoon is the largest instrument in the woodwind family. It is similar to the oboe in the fact that it uses a double reed to produce the sound. Selection of bassoon players is EXTREMELY limited.

BASSOON PERSONALITY: Serious

SAXOPHONE

The alto saxophone gives the impression of being both a brass AND woodwind instrument, but it is indeed considered a woodwind instrument. The alto saxophone (which uses a single reed like the clarinet) is a very popular instrument and only a few students will be chosen to play it.

SAXOPHONE PERSONALITY: Jazzy & Out-Going

EUPHONIUM

The euphonium is sometimes known as the baritone. It is a member of the brass family and looks like a small version of a tuba. Its sound is similar to that of a trombone, but it uses valves (like trumpet) instead of a slide (like trombone).

EUPHONIUM PERSONALITY: Artistic

TUBA

The tuba is the largest instrument in the band and many would believe it would be hard to physically manage. The tubas we use for beginners are ¾ size and easy to handle.

TUBA PERSONALITY: Unique

PERCUSSION FAMILY

The percussion family includes mallet instruments (bells, xylophone, marimba), accessories (triangle, tambourine, cymbals) and battery instruments (snare drum, bass drum, timpani). Because of the amount of organization needed in the percussion section, it is the most select, hand-picked section of the band. Only students with low discipline problems, and extremely high gross and fine motor skills will be considered for percussion.

PERCUSSION PERSONALITY: Coordinated/Organized