Required Materials
Students need the following materials to participate in band:
Method Books: Wind Ensemble Students will need to purchase "Band Technique Step By Step",(for your child's instrument), by Robert Elledge & Donald Haddad
Students need the following materials to participate in band:
Method Books: Wind Ensemble Students will need to purchase "Band Technique Step By Step",(for your child's instrument), by Robert Elledge & Donald Haddad
Concert Band and Symphonic Band Students will need to purchase "Basic Training Method For (your child's instrument)", by John Kinyon, Book 2 (Orange BK) Please note that Trumpet books will say "cornet".
* An instrument in good playing condition- Remember when purchasing an instrument, like anything else, you get what you pay for. A bargain is rarely a
bargain, therefore it is best to purchase/ rent to own your child's instrument from a reputable music store. As your
musician continues through middle, high school and college, you may wish to upgrade the instrument to one of
professional quality. The following is a list of quality instrument brands that are highly recommended by school band
directors:
Flutes: Yamaha, Gemeinnhardt, Armstrong,Selmer, Artley, Pearl, Jupiter, Leblanc, Hanes ( Upgraded flutes should be open-hole with a B-foot)
Oboe: Loree, Fox-Renard, Selmer
Clarinets: Yamaha, Artley, Buffet, Leblanc, Jupiter
Saxophones: Yamaha, Selmer, Armstrong, Jupiter
Trumpets: Yamaha, Bach, Jupiter, Schilke
French Horns: Holten, Conn, JZ,
Trombones: Yamaha, Bach, Conn, King, Jupiter
Euphoniums: Yamaha, Jupiter,
Percussion: Ludwig, Pearl
If an instrument upgrade is not in the immediate future, then consider upgrading to a better quality mouthpiece. A good mouthpiece can dramatically change the quality of an instrument's tone, and make it much easier for your child to play in tune, or extreme ranges of the instrument. This is especially true of woodwind instruments. Here are some recommended mouthpiece brands and models:
Clarinet: Vandoren B45, Vandoren 5RV Lyre, Vandoren M13, Gennusa, Mezzo, Excellente
Saxophone: Selmer C*(star), Hite Premiere
French Horn: Holten Farkas MDC
Trumpet: Bach 7C or other size based on recommendation of private instructor or band director
Trombones: Bach 12C (small shank)
Euphonium: Schilke 51(small shank)
* A strong instrument case
* A name tag or label on the case
*Necessary accessories for each instrument:
Flute: Soft cloth for absorbing moisture and wiping finger prints
Clarinet: Clarinet swab, Reeds (Vandoren-Blue Box, Mitchel Lurie, size 2 1/2 for Concert band, size 3 for Symphonic & Wind Ensemble), cork grease
Saxophones: Swab, Reeds (Vandoren, Hemke, Rico Royal, size 2 1/2), comfortable neck strap, cork grease
Trumpets & Other Brass: Soft rag, flexible cleaner, valve oil, slide grease or petroleum jelly
Trombones: Soft rag, flexible cleaner, slide grease or petroleum jelly, liquid slide cream or slide oil
* Music folder
* A music stand for home practice
* A small portable tuner (Korg, chromatic) *Tuner and metronome Apps on you personal devise are acceptable, also student ipads
* A metronome
*PENCIL in your folder at all times
* A quiet place to practice
* A time set aside each day for practice at home.
Percussion Students
The percussion instruments & equipment that are used in daily rehearsals are provided by ELMS for student use. However, for home practice percussionists will need the following items: Minimally- a practice pad, snare drum sticks (Vic Firth SD1 or SD7), a keyboard instrument (bells or piano, electronic is OK)
Ideally- A snare drum, or a percussion kit by Pearl or Ludwig (contains practice pad, bells, sticks & mallets, available at music stores), bell set, Vic Firth SD1 or SD7 sticks, mallets, and if interested, a drum set.