Flute

The flute is the smallest of beginner instruments. It is a very popular selection each year, but only a small portion of those wishing to play flute will be selected.

Clarinet

The clarinet uses a "single reed" and a mouthpiece to produce the sound, unlike the flute. Willingness to purchase or rent a director-recommended clarinet is a MUST! Unfortunately, there are some clarinets on the market whose poor design and craftsmanship will make it impossible for your student to succeed. We can avoid that pitfall. Some clarinet students may be chosen to play saxophone in sixth grade. Some clarinet students may be chosen to play bass clarinet as 7th graders.

Trumpet

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

Trombone

Like the French horn, trombone players should have good "musical ears." The trombone is played like the other brass instruments (buzzing into a cup-shaped mouthpiece) but uses a slide instead of valves. The slide is not marked or notched, and players rely on their memory and hearing to tell if they are in the EXACT proper location. Students with good musical ears (such as Honors Chorus students) should consider trombone.

Percussion

Just because you are always tapping on things does not mean you are a natural percussionist (drummer). In fact, the percussion section is the most select, hand-picked section of the band. Therefore, only students with the highest grades, lowest discipline problems, backgrounds in piano lessons, and extremely high gross and fine motor skills will be considered for percussion.

Violin

The violin is the smallest of string instruments. The sound is produced by drawing a bow across the strings. Students who choose violin will need to work with their instructor to determine the appropriate size instrument. Students with good musical ears should consider violin or viola.

Viola

The viola is slightly larger than the violin. Like the violin, the sound is produced by drawing the bow across one of the four strings or plucking the string with a finger. Students who choose viola will need to work with their instructor to determine the appropriate size instrument. Students with good musical ears should consider violin or viola.

Cello

The cello is considerably larger than the violin and plays similarly in an upright position. Students who choose cello will need to work with their instructor to determine the appropriate size instrument. Some cello students may be chosen to play string bass as 7th graders. Students with good musical ears should consider cello or string bass.

Bass

The string bass (pronounced like 'base") is the largest member of the string family. Other names for this instrument include the bass viol, the stand-up bass, or the bass. Like the other string instruments, the sound is produced by drawing a bow across the strings or plucking the strings. However, since the bass is the largest of the string instruments, it is also the lowest.