| Beginning Band |
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| Materials - Instrument - Please read the information to the right. Flute and Percussion are limited and require director's approval. I strongly recommend percussionists must lease a student MARIMBA for home practice. There are only 8 slots for beginning percussionists each year. Those who have not met with me and approved, in person, will be considered based on aptitude, then by a lottery system. If percussion is your choice, please have a second! - Standard of Excellence Book 1 (Red Book) (for your instrument) - 1" white 3-ring binder w/ a clear view cover - Page savers - SmartMusic practice/assessment software. Information about this at the beginning of the year. Clarinets Reeds - Minimum of 10 Strength - 2 Reedguard (case which holds 2 or 4 reeds allowing them to dry properly) |
| Purchasing or leasing an instrument. The quality of the instrument your child plays strongly correlates with your child's success. Unfortunately, many parents base their decision for the wrong reasons whether its cost, convenience, or well intentioned word of mouth. In recent years, store such as Sam's, BJ's, Wal-mart, and many internet sites have offered inexpensive instruments that to the untrained eye, appear to be comparable to brand name instruments. This is not the case. These instruments are made of cheap materials, with parts being manufactured by the bidder with the lowest cost rather than being machined by computer-guided equipment. These shoddy parts are then altered to fit together. The instruments are more difficult to produce a tone on and are literally impossible to play in-tune. When a part breaks, they cannot be replaced and the instrument cannot be returned. Although it is inexpensive to replace the entire instrument, the new one will have the same problems. You the consumer are mis-led in that one can purchase quality merchandise in such stores...with the exception of musical instruments. They need to be taken off the shelves because they are worthless. Mom's or Dad's insturment from their school days. Like anything else (automobiles, computers, sports equipment, etc.), instruments have evolved. The reality is that the student model horns (by reputable manufacturers) are better than the pro model horns from 20 years ago. I recently attended a workshop presented by the national head of instrument repair for one of our local music dealers who is a former repair technician for the service bands in Washington DC. and Army Band trumpet player for 20 years. The $775 Jupiter Capital Edition trumpet plays nearly as well as the Bach Stradavarius he played for all those years. I agree...I have played the Capital Edition trombone and it is by far, the best student model horn I have ever played and feels very similar to a Bach Strad...what I play. The other problem with older intruments is replacement parts. Manufacturers will only make replacement parts 10 years after they stop making a given model. The parts then must be custom made by a repair technician. In other words, a 7-cent screw on a 20 year old clarinet suddenly costs $15 because it has to be custom made as the item no longer exists. The point of this...acquire a newer, student model instrument from a QUALITY MUSICAL INSTRUMENT manufacturer. Go to a reputable dealer that specializes in them and ask questions about their customer service. Remember who is playing the instrument ...kids...they will break. A quality horn will spend less time in the shop, and more time in your child's hands. |