beginning band instrument selection
TRANSCRIPT
Terrace Community Middle SchoolBeginning Band
Introduction to Band Instruments
Mr. CornwellRevised: June 2010
The Four Instrument Families
Woodwind. Originally made of wood, played by
blowing air over a wooden reed or over a tone hole.
Brass. Made of brass, played by blowing air
through the lips causing them to buzz in a cup shaped mouthpiece.
The Four Instrument Families
Percussion. Made of all sorts of materials, played by
hitting, striking, or shaking. String.
Made of wood, played by bowing or plucking strings.
Instrumentation
It is important to have a variety of instruments in band.
The Pyramid of Sound The lower the pitch of
the instrument the more players of that instrument are needed.
Woodwinds – Flute
Made of metal. Sound produced by
blowing air over a tone hole (like a soda pop bottle.).
Held horizontally to the right.
Woodwinds – Clarinet
Made of plastic or wood with metal keys.
Sound produced by blowing air over a wooden reed.
Held vertically in front between the legs.
Woodwinds – Alto & Tenor Saxophone
Made of metal. Sound produced
by blowing air over a wooden reed.
Held with the aid of a neck strap while resting on right thigh.
Woodwinds – Alto & Tenor Saxophone
Large case size. May also play the
baritone saxophone after two years of study.
Woodwinds Not Taught At SCMS:
Piccolo. Oboe.
Double reed instrument. Transfer to oboe from clarinet in high school.
Bassoon. Double reed instrument. Transfer to bassoon from tenor saxophone in
high school.
Woodwinds Not Taught At SCMS: Soprano saxophone.
Used as a solo instrument in high school jazz band. Sopranino clarinet.
Used as a solo instrument in college concert band. Alto clarinet.
Becoming extinct. Used in clarinet choir ensembles. English horn.
Usually played by oboists as a solo instrument in college orchestras.
Brass – Trumpet
Made of metal and uses valves to change the pitch.
Played by buzzing lips into a cup shaped mouthpiece.
Brass – Trumpet
Large case size. May also play
euphonium, French horn, or tuba after two years of study.
Brass – Trombone
Made of metal and uses a slide to change the pitch.
Played by buzzing lips into a cup shaped mouthpiece.
Brass – French Horn
Made of metal and uses valves to change the pitch.
Played by buzzing the lips into a cup shaped mouthpiece.
Brass – French Horn
Play trumpet for one year and then switch to French horn.
Large case size. Player needs to
have a good ear for pitch.
Brass – Euphonium
Made of metal and uses valves to change the pitch.
Played by buzzing the lips into a cup shaped mouthpiece.
Brass – Euphonium
Large case size. Trumpet players
can usually switch to this instrument easily.
SCMS has one euphonium that may be checked out.
Brass – Tuba
Made of metal and uses valves to change the pitch.
Played by buzzing the lips into a cup shaped mouthpiece.
Brass – Tuba
Large case size. Trumpets players
can usually switch to this instrument easily.
SCMS has one tuba that may be checked out.
Percussion
Students learn on a bell kit which contains a set of bells, a practice pad, mallets, and sticks.
Large case size.
Percussion
Each page of the method book is learned first on bells and then on snare drum (practice pad).
Percussion
Students will also learn snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and other miscellaneous instruments.
Strings –Electric Bass
While not a traditional band instrument, it is still taught in band at SCMS.
Students need to purchase a bass, an amplifier, and a cable.
Strings –Electric Bass
Many students find this instrument difficult to transport since there is a large case for the bass as well as the amplifier.