Playing a Band or Orchestra Instrument at Patrick Henry

and Long Branch Elementary Schools!!Estelle Roth,

director

Steps to Success• Practice!! Practice!!! Practice!!!!• Come to class prepared.• Bring your instrument to school on lesson

days.• Participate in our Winter and Spring

Concerts!• Not sure what instrument you want to

play? Come to Instrumental Music Information Night - IMIN!!

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC INFORMATION NIGHTMonday, September 9, 2013

Washington-Lee High School

• An “Instrument Petting Zoo” -where you can test out various instruments to find the one which suits you best.

• Local music instrument retailers will be there to answer your questions about rent-to-own programs and purchasing an instrument.

Instrument Rental• School Rentals for the year are $85. $40

for reduced lunch students, $20 for free lunch students.

• We have plenty of stringed instruments, flutes, clarinets, trumpets and trombones. We have limited string basses, saxophones and euphoniums.

• Instruments are also available to rent from Foxes Music and Music & Arts.

Instrument Choices• String Instruments:

Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass• Band Instruments:

Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Percussion

Violin• Great beginning instrument! The smallest

instrument in the string family.• Most popular instrument in the orchestra.• The violin comes in various sizes to

fit the player!• The violin can express a variety of

emotions – joy, sadness, anger, and calm.• Relatively quiet! • Can pluck (pizzicato) or use the bow.• Watch the “World’s Fastest Violinist”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiNHbxzGLpk

Violin

Viola• Played like a violin.• Bigger than a violin - with a

deeper, darker, more mellow sound.

• Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEPaBpMNWTU&feature=relmfu

Viola

Cello• The cello is a deep-sounding instrument.

It has a beautiful, warm tone. • It has to be played sitting down.• Some school buses might be too crowded

to allow the cello on board. • Like all of the stringed instruments, the

cello comes in various sizes to fit the player. • Watch on You Tube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKC-lRhvdNY&feature=share&list=UUmKurapML4BF9Bjtj4RbvXw

Cello

String Bass• The double bass is the largest

of the string instruments. • It produces very low pitches

and is used in orchestra, band, and jazz ensembles.

• VERY LIMITED school rental!! • Watch on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDLezRsB-_c

String Bass

Flute• The flute family has the highest

range of the wind instruments. • The tone is light and beautiful.• The flute is a difficult instrument

(but fun!!) to play. • You MUST practice!!!• Small enough to put in backpacks,

and quiet enough to play in apartments!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfrKqFp0Zg

Flute

Clarinet• The clarinet is an extremely

important instrument in the band.• Can play very bright, high sounds

and rich, deep, beautiful, low sounds.• Quiet enough to play in an apartment!• Easy to carry to school!• Watch on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKOUKtlwLEw&feature=related

Clarinet

Alto Saxophone• The saxophone is a very versatile

instrument, and is used in band and jazz ensembles.

• Very few saxophones to rent from the school. • May be too heavy for some students to play.

Beginners can be pretty loud!!

• Watch President Clinton on Saxophone! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTkUeb6zQFA

Alto Saxophone

Trumpet

• The trumpet or cornet is a sparkling, high brass instrument. It is very fun to play!

• It is easy to carry, but very loud!!• Watch this eight year old play:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOahdokrg5c

Trumpet

Trombone• The trombone is instantly recognizable

because of the slide. • The trombone uses a mouthpiece like a

trumpet, but has a much lower, more mellow, sound.

• Trombone students should have arms long enough to reach all of the notes!

• The versatility of the trombone makes it popular in band, orchestra, and jazz ensembles.

• Watch this trombone trio play:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhWjhZE2ew

Trombone

Euphonium• Very large instrument!!• Very limited school rentals.• Looks like a small tuba, but

sounds more like a trombone!• Watch flight of the Bumble Bee!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USb41jLx410

Euphonium

Percussion• Beginning students will have

to buy a practice pad and drum sticks.

• Percussion students will learn on both the practice pad and the melodic orchestra bells.

• Watch a percussion ensemble play Mission

Impossible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu-jWHd7qs4&feature=relmfu

Percussion

Next Steps• Register Online!!! • Henry Students:

http://apsva.us/page/5078• Long Branch Students:

http://apsva.us/Page/18663• Don’t send in any money now!!• Information packets will go home in

the Thursday folder. Return as soon as

possible.