Frequently Asked Questions
What instruments are in band?
Can I play guitar, bass, or piano in band?
Why do percussionists take a proficiency before entering into band, and why do they need piano skills?
How often should I practice my instrument?
Which instrument should I choose?
Should we get a new or used instrument?
Why should I continue band through middle school and high school?
Should I be practicing my instrument over summer?
Does my child have to attend concerts, rehearsals, pep band games, parades, and other events?
I just got braces, or am getting braces soon. What should I do?
My instrument won't work! What should I do?
What are the costs associated with band?
- Generally, band includes Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Bb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, and Percussion
Can I play guitar, bass, or piano in band?
- These instruments usually aren't included in band. However, students that play these instruments are welcome to be in Jazz Band.
Why do percussionists take a proficiency before entering into band, and why do they need piano skills?
- This is mainly due to the nature of the percussion section. Many of the instruments in the percussion section are setup in identical ways to a piano, so an existing knowledge of piano notes will make the transition easier. Percussionists take a proficiency before starting band because they need to provide solid rhythms and stay on a focused tempo.
How often should I practice my instrument?
- Beginners should aim for 15-20 minutes everyday. The more days you practice, the easier it will be to advance. Remember that 4 days of practicing for 20 minutes each is MUCH better than 1 day of 80 minutes of practice! After your first year in band, your practice time should increase a little bit each year. Once you get to middle school and high school, there are practice rooms available that allow you to do your practicing during your study hall or before/after school.
Which instrument should I choose?
- There is no straight forward answer to this. There are numerous factors that we look at when students try out instruments for the first time. We help them figure out how to make a sound on the instrument, how to hold it, and then we see how they do with that. Some things that we look for are: size of the student versus the instrument, past musical experiences, ability to make a sound on the instrument. Students get to pick two instruments to try out before they make a final decision.
Should we get a new or used instrument?
- This depends. You could buy a new instrument for cheap and have it break down whereas you could buy a used one and have it last forever. This really depends on the instrument brand and the condition of all the mechanics of the instrument. Check out the "Equipment" section of the website for more info about instruments.
Why should I continue band through middle school and high school?
- By the time you've gotten to middle school, you've already invested a lot of time into learning your instrument and excelling at it. By the time you reach high school, that preparation time has quadrupled! You owe it to yourself to see where it will take you and enjoy the ride. You will also have a group of peers that you've been with since you started off in band that will be with you as you transition to the middle school and the high school. Plus, it keeps getting more and more fun as you go along!
Should I be practicing my instrument over summer?
- Absolutely! Practicing a band instrument is like exercising a muscle at the gym. If you don't work on it for a long time, it takes longer to build it back up to where you WERE before. Even 20 minutes a day during the summer will help your chops stay in shape. There are numerous opportunities to continue playing throughout summer school! Talk to your band director about what options you have!
Does my child have to attend concerts, rehearsals, pep band games, parades, and other events?
- Yes, unless there is an absolute emergency. A band is very similar to a sports team: we have specific players for each part, and if anybody is missing, it affects the entire group's performance. These are also part of your child's grade in band.
I just got braces, or am getting braces soon. What should I do?
- Talk to both your band director and your dentist about what you can do to make this transition easier. Lots of times, dentists will have special mouth guards or wax that will help make it easier, and your band director will have helpful hints for what has worked for students in the past.
My instrument won't work! What should I do?
- Talk to your band director first. It could be a simple adjustment that they could make to fix it. Otherwise, they can tell you if it will need to go in to get repaired.
- Look sharp! Wear nice clothing free of rips, tears, or other openings. Try to stay away from jeans if you can. Remember: the audience will SEE you before they HEAR you! We need to look good before we play well!
- Yes you can! There are numerous students that are involved in band and sporting events.
What are the costs associated with band?
- The main cost is for renting an instrument. This cost ranges quite a bit based on: the instrument, if it's new or used, and what brand it is. Reeds are also a cost for saxophone, clarinet, oboe, and bassoon. Apart from this, method books are required for beginners, and they are also suggested to buy a stand. For high school students, marching shoes and gloves are required, and available through the school. Lastly, percussionists are responsible for their own drumsticks and stick bag.