Choosing & Obtaining a Band Instrument

Choosing an Instrument

Choosing the right instrument for you is very important! Each instrument has a particular set of physical and mental attributes associated with it. If your unique traits closely match these, becoming a successful musician will be much easier. Choose intelligently with care.

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Ideal Attributes

Flute - … Good finger coordination, no "double joints" … Medium lips without a peak in the middle … Upper front teeth without a gap … Right arm able to hold the flute parallel to the floor … Good breath support.

French Horn - … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Excellent sense of pitch … Thin - medium lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth … Good breath support (For the determined beginner with a lot of self-discipline.)

Oboe - … Good finger coordination, no "double joints" … Thin &emdash; medium lips … Excellent breath support and a good sense of pitch a must (For the determined beginner with a lot of self-discipline. Private lessons from the beginning are very helpful.)

Baritone - (some leeway here) … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Good sense of pitch … Medium - full lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth … Upper body tall enough to reach the mouthpiece.

Clarinet - … High degree of finger coordination and control, no "double joints" … Strong front teeth … Fingers that can span the distance between the keys with finger-tips broad enough to cover the open-hole keys.

Trombone - (some leeway here) … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Good sense of pitch … Medium - full lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth … Right arm long enough to reach sixth position.

Saxophone- … Good finger coordination, no "double joints" … Hands large enough to reach around the sax … Strong pinkie fingers … Strong teeth and medium - large lips.

Tuba - (some leeway here) … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Good sense of pitch … Medium - full lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth … Upper body tall enough to reach the mouthpiece.

Trumpet - … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Good sense of pitch … Thin - medium lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth.

Percussion - … Already read music … Keen sense of rhythm … Good sense of pitch … Generally well-coordinated hands and limbs.

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Guide to Obtaining an Instrument

Success as a Beginning Band student is affected greatly by the quality and condition of one’s musical instrument. An instrument that responds easily and in tune, over its entire range, provides a student with the best chance to achieve that success. When selecting a used instrument, be very careful of its condition and quality. The following link will connect you to a good article on the Getzen web site titled "How to Choose the Right Student Instrument".

Where to rent an instrument

Bloomington has three music stores that you may want to consider; ProWinds: 333-3167, Smith-Holden: 339-9717 and Vance: 339-0618. If these stores do not have the instrument you want, talk with Mr. Austin about renting from Jackson Creek.

Special note to percussionists: in addition to obtaining an instrument for use at home, all percussionists must pay MCCSC $25 rent /semester for the use of the extensive collection of percussion equipment at Jackson Creek.

Instrument	Brand	Model	Mouthpiece	Accessories (purchase separately)
Flute	Yamaha	YFL221	none	Flute Maintenance Kit
Oboe	Yamaha	YOB241	none	Oboe Maintenance Kit, 2 medium reeds
Clarinet	Yamaha	YCL450N / YCL250	Vandoren B45	Clarinet Maintenance Kit, box of medium (#2 ^1/2) reeds, reed guard
Alto saxophone	Yamaha	YAS23	Selmer Cstar S80	Saxophone Maintenance Kit, box of medium (#2 ^1/2) reeds, reed guard
Tenor saxophone	Yamaha	YTS23	Selmer Cstar S80	Saxophone Maintenance Kit, box of medium (#2 ^1/2) reeds, reed guard
Trumpet	Yamaha	YTR2335	Bach 5C	Trumpet Maintenance Kit
French horn	Yamaha	YHR314	Bach 11	French horn Maintenance Kit
Trombone	Yamaha	YSL354	Bach 6 ^1/2 AL (small shank)	Low Brass Maintenance Kit
Baritone/euphonium	Yamaha	YEP201	Bach 6 ^1/2 AL (small shank)	Low Brass Maintenance Kit
Tuba	Yamaha	YBB105WC	Bach 18	Low Brass Maintenance Kit
Percussion	Ludwig	LE2482R (includes snare drum, pad, 2 ^1/2 octave bells, stand, case, music rack, drum sticks, bell mallets for practice only)	none	1 pair drum sticks (5A/5B/2B) … included with the LE2482R 1 pair plastic mallets (hard) 1 pair yarn mallets (medium)

Other brands: Bach, Benge, Buffet, Bundy, CB, Conn, Gemeinhardt, Getzen, Holton, Jupiter, King, Leblanc, Ludwig, Mirage, Olds, Selmer, Signet, and Vito

In addition, each student must obtain a copy of Accent On Achievement Book 1 for his/her instrument and a pencil with a good eraser. Percussionists: be sure to get the "Combined" percussion book.

All of the above (instrument, mouthpiece, accessories, book, pencil, & cloth) should be obtained by Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Band Department at Jackson Creek (phone: 330-2451 x154) or (email)

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Flute - … Good finger coordination, no "double joints" … Medium lips without a peak in the middle … Upper front teeth without a gap … Right arm able to hold the flute parallel to the floor … Good breath support.	French Horn - … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Excellent sense of pitch … Thin - medium lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth … Good breath support (For the determined beginner with a lot of self-discipline.)
Oboe - … Good finger coordination, no "double joints" … Thin &emdash; medium lips … Excellent breath support and a good sense of pitch a must (For the determined beginner with a lot of self-discipline. Private lessons from the beginning are very helpful.)	Baritone - (some leeway here) … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Good sense of pitch … Medium - full lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth … Upper body tall enough to reach the mouthpiece.
Clarinet - … High degree of finger coordination and control, no "double joints" … Strong front teeth … Fingers that can span the distance between the keys with finger-tips broad enough to cover the open-hole keys.	Trombone - (some leeway here) … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Good sense of pitch … Medium - full lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth … Right arm long enough to reach sixth position.
Saxophone- … Good finger coordination, no "double joints" … Hands large enough to reach around the sax … Strong pinkie fingers … Strong teeth and medium - large lips.	Tuba - (some leeway here) … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Good sense of pitch … Medium - full lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth … Upper body tall enough to reach the mouthpiece.
Trumpet - … Even upper and lower jaw … Front teeth in normal alignment … Good sense of pitch … Thin - medium lips, with no scar tissue … Upper lip even with or longer than teeth.	Percussion - … Already read music … Keen sense of rhythm … Good sense of pitch … Generally well-coordinated hands and limbs.