Band Handbook: Recommended Instruments

INSTRUMENTS, MOUTHPIECES, & ACCESSORIES

Need to Know

School Instrument Rental- Students using school instruments must pay a $100.00 non-refundable fee each school year. This fee helps offset, but does not fully cover, the cost of maintaining the school instruments. In most cases, an instrument will be contracted out to the student/parent and kept at home for practice. The student will use a classroom instrument each day. This eliminates the need for a student to carry a large instrument back and forth to school. Students must first demonstrate to the Director’s satisfaction how to perform basic instrument maintenance before a school-owned instrument will be issued. STUDENTS USING SCHOOL-OWNED INSTRUMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A MONTHLY MAINTENANCE RECORD AND TURN IT IN TO THE DIRECTOR. A FAILURE TO USE AND MAINTAIN THE INSTRUMENT ACCORDINGLY WILL RESULT IN NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE STUDENT. THEREFORE, THE PARENT/STUDENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE COST OF REPAIRS THAT RESULT FROM NEGLIGENCE. Repairs due to normal wear and tear are covered by the school. Checks must be made out to the Greenwood Lakes Middle School Band. If this is a problem, please notify the Director as soon as possible.

A good instrument is one which can be played well in tune without unreasonable effort, has a good tone quality, and is well constructed for fewer repair problems. Instruments that are inferior regarding the above attributes are worthless at any price! Not only will the student have problems, he will cause serious problems within the entire band sound if his instrument is inadequate. A good mouthpiece is one that is consistent in quality and size, and has dimensions that make good tone production and intonation (playing in tune) easier. The mouthpiece is where the sound begins. It is therefore the most important part of any instrument. A good instrument with an inferior mouthpiece makes as much sense as a Ferrari with a VW engine! In an effort to reduce costs, most instrument makers put cheap $5.00 mouthpieces with their $500.00+ instruments! No professional player would think of playing on the mouthpiece that came with his or her instrument. The following instruments and mouthpieces represent acceptable quality and good value for the money. CHECK WITH THE DIRECTOR BEFORE BUYING AN INSTRUMENT OR MOUTHPIECE THAT IS NOT ON THIS LIST!

Need to Know

The Band Director, Greenwood Lakes Middle School, and the Seminole County Public Schools are not responsible for any damage that occurs to student-rented/owned instruments before, during or after school hours. Each student is responsible for the handling of his or her own property and any negligence that may result.

OBOE

Fox
Selmer Signet
Yamaha

FLUTE

Gemeinhardt
Pearl
Emerson

The better flutes have solid silver head joints; the best have solid head and body. Most advanced players use open hole flutes. Most beginners start on closed hole models.

CLARINETS

Yamaha YCL 34
Vito (wood step-up model)
Selmer Signet
Buffett R11

These are wooden clarinets, not plastic. They have a far superior sound and are a much better value than plastic clarinets.

ACCEPTABLE CLARINET MOUTHPIECES

Vandoren B-45 w/ Rovner Ligature
Selmer B-Star w/ Rovner Ligature
Woodwind K10M with Rovner ligature
Ridenour Premier
B. Poctnay (med. Facing)

TRUMPETS

Bach
Bundy
Besson
Conn
Holton
Yamaha

TRUMPET MOUTHPIECES

Bach 3C or equivalent
Bach 7C

SAXOPHONES & Mouthpieces

Yamaha, Conn or Selmer
Bundy II
Mouthpieces: Selmer C-star; Otto Link

French Horn Mouthpieces

Holton Farkas MDC
Giardinelli C8 or C11

Trombones

Holton
Besson
Blessing
King
Conn
Yamaha

Trombone & Baritone Mouthpieces

Bach 6 1/2 AL or equivalent,
Bach 12C

Tuba Mouthpieces

Bach 18
Blessing 18
Helleberg