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All Instrumental Music students are required to obtain a working instrument. It is strongly recommended that Beginners rent rather than purchase an instrument. A number of Musical Instrument vendors are available and can be found in the phone book. As different vendors offer different prices and have different rental policies it is recommended that you call several different vendors to determine which one best suits your needs.
Obtaining a musical instrument at a pawn shop, thrift stors, or yard sale is generally not recommended unless you know specifically what you are looking for. There is no quality control on musical instruments sold at these locations and and an instrument that may appear fine may have problems that require major work. Unless you know specifically what to look for in a musical instrument, you can easily fall prey to a salesman who may know less about musical instruments than you do. There is typically little recourse for faulty or damaged instruments bought under these circumstances since they are usually sold in "as is" condition.
If you have a musical instrument at home that you are unsure about, Mr. Whiddon or Mrs. Dean qill be happy to assist you in any way possible.
Although a few instruments are available through the school, it is the responsibility of every student to get all of the other items required for their instruments regardless of whether or not they get a school instrument.
Following are a list of the supplies that must be purchased or rented along with the instrument. These can be acquired at any music store.
FLUTE
- Instrument (Closed hole flutes are recommended for beginners, open hole flutes may be appropriate for more advanced students.)
- White Handkerchief (Used for cleaning and drying out the instrument.)
- Cleaning Rod (This should come with your flute.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for Flute
OBOE
- Oboe (Wooden oboes provide better sound than plastic oboes for more advanced students but are more fragile so plastic is recommended for beginners.)
- Reeds (At least 3 working reeds are required at all times. No chipped or split reeds will be accepted. Beginners should have soft to medium-soft reeds. Advanced players should have medium-soft to medium reeds.)
- Reed Case (Oboe reeds are expensive, so a reed case to protect the reeds is essential.)
- Cork Grease (There are two varieties of cork grease, the tube (looks like chapstick) and the small box. The boxed grease works better, but is messier to use. Either is acceptable. DO NOT GET SELMER TUNING SLIDE & CORK GREASE that comes in a small squeeze bottle.
- Swab (You must get an oboe swab. This is not the same thing as a clarinet swab. Swabs are used to keep the instrument dry when it is not being used.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for Oboe
BASSOON
- Instrument
- Reeds (At least 3 working reeds are required at all times. No chipped or split reeds will be accepted. Beginners should have soft to medium-soft reeds. Advanced players should have medium-soft to medium reeds.
- Reed Case (Bassoon reeds are expensive, so a reed case to protect the reeds is essential.)
- Cork Grease (There are two varieties of cork grease, the tube (looks like chapstick) and the small box. The boxed grease works better, but is messier to use. Either is acceptable. DO NOT GET SELMER TUNING SLIDE & CORK GREASE that comes in a small squeeze bottle.)
- Swab (You must get a bassoon swab. This is not the same thing as a clarinet swab. Swabs are used to keep the instrument dry when it is not being used.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for Bassoon
CLARINET (also Alto and Bass Clarinet)
- Instrument (Boehm system clarinet, woodem clarinets provide a better sound than plastic clarinets for more advanced students but are more fragile so plastic is recommended for beginners.)
- Reeds (At least 3 working reeds are required at all times. No chipped or split reeds will be accepted. Clarinet players should have Vandoren reeds, strength 2 for beginners and 2 1/2 or 3 for advanced. Rico reeds produce a bad quality sound and should not be purchased.)
- Reed Case (Reeds must be protected and a reed case is the only way to properly protect your reeds.)
- Cork Grease (There are two varieties of cork grease, the tube (looks like chapstick) and the small box. The boxed grease works better, but is messier to use. Either is acceptable. DO NOT GET SELMER TUNING SLIDE & CORK GREASE that comes in a small squeeze bottle.)
- Swab (Swabs are inexpensive and necessary to prevent damage to the instrument.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for Clarinet (or Alto Clarinet or Bass Clarinet)
SAXOPHONE (Alto, Tenor, or Baritone
- Instrument
- Reeds (At least 3 working reeds are required at all times. No chipped or split reeds will be accepted. Saxophone players should have Vandoren reeds, strength 2 for beginners and 2 1/2 or 3 for advanced players. Rico reeds produce a bad quality sound and should not be purchased.)
- Reed Case (Reeds must be protedted and a reed case is the only way to properly protect your reeds.)
- Cork Grease (There are two varieties of cork grease, the tube (looks like chapstick) and the small box. The boxed grease works better but is messier to use. Either is acceptable. DO NOT GET SELMER TUNING SLIDE & CORK GREASE that comes in a small squeeze bottle.
- Swab (Swabs are inexpensive and necessary to prevent damage to the instrument.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for the correct Saxophone (Alto, Tenor, or Baritone)
TRUMPET/CORNET
- Instrument (Although trumpets are preferable because they produce a more brilliant sound, cornets are acceptable.)
- Valve Oil (There are several good brands of valve oil available. One small bottle should last the entire year.)
- Slide Grease (Selmer Tuning Slide & Cork Grease is recommended.
- A small jar of Vaseline (This can be acquired instead of Slide Grease or in addition to it.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for Trumpet/Cornet
FRENCH HORN
- Instrument (There are two types of French horns -- Single and Double. Single horns are easier to use and are recommended for beginners. Advanced French Horn players may wish to switch from a single to a double horn.)
- Valve Oil (There are several good brands of valve oil available. Since only a drop at a time is used, one small bottle should last several years.)
- Slide Grease (Selmer Tuning Slide & Cork Grease is recommended.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for French Horn
TROMBONE
- Instrument (A student model trombone is recommended for beginners. More advanced students may wish to use a trombone with an F attachment.)
- Slide Cream (Slide Cream is far better than Slide Oil. There are several brands of slide cream available.)
- Small Water Bottle (A small spray bottle for water. These can be obtained at a music supply store or at a store where cosmetics or beauty supplies are sold.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for Trombone
BARITONE
- Instrument (There are three basic types of baritones (also called euphoniums) - 3-valve, 4-valve, and compensating (which also have 4 valves). A 4-valve or compensating horn is preferable, but a 3-valve horn will do as 4-valve and compensating horns are more expensive.)
- Valve Oil (There are several good brands of valve oil available. One small bottle should last the entire year.)
- Slide Grease (Selmer Tuning Slide & Cork Grease is recommended.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for Baritone Bass Clef.
TUBA
- Instrument (Tubas are available in several different keys. Be sure to get a B-flat tuba. Tubas, like baritones, come in 3-valve and 4-valve styles and come with either piston valves (like a trumpet) or rotors (like a french horn). A 4-valve tuba is preferable, but a 3-valve horn will do as 4-valve horns are more expensive. The choice between piston valves and rotors is one of personal preference, but piston valves are recommended for beginners as they are easier to take care of.)
- Valve Oil (There are several good brands of valve oil available. One small bottle should last the entore year.)
- Slide Grease (Selmer Tuning Slide 7 Cork Grease is recommended.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for Tuba
PERCUSSION
- Percussion Kit (Percussion kits should be acquired by all percussion students and are available at musical instrument vendors. A percussion kit typically contains a set of Orchestra Bells, a Snare Drum or Snare Drum Practice Pad, a pair of drum sticks, and a pair of mallets.)
- Standard Of Excellence, Book 1 method book for Mallets and Percussion
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