Flute

Flute is is the highest pitched instrument in beginning band. With a clear, high, and soaring sound, the flute often plays the melody in  most band music.  

The flute is typically made of silver, or silver colored metals like nickel, and is played by blowing across an open hole on one end while the fingers press keys to change notes. 

Oboe

The oboe is looks similar to a clarinet, but it is played using a double reed with no mouthpiece instead of a single reed and mouthpiece to produce its brilliant sound.

Because of its difficulty and piercing tone, the oboe is a special instrument, and only a select few students will be chosen for oboe.

Clarinet

Unlike the oboe, the clarinet uses a single reed and a mouthpiece to produce the sound. 

The Clarinet has a large sound in low and high ranges and can play a wide variety of music from classical to jazz and Klezmer music. 

Bassoon

The bassoon, like the oboe, is a double reed instrument. It is the lowest sounding member of the woodwind family.

The bassoon is one of the most specialized instruments in the band, and like the oboe, only a few select students will be chosen to play the bassoon.

Alto Saxophone

The saxophone is a woodwind instrument even though it is typically made of a brass-colored material. Most people know the saxophone as they have heard it in jazz or rock music.

Saxophone uses a single reed and a mouthpiece like clarinet  Some saxophone players will also have the opportunity to play tenor or baritone saxophones after their beginning band year.

Cornet/Trumpet

The trumpet is the highest instrument of the brass family.  It has a piercing, bright, and clear sound.  The trumpet is frequently used to play melody. Like some of the other instruments in the band, the trumpet is also used in jazz and pop music. 

Similar to most brass instruments, the trumpet has three valves and is played by vibrating one’s lips on a mouthpiece. Students will begin on Cornet and "graduate" to a trumpet after beginner year. 

French Horn

The French Horn is made from 12-16 feet of brass tubing wrapped into tight circles. In addition to using the lips and valves to change the pitch, the player places a hand in the bell to sometimes give a muted effect. 

Instruments are provided by the school, but have limited availability. Students must have a good ear for music because of the difficulty and wide range of the music played on this instrument.

Trombone

The trombone is an instrument that sounds very brassy like the trumpet, but plays lower sounds. To change notes, the player slides one tube in and out of the other instead of pressing valves like other brass instruments. 

The trombone is an important member of the jazz band, rock bands, symphony orchestras, concert bands, and ancient instrument ensembles.

Euphonium/

Baritone

Like a small tuba, the euphonium plays the same notes as the trombone, but has a more mellow sound. Because of its valves, it can play faster passages of music with smoothness and ease.

Though originally designed as a harmony instrument, the euphonium has grown to become one of the most popular band instruments for solo playing in the most recent years due to its rich sound.

Tuba

The tuba is the most important instrument in the band.  It is the largest and lowest of the wind instruments, and it produces the fundamental sound upon which all others are built. 

Despite its relatively large size, even the smallest students can easily handle the tuba with proper instruction and supports. When unwound, the tuba tubing is 16 feet long!

Keyboard Percussion

Keyboard percussion instruments are pitched instruments arranged in the same pattern as a piano or organ and they are typically played with percussion yarn mallets. 

Battery Percussion

Battery Percussion instruments are unpitched instruments that most would consider to be 'drums'. These instruments have hide, kevlar, or plastic drum heads and varying sizes of shells that give each one distinct sounds.

Auxiliary Percussion

Auxiliary percussion instruments act as a supporting component to the main percussion sections above. These instruments are typically mounted on multiple stands or held on a percussion table. This category can include instruments like shakers, woodblocks, and cowbells.