Learn about the band instruments:
We will help every student find an instrument that fits them best! We are looking for certain physical characteristics that will help your students be successful on whichever instrument they are placed on while also taking into consideration which instruments they are interested in.
Please note, we have VERY limited room in the following classes due to the need to create a band with balanced instrumentation and in order to have enough instruments for every student:
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Oboe
Bassoon
Saxophone
French Horn
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion
Flute
The flute is the smallest of the beginner instruments. It is a very popular selection each year, but only a small portion of those wishing to play flute will be selected.
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Physical Characteristics
Flute players should have a slight “frown” to the upper lip with NO tear drop shape in the middle. Flute tones are produced by being able to focus an extremely small airstream to an exact location on the tone hole. The tear-drop-shaped lip will make it difficult to direct the air so precisely. Flute players should also have agile fingers for moving this multi-keyed instrument through a fast musical passage. Students with extreme overbites (receded jaw) should avoid choosing flute as this makes it difficult to produce quality sounds.
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Other Considerations
Students with double-jointed fingers should avoid selecting flute as double-jointedness can cause lack of agility in the fingers.
Oboe
The oboe is similar in its appearance to a clarinet, but it is played using a “double reed” instead of a single reed and mouthpiece. Selection of oboe players is EXTREMELY limited. VERY few will actually be selected for oboe.
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Physical Characteristics
Students with profound overbites or underbites would have EXTREME difficulties producing good sounds on the oboe since the embouchure (mouth position) requires equal pressure on both sides of the reed at the same placement.
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Other Considerations
Because the oboe is such a difficult instrument to master, only students with high academic performance records will be considered. Students who choose (and are selected) to play oboe are REQUIRED to take weekly private lessons with the applied lesson teacher through our lesson program.
Students are required to maintain a supply of 3-4 high-quality reeds at ALL times. Students with a history of disciplinary trouble will NOT be considered for oboe.
The financial trade-off for having to take lessons and keep a stock of working reeds is that Argyle ISD provides oboes for students at a cost of $125 rental for an entire school year payable to Argyle ISD for routine maintenance.
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Private lessons are REQUIRED for Oboe due to the complexity of the instrument.
Bassoon
The bassoon is to the oboe what the bass clarinet is to the clarinet. It is the larger, lower sounding version of the double reed instrument. However, bassoon students will not play oboe before switching, instead they will begin on the bassoon itself. VERY few students will be selected to play Bassoon.
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Click here to hear the Bassoon!
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Physical Characteristics
A slight overbite is okay for students wishing to play bassoon, however, a student with an underbite should avoid bassoon. Agile thumbs are a necessity for playing bassoon proficiently as well as a medium or greater hand span.
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Other Considerations
Like the Oboe, the Bassoon is a difficult instrument to master. Only students with high academic performance records will be considered. Students who choose (and are selected) to play Bassoon are REQUIRED to take weekly private lessons with the applied lesson teacher through our lesson program.
Students are required to maintain a supply of 3-4 high-quality reeds at ALL times. Students with a history of disciplinary trouble will NOT be considered for Bassoon.
The financial trade-off for having to take lessons and keep a stock of working reeds is that Argyle ISD provides Bassoon for students at a cost of $125 rental for an entire school year payable to Argyle ISD for routine maintenance.
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Private lessons are REQUIRED for Bassoon due to the complexity of the instrument.
Clarinet
The clarinet uses a “single reed” and a mouthpiece to produce the sound. The Clarinet is a "Melody" instrument and frequently has the most important parts in band music!
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Click here to hear the Clarinet!
Willingness to purchase or rent a director-recommended clarinet is a MUST! Unfortunately, there are some clarinets on the market whose poor design and craftsmanship will make it next to impossible for your student to succeed. We can help you avoid that pitfall.
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Physical Characteristics
One necessity of clarinet tone production is the ability to make the chin flat. Orthodontia is okay, but if a student has an extremely rounded bottom row of teeth, the mouthpiece will be hard to place in the proper position for tone production.
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Other Considerations
Instruction in clarinet can be meticulous. Students who are able to focus on and perform a detailed series of instructions could do well on clarinet. Students who have difficulty remembering a series of instructions should avoid playing clarinet. Clarinet players are also responsible for maintaining a working stock of 8+ quality reeds.
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All students start on a Soprano Clarinet (Pictured to the left) but a few will have the opportunity to play the Bass Clarinet in seventh or eighth grade (based on their proven musical and behavioral abilities while in clarinet class)
Saxophone
The alto saxophone gives the impression of being both a brass AND woodwind instrument, however it is indeed considered a woodwind instrument. The alto saxophone (which uses a single reed like the clarinet) is a very popular instrument like flute and only a very few students will be chosen to play it.
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Click here to hear the Saxophone!
Willingness to purchase or rent a director-recommended Saxophone is a MUST! Unfortunately, there are some Saxophones on the market whose poor design and craftsmanship will make it next to impossible for your student to succeed. We can help you avoid that pitfall.
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Physical Characteristics
Since the balance of the saxophone is maintained by the use of a neck strap, it is extremely important that students be able to sit up completely straight and be still when asked to.
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Other Considerations
Saxophone players are responsible for maintaining a working stock of 8+ quality reeds. Alto Saxophone students will have the opportunity after their first year of instruction to audition for Tenor Sax or Baritone Sax (based on their proven musical and behavioral abilities while in alto saxophone class).
Trumpet / Cornet
The cornet / trumpet is the smallest member of the brass family. The sound on cornet / trumpet is produced by vibrating the lips together in a small mouthpiece. Students who choose and are selected to play cornet / trumpet will begin on a cornet (smaller in size) and “graduate” into a trumpet at the end of their beginner band year!
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Click here to hear the Trumpet!
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Physical Characteristics
While orthodontia is somewhat troublesome at first to a cornet / trumpet player, it is not impossible to make good sounds with braces. A slight overbite is okay, but an underbite can severely hinder progress on cornet trumpet. Cornet / trumpet players come in all shapes and sizes.
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Other Considerations
Cornet / trumpet parts usually have the melody (recognizable) part, therefore students who choose and are selected for cornet / trumpet should exhibit a confident demeanor, strong personality, and demonstrate a high level of self-motivation.
French Horn
The French horn is the also a member of the brass family. Its sound is produced by buzzing into a small mouthpiece similar to a trumpet. Students with good musical ears should consider French Horn.
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Click here to hear a French Horn!
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Physical Characteristics
A slight overbite is okay, but an underbite can severely hinder progress on French Horn. Because the bell of the French horn rests on the knee of the player while playing, it is imperative that a student’s upper torso be long enough to accommodate the size of the French horn to make good sounds and that players be able to demonstrate sitting straight up when asked to do so. The French horn’s keys are manipulated with the LEFT hand.
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Other Considerations
Because of the difficult nature of French horn notes (mentioned above), students should exhibit GREAT ability to match sung or played pitches by humming or singing. Perhaps this is a good instrument choice for students who have participated in piano lessons or honor choir groups. Students with a history of academic or behavioral problems will NOT be selected for French horn.
Argyle ISD provides French horns for students at a cost of $125 rental for an entire school year. Private lessons are strongly encouraged for French Horn due to the complexity of the instrument.
Trombone
Like the French horn, trombone players should have good “musical ears”. The trombone is played like the other brass instruments (buzzing into a cup-shaped mouthpiece), but uses a slide instead of valves. The slide is not marked or notched and players rely on their memory and hearing to tell if they are in the EXACT proper location. Students with good musical ears should consider Trombone.
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Click here to hear a Trombone!
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Physical Characteristics
While some might think that trombone players must have long arms, the truth is there are numerous accommodations that make it possible for students of all shapes and sizes to play. A slight overbite is acceptable, while an extreme underbite would hinder success. Trombone players should have slightly fuller lips than average.
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Other Considerations
Great trombone playing takes good concentration and study. Many quiet academicians have excelled at trombone.
Because of the difficult nature of Trombone notes (mentioned above), students should exhibit GREAT ability to match sung or played pitches by humming or singing. Perhaps this is a good instrument choice for students who have participated in piano lessons or honor choir groups. Private lessons are strongly encouraged for Trombone due to the complexity of the instrument.
Euphonium
The Euphonium is sometimes called the baritone. It is a member of the brass family and looks like a small version of a tuba. Its sound is similar to that of a trombone, but it uses valves like a trumpet instead of a slide (like trombone).
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Click here to hear a Euphonium!
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Physical Characteristics
Euphonium players should have moderately full lips, but not too full. A SLIGHT overbite is okay, but an underbite would hinder a good sound. The euphonium requires a medium-sized hand span to reach the valves and students should have an above average lung capacity.
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Other Considerations
Students with an above average amount of orthodontia will find the mouthpiece of the euphonium a bit more comfortable than trumpet or French horn.
Argyle provides euphoniums for students at a cost of $125 rental for an entire school year, but students are required to purchase their own mouthpieces and supplies.
Tuba
While many believe the tuba is the largest instrument in the band and would be hard to physically manage, the tubas we use for beginners are 3/4 size and easy to handle!
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Physical Characteristics
Tuba players need to have full lips and a large lung capacity. While the size of the student doesn’t matter TOO much, a long torso (upper body) helps a student reach the mouthpiece of the tuba while resting the bottom of the tuba on the edge of their chair or across the thighs.
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Other Considerations
The tuba provides the musical foundation for the band and requires players that are self-motivated over-achievers. Students with a history of academic trouble should not consider tuba as we rely heavily on the ability of the tuba players to be consistently UIL eligible.
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Argyle ISD provides tubas for students at a cost of $125 rental for an entire school year, but students are required to purchase their own mouthpieces and supplies.
Percussion
It's not just drums! The percussion section includes all of our keyboard instruments, as well as triangles, tambourines, maracas, claves, and countless other accessories and drums.
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Click here to hear a percussion ensemble!
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Physical Characteristics
Percussionists need to exhibit a very high level of coordination and dexterity. The majority of our percussion test is dedicated to testing students coordination and dexterity.
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Other Considerations
Percussion students have a lot of gear and equipment to keep up with and must be organized and neat. Percussion students MUST be responsible and organized!
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Argyle ISD provides percussion instruments for at-school use for a $125 annual maintenance fee, but you will also need to rent a practice marimba and purchase a practice pad for home use as well as the sticks and accessories on our supply list.