How to Get an Instrument

What instruments are available?

There are five main instruments for beginning band and two specialty instruments. Specialty instruments have separate requirements. Please see Mr. Myers for availability.

The main five are:

Flute

Clarinet

Alto Saxophone

Trumpet

Trombone

The two specialty instruments are:

Oboe

French Horn

What about drums?

Percussion is more than just drums and there is a limited number of slots.

Percussionist can start in 5th grade, if they meet prerequisites set by the director.

What instrument should my child play?

Your child should choose an instrument that he or she wants to play and that they are well suited for. The director will "fit" each student with an instrument on which they can be successful. Sometimes, they may be suited for more than one instrument. In those cases, the director will make a recommendation based on instrumentation and the student's preference.

Your child will have the opportunity to try out the instrument or instruments that they are interested in. Students should try their top three (3) instrument choices. If they have less than three, the director may recommend they try others.

The director uses a rubric based on the student interest, facial features and size, and ensemble needs to make this decision.

Where do I get an instrument and what does it cost?

Everyone wants your child to succeed in band. The best way to do that is to give them the right equipment. Could you cut down a tree with a butter knife? Probably, but it would be really hard and take a very long time. Give your child the right equipment to be successful.

So, where do you get an instrument? Here is what is recommended in order of preference.

1.) RENT IT. It is highly recommend that students rent their instrument for the first year for many reasons. For example, if you are renting an instrument:

A) You can exchange it for a different one, if it is decided that your child is not suited for the current instrument he or she is playing.

B) Repairs are FREE. Yes, they are free at the local music store, if you're renting!

C) The monthly cost goes toward buying the instrument. If you decide to change instruments or it is recommended that your child not do band, you are not out hundreds of dollars and stuck with an instrument.

D) They may end up playing a different instrument in the same instrument family in middle school. For example, maybe your child starts on Alto Saxophone and does really well. The middle school teacher may then decide to switch them to a Tenor or Baritone Saxophone. Another example is a good trumpet player who switches to French Horn or a Trombonist who switches to Tuba. This is common because those instruments are vital to a band program, but are either too big for your 5th grader or too expensive. If that happens, you can return the instrument and not have any more money tied up in an instrument they won't play full time.

2.) Maybe you already own an instrument.

If you already own an instrument, take it to the local music store and have the certified repair technician take a look at it before the first day of band. This saves time and money.

3.) Borrow one.

If you have a close friend or family member that has the instrument your child has been "fitted" for, see if you can borrow it. If your child sticks with it, you can purchase an instrument at a later time.

As a last resort....

4.) Purchase an instrument.

Instruments are an investment. You may see a cheap one on Amazon, Ebay, or other online store that sells more than just musical instruments. They may also have a good rating. DON'T BE FOOLED. If you want to purchase an instrument, you can buy it online or in a music store but make sure it is a good quality instrument. There are numerous brands to avoid. If it comes in different colors, avoid it. If it comes with gloves, avoid it. If you buy it at the same place you buy your groceries or hardware, avoid it.

If you're not sure, ASK!

MANY "CHEAP" INSTRUMENTS YOU FIND ONLINE CANNOT BE REPAIRED! GO FOR QUALITY! PLEASE, DO NOT BUY AN INSTRUMENT AT AN ONLINE STORE WITHOUT CHECKING WITH THE TEACHER FIRST. INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO STOP YOUR CHILD FROM BEING SUCCESSFUL WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN CLASS.

The Brands below have excellent quality and will help your child succeed.

Selmer

Yamaha

Eastman

King

Bach

Jupiter

Bundy (old Bundy)

Others - Just ask!

Cost

This is the most common question. It depends on the instrument. Some are less expensive than others. You should be able to rent an instrument for anywhere between $30 - $60 a month. All of the music stores will work with you and offer lots of incentives. If you decide to purchase an instrument, the general cost of a good student instrument ranges from $700 - $2000. You will find many "cheap-o's" for a few hundred. Please, do not buy these. You are setting your child up for failure and wasting money. Your child MUST have a good quality instrument.

There are a few really good music stores in our area/state.

BandLand (Clarksburg/Bridgeport)

C.A. House Music (Parkersburg/ St. Clairsville, OH)

Music and Arts - Formerly Kerr's Music World (Charleston/Huntington)

If you're not sure, please ask. The director want to help and teach, not sell and repair. I don't have time for that. I'm a parent, too.

Nutter Fort Intermediate

5th Grade Band