There are many things that you need to have in order to play an instrument. Some instruments need more equipment than others. Here is a list of mandatory supplies for each instrument.
All students must have a sharpened pencil in their folder and/or instrument case.
Flute
-C Flute
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Flute
-Cleaning rod, and a swab to clean the instrument. You can make one out of a handkerchief
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Clarinet
-Bb Clarinet
-A box of at least three strength #2.5 Bb clarinet reeds. Rico are ok and are the cheapest
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Bb Clarinet
-A clarinet swab
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Alto Saxophone
-Eb Alto Saxophone
-A box of at least three strength #2.5 reeds for alto saxophone.
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Eb Alto Saxophone.
-A good neck strap with padding
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
French Horn
-Single horn in F or Double horn in F/Bb
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for French Horn in F.
-Rotary valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Trumpet
-Bb trumpet
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Bb Trumpet
-Valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Trombone
-Tenor trombone
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Trombone
-Small water spray bottle and good trombone slide cream such as Slide-O-Mix, Trombotine, or Superslick (this is different from slide grease, which is for tuning slides and is also good to have) (I DO NOT RECOMMEND VALVE OIL)
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Baritone:
-Baritone or Euphonium
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Baritone/Euphonium B.C.. There are two baritone books Treble Clef, T.C. and Bass Clef, B.C. Please make sure it is the B.C. book
-Valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Percussion: A percussion kit or its components (percussion kits typically include all of the below components, but sometimes may have only a snare pad instead of a snare pad and drum. I do not have a preference as to whether students use a snare pad or snare drum):
-Snare drum and/or snare pad and stand (please don't use a snare stand from a drumset as they are too short)
-A bells set/glockenspiel and its stand
-Mallets for the bells (hard plastic mallets are preferred)
-Snare drum sticks (vic firth 7a's are preferred)
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for combined percussion. Make sure it has snare and mallets in the book. There are multiple types of percussion books out there, so be careful!
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Optional items for all instruments:
Metronomes are very useful for all musicians, but it is mandatory for percussion since they have to keep a very strict steady beat. There are now several apps on mobile devices that can be downloaded for this.
Tuners: Good to have, but not a priority for beginners. There are now several apps on mobile devices that can be downloaded for this.
Reed Cases: These are very helpful for protecting reeds, but you can get by without one for now.
Instrument stand: If you would like one, but not mandatory. This is different from a music stand which is mandatory.
Cleaning Swabs (very highly encouraged/recommended): Clarinets, saxophones, and oboes all come with cheap swabs. You can buy silk swabs that work a lot better by the company "Gem."
Reeds (not optional for saxophones and clarinets, but the brand you choose is): I recommend Rico to start, but down the road you may want to consider buying a higher quality reed by Vandoren or even Rico Grand Concert or Rico Royal reeds.
- For the Sound Innovations Book: If you are in 5th grade or are new to band as a 6th grader, you will need Book 1.
- If you are in 7th or 8th grade and are a returning student, there is no need to buy this book this year. However if you are new to band as a 7th or 8th grader it would be helpful for you to have the book to have access to some fundamental exercises, fingering charts, etc.
All students must have a sharpened pencil in their folder and/or instrument case.
Flute
-C Flute
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Flute
-Cleaning rod, and a swab to clean the instrument. You can make one out of a handkerchief
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Clarinet
-Bb Clarinet
-A box of at least three strength #2.5 Bb clarinet reeds. Rico are ok and are the cheapest
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Bb Clarinet
-A clarinet swab
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Alto Saxophone
-Eb Alto Saxophone
-A box of at least three strength #2.5 reeds for alto saxophone.
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Eb Alto Saxophone.
-A good neck strap with padding
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
French Horn
-Single horn in F or Double horn in F/Bb
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for French Horn in F.
-Rotary valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Trumpet
-Bb trumpet
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Bb Trumpet
-Valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Trombone
-Tenor trombone
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Trombone
-Small water spray bottle and good trombone slide cream such as Slide-O-Mix, Trombotine, or Superslick (this is different from slide grease, which is for tuning slides and is also good to have) (I DO NOT RECOMMEND VALVE OIL)
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Baritone:
-Baritone or Euphonium
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for Baritone/Euphonium B.C.. There are two baritone books Treble Clef, T.C. and Bass Clef, B.C. Please make sure it is the B.C. book
-Valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Percussion: A percussion kit or its components (percussion kits typically include all of the below components, but sometimes may have only a snare pad instead of a snare pad and drum. I do not have a preference as to whether students use a snare pad or snare drum):
-Snare drum and/or snare pad and stand (please don't use a snare stand from a drumset as they are too short)
-A bells set/glockenspiel and its stand
-Mallets for the bells (hard plastic mallets are preferred)
-Snare drum sticks (vic firth 7a's are preferred)
-Sound Innovations for Concert Band for combined percussion. Make sure it has snare and mallets in the book. There are multiple types of percussion books out there, so be careful!
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Optional items for all instruments:
Metronomes are very useful for all musicians, but it is mandatory for percussion since they have to keep a very strict steady beat. There are now several apps on mobile devices that can be downloaded for this.
Tuners: Good to have, but not a priority for beginners. There are now several apps on mobile devices that can be downloaded for this.
Reed Cases: These are very helpful for protecting reeds, but you can get by without one for now.
Instrument stand: If you would like one, but not mandatory. This is different from a music stand which is mandatory.
Cleaning Swabs (very highly encouraged/recommended): Clarinets, saxophones, and oboes all come with cheap swabs. You can buy silk swabs that work a lot better by the company "Gem."
Reeds (not optional for saxophones and clarinets, but the brand you choose is): I recommend Rico to start, but down the road you may want to consider buying a higher quality reed by Vandoren or even Rico Grand Concert or Rico Royal reeds.
