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.
For the 2025-2026 school year, first year students will be using the method book:
TRADITION of Excellence, book 1 for their instrument (see below)
All students must have a sharpened pencil in their folder and/or instrument case.
Flute
-C Flute
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 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 (for beginners). Rico are ok and are typically the most cost effective.
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Bb Clarinet
-A clarinet swab
-Cork grease
-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 (for beginners). Rico are ok and are typically the most cost effective.
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Eb Alto Saxophone
-A good neck strap with padding
-Cork grease
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
French Horn
-Single horn in F or Double horn in F/Bb
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for F Horn
-Rotary valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Trumpet
-Bb trumpet
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Bb Trumpet
-Valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Trombone
-Tenor trombone
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Trombone (make sure it is NOT the T.C. version)
-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
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Baritone B.C.
-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)
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Percussion
-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: Clarinets, saxophones, and oboes all come with swabs (or at least, your rental should if you're renting). You can buy silk swabs that work a lot better by the company "Gem."
Reeds (not optional for saxophones and clarinets): I recommend Rico/D'Addario 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 2025-2026 school year, first year students will be using the method book:
TRADITION of Excellence, book 1 for their instrument (see below)
All students must have a sharpened pencil in their folder and/or instrument case.
Flute
-C Flute
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 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 (for beginners). Rico are ok and are typically the most cost effective.
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Bb Clarinet
-A clarinet swab
-Cork grease
-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 (for beginners). Rico are ok and are typically the most cost effective.
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Eb Alto Saxophone
-A good neck strap with padding
-Cork grease
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
French Horn
-Single horn in F or Double horn in F/Bb
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for F Horn
-Rotary valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Trumpet
-Bb trumpet
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Bb Trumpet
-Valve oil
-A wire/folding music stand for home practice
Trombone
-Tenor trombone
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Trombone (make sure it is NOT the T.C. version)
-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
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Baritone B.C.
-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)
-Method book: Tradition of Excellence, book 1 for Percussion
-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: Clarinets, saxophones, and oboes all come with swabs (or at least, your rental should if you're renting). You can buy silk swabs that work a lot better by the company "Gem."
Reeds (not optional for saxophones and clarinets): I recommend Rico/D'Addario 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.