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Flute |
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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.
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Audio Sample
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10% of students will be selected
for FLUTE |
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FLUTE
PERSONALITY:
Contientious |
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| Oboe Lessons Required |
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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 at Arbor Creek. Private lessons cost $15.00 per week and scholarships
are available based on financial need and demonstration of diligent work
ethic. 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 Arbor Creek provides oboes for students at a cost of $50 rental for
an entire school year payable to LISD for routine
maintenance.
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Audio Sample
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2% of students will be
selected for OBOE |
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OBOE PERSONALITY:
Studious |
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| Clarinet |
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Unlike the oboe, the clarinet
uses a “single reed” and a mouthpiece to produce the sound. 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 4-6 quality reeds.
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20% of students will be selected
for CLARINET |
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CLARINET PERSONALITY:
Focused |
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| Bassoon Lessons Required |
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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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Physical
Characteristics: A slight overbite is okay for students wishing to
play bassoon, however, a student with an underbite should avoid bassoon.
Agile thumbs is 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 such 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 at Arbor Creek. Private lessons cost $15.00 per
week and scholarships are available based on financial need and
demonstration of diligent work ethic. Students are required to maintain
a supply of 3-4 high-quality reeds at ALL times.
Again,
the financial trade-off for having to take lessons and keep a stock of
working reeds is that Arbor Creek provides bassoons for students at a
cost of $50 rental for an entire school year payable to LISD for routine
maintenance.
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Audio Sample
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2% of students will be selected
for BASSOON |
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BASSOON PERSONALITY: Serious |
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| Saxophone |
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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 few students will be chosen to
play it.
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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 when asked to.
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Considerations: Saxophone players are responsible for maintaining a
working stock of 4-6 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). |
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Audio Sample
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8% of students will be selected
for SAXOPHONE |
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SAXOPHONE PERSONALITY: Mellow |
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| Cornet / Trumpet |
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The cornet /
trumpet is the smallest member of the brass family. The sound on cornet /
trumpet is produced by buzzing into 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 upon the completion of a
battery of playing exams.
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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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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. |
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Audio Sample
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12% of students will be selected
for TRUMPET |
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TRUMPET PERSONALITY: Confident |
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| French Horn |
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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. Only the top 14-16 scores
will be selected to play French horn. Students with good musical ears
(such as Honor Choir students) should consider 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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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. Arbor Creek provides French horns for
students at a cost of $50 rental for an entire school year. |
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Audio Sample
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10% of students will be selected
for FRENCH HORN |
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FRENCH HORN PERSONALITY: Academic |
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| Trombone |
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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
(such as Honor Choir students) should consider
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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Considerations: Great trombone playing takes good concentration and
study. Many quiet academicians have excelled at trombone. |
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Audio Sample
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12% of students will be selected
for TROMBONE |
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TROMBONE PERSONALITY:
Analytical |
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| Euphonium / Baritone |
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The euphonium
(you-PHONE-knee-yum) is sometimes known as 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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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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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. Arbor Creek provides euphoniums for students at a
cost of $50 rental for an entire school year, but students are required to
purchase their own mouthpieces. |
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Audio Sample
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10% of students will be selected
for EUPHONIUM |
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EUPHONIUM PERSONALITY: Artistic |
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| Tuba |
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| 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 ¾ size and easy
to handle. In fact, tuba players will begin by playing a baritone horn and
will switch over in the fall semester. |
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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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. Arbor
Creek provides tubas for students at a cost of $50 rental for an entire
school year, but students are required to purchase their own mouthpieces. |
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Audio Sample
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6% of students will be selected
for TUBA |
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TUBA PERSONALITY: Unique |
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| Percussion (Drums) |
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Just because
you are always tapping on things does not mean you are a natural
percussionist (drummer). In fact, the percussion section is the most
select, hand-picked section of the band. Only students with the highest
grades, lowest discipline problems, backgrounds in piano lessons, and
extremely high gross and fine motor skills will be considered for
percussion.
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Physical
Characteristics: Students should exhibit a great deal of coordination
in gross and fine motor skills
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Other
Considerations: The study of percussion includes bells, triangle,
tambourine, maracas, claves, among many other
instruments.
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Audio Sample
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ONLY 10-12 students will be selected for
PERCUSSION |
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PERCUSSION PERSONALITY:
Coordinated |