Please note of the following dates for the Class of 20__
April __th at HMS & May __rd at GMS: All 4th graders will listen to a mini-concert put on by the current 5th Grade Band. The band will play a few songs and introduce the various instruments. St. Mary's students will having instrument fittings immediately following this performance.
May 9th: HMS Band-O-Rama Concert at 7:00pm in the HMS Gymnasium. This performance is a chance to hear band students in 5th-8th perform together.
May __th (NGES) & May __th-__th (HES): The band directors will be at the elementary schools meeting with students individually to help them decide which instrument is best suited for them. Only students who have returned a band interest form will be given an instrument fitting appointment. Interest forms will be available both online and in paper form and are due by May __th.
As you are thinking about which instrument you'd like to play, please consider the following information:
FLUTE: Flute is a melody instrument in band. It is the smallest woodwind instrument. Flute can be difficult to get a sound from right away, but the majority of students will be successful with time, effort, and patience.
OBOE:Oboe is not available as a beginning band instrument at HMS. Students interested in playing oboe should play flute, clarinet, or alto saxophone for at least one year. Successful oboe players have excellent pitch recognition skills and a strong work ethic.
CLARINET:Clarinet is a member of the woodwind family and a melody instrument in band. It is very similar to recorder, the instrument the students learned in elementary school music class.
SAXOPHONE:There are two different sizes of saxophone available to beginner band students. Alto saxophone is the smaller of the two and tenor saxophone is the larger one. Saxophone players need to have medium- to large-sized hands for their age and also be able to handle the weight of the instrument hanging around their necks.
**Something to keep in mind is that the saxophone is the most expensive instrument to rent. Purchasing a "cheap" one from an online department store is NOT a good idea. The quality of the metal used in those instruments is extremely poor. They bend/break constantly, SOUND AWFUL, and can be very discouraging for the students. The band directors are always happy to help families find a quality used instrument to fit their budget.
In the video clip, the tenor saxophone is to your far left, and the alto saxophone is to your far right.
TRUMPET:Trumpet is a brass instrument and a melody instrument in band. Successful trumpet students usually have thin upper lips and good pitch recognition skills. Trumpet is also a jazz band instrument.
FRENCH HORN: French horn is a brass instrument with a very mellow sound. It can be a difficult instrument for beginners to learn to play. Successful French horn players possess excellent pitch recognition skills, are good singers, and have a very strong work ethic. Having a background in piano playing is also helpful.
TROMBONE: Trombone is a low brass instrument easily recognized due to its slide. It is also a jazz band instrument and a lot of fun to play.
BARITONE: Baritone is a low brass instrument that has valves like a trumpet, but plays the same range of notes as a trombone. Baritone is a good option for students who like the idea of playing trumpet, but are not able to produce high notes on the much smaller trumpet mouthpiece.
TUBA: Just like you can't have a house without a foundation, you cannot have a band without tuba players. Tuba is a low brass instrument with valves. At Hortonville Middle School, all tuba players have two instruments--one to keep at home and one to play at school. The only things they need to carry back and forth to school are their mouthpieces and their music.
PERCUSSION: Membership in the percussion section is by invitation only. Students interested in percussion will perform a short rhythm and coordination audition during instrument fitting week. Having several years of piano lessons is also helpful, as are positive recommendations from both classroom and music teachers.