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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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10% of students will be selected for FLUTE |
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FLUTE PERSONALITY:
Contientious |
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Oboe
Lessons Highly Encouraged |
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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 asked to take weekly
private lessons with the applied lesson teacher at
Wester (or another director-approved private
instructor). 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. Reeds can cost $14-16 each.
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 Wester provides
oboes for students at a cost of $100 rental for an
entire school year payable to Wester for routine
maintenance.
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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. Some clarinet
students may be chosen to play Bass Clarinet as 7th
graders.
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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. A box of 10 reeds costs
$17.50 and can last (with proper care) up to 4 months.
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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 Highly Encouraged |
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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 asked to
take weekly private lessons with the applied lesson
teacher at Wester (or another director-approved
private instructor). 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. Reeds can cost $10-15
each. Students with a history of disciplinary trouble
will NOT be considered for bassoon.
Again, the financial trade-off for having to take
lessons and keep a stock of working reeds is that
Wester provides bassoons for students at a cost of
$100 rental for an entire school year payable to
Wester for routine maintenance.
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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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Other Considerations:
Saxophone players are responsible for maintaining a
working stock of 4-6 quality reeds. A box of 10 reeds
costs $23.00 and can last (with proper care) up to 4
months. 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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8% of students will be selected for SAXOPHONE |
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SAXOPHONE PERSONALITY:
Mellow |
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Trumpet |
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The trumpet is the smallest member of the brass
family. The sound on trumpet is produced by buzzing
into a small mouthpiece. The trumpet generally plays
the melody and is considered one of the most vital
components of the band.
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Physical Characteristics:
While orthodontia is somewhat troublesome to a 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 trumpet. Trumpet
players come in all shapes and sizes.
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Other Considerations:
Trumpet parts usually have the melody (recognizable)
part, therefore students who choose and are selected
for trumpet should exhibit a confident demeanor,
strong personality, and demonstrate a high level of
self-motivation. |
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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
Lessons Highly Encouraged |
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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:
While orthodontia is somewhat troublesome to a French
Horn player, it is not impossible to make good sounds
with braces. 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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Other 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. Wester provides French horns for
students at a cost of $100 rental for an entire school
year. Students who choose (and are selected) to play
French Horn are asked to take weekly private
lessons with the applied lesson teacher at Wester (or
another director-approved private instructor). Private
lessons cost $15.00 per week and scholarships are
available based on financial need and demonstration of
diligent work ethic. |
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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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Other Considerations:
Great trombone playing takes good concentration and
study. Many quiet academicians have excelled at
trombone. |
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12% of students will be selected for TROMBONE |
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TROMBONE PERSONALITY:
Analytical |
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Euphonium |
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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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Other 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. Wester
provides euphoniums for students at a cost of $100
rental for an entire school year, but students are
required to purchase their own mouthpieces. |
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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. The tuba is the foundation of the band and is
extremely vital to the success of any group.
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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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Other 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. Wester provides tubas for students at a cost
of $100 rental for an entire school year, but students
are required to purchase their own mouthpieces.
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6% of students will be selected for TUBA |
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TUBA PERSONALITY:
Unique |
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