Band is for Everyone!
If your child is interested (even remotely) in band THE BEST time to sign up is in Sixth Grade. Our curriculum is geared towards three years of instruction and signing up in sixth grade will ensure that your child starts with their peers and are prepared for high school. If your child is an athlete (or wants to play sports) sixth grade is also the best time for band since athletics is not offered until 7th grade. We love having student athletes and on average we have 70-80% of our seventh and eighth graders doing band AND athletics- so again, band is the place for you!
There is no shortage of reasons why your student should be in band!
There is no shortage of reasons why your student should be in band!
- Band is a great way for your child to make friends or continue building on past friendships.
- The Wester Band curriculum develops organizational skills, goal setting, reward systems, and performance opportunities that will help all students develop the traits needed to succeed both inside and outside the band hall.
- Band Students are represented in every organization on campus including athletics, art, choir, theatre, NJHS, Student Council, etc.
- Our staff is happy to work with your family to make band affordable! We have an amazing booster organization that provides scholarships and financial aid in addition to a unique student work program (Band Hall Hero) that teaches responsibility and a strong work ethic.
- The Band staff is well established at Wester. The Band Directors have established a proven track record of achievement with students both in the concert/contest setting and on a personal level. We love the chance to work with your student for all three years in middle school!
Instrument Choices for Band
click on the "examples" tab to listen to different examples of each instrument
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Flute - Very popular instrument. Plays some of the highest notes in the band and mainly a melodic instrument. Sound is produced by blowing air over a tone hole. It is helpful to have longer fingers. Students that have a tear-drop lip will probably have difficulty producing a sound on the flute. |
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Oboe - To produce a sound, a student must put the reed in their mouth and blow to cause it to vibrate. The Oboe is a more challenging instrument to play, so participation in private lessons is highly encouraged. Oboe players are not afraid to perform by themselves.
School owned instrument. |
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Clarinet - Another extremely popular instrument. Wester usually starts 12 + clarinets every year. The Clarinet is extremely versatile and plays many melodic and harmonic parts. Children with a pronounced under bite will have difficulty playing the Clarinet.
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Alto Saxophone - This is an extremely popular instrument. The sax is a very versatile instrument that can play in many different genres. There is a cap on the number of students that will be in the saxophone class due to the high interest in the instrument.
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Bassoon - The Bassoon is a low sounding woodwind instrument that is a lot of fun to play. Like the Oboe, the private lessons are encouraged due to the fact that the bassoon is one of the more challenging instruments to play.
School owned instrument. |
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Trumpet - An extremely popular instrument. It is mainly a melodic instrument. If you like to play loud, this is a great instrument for you. Trumpet players love to play out strong and be the center of attention.
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French Horn - This instrument is a beautiful instrument that plays some wonderful music (Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Indiana Jones…) It is an instrument that requires that the student have a good musical ear. Students playing the French Horn are studious and hard working kids.
School Owned Instrument |
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Trombone - The trombone is a fun instrument that doesn’t use valves, but uses a slide to change notes. Trombone players love to have fun and joke around. The trombone also requires that you have a good musical ear.
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Euphonium - The Euphonium is an instrument that is unique to the band. It is a beautiful instrument that sounds like a trombone, but has a more mellow sound. Euphonium players are very proud of their instrument and really enjoy playing the music that they get to play.
School Owned Instrument |
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Tuba - The tuba is the foundation of the band. The size of the tuba makes it a challenge for a smaller child to play, but when it comes to practicing there is no problem. All tuba players get to have a tuba at home and a tuba at school.
School Owned Instrument |
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Percussion— Percussion class encompasses many different instruments, but percussionists in the beginning band practice on a drum pad and a practice marimba. Percussionists must be able to keep a steady beat and be willing to learn more than one instrument. Percussionists also need to be confident students who are not afraid to play as a soloist most of the time.
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