Travis Band WEBSITE
Without music, life would be a mistake. -Nietzsche
Clarinet
Flute
Rent or Buy?
Students are encouraged to rent an instrument until they are ready to commit to a professional model later in their band career. Renting also makes it easier to trade in for a better quality model when the time comes for you to upgrade.
When selecting an instrument dealer, check to see if they offer serveral models to choose from the same instrument manufacturer. Many manufacturers have student line models as well as professional models. Several music stores offer a rent-to-own program where you pay per month until the instrument is owned out right.
What if we cannot afford to rent or buy an instrument?
Travis owns limited instruments that may be checked out to students for the year for a maintenance fee of $75.00. This maintenance fee will be used to cover the costs of minor repairs throughout the year and is NON-REFUNDABLE. You will still need to purchase the required supplies and accessories associated with the instrument.
Keep in mind students that rent an instrument through the school may be sharing with another student and will not be able to take it home to pracitce every day.
When renting an instrument through the school we ask that parents send a letter to the band director stating that their child needs to rent an instrument and a reason why.
The flute is a reedless woodwind instrument that's generally made from silver or nickel. The player blows air across the hole in the mouthpiece to produce a sound that is either soft and mellow, or high and piercing. Suggested beginning flute brands include Gemeinhardt and Yamaha, though there are several more to choose from.
The clarinet is a reed instrument that produces a rich, dark sound. It has the largest pitch range of any woodwind instrument. Plastic clarinets are made to be durable for beginners. Suggested beginning clarinet brands include Buffet and Yamaha, though there are several more to choose from.
A percussion player will probably play everything in the percussion section at some point, which includes: the snare drum, bass drum, bells, triangles and cymbals. Depending on your school, you may start with bells, the snare drum or both. This kit includes the bell kit and snare practice pad.
The saxophone is in the woodwind family. It is made of brass, and is played with a single-reed mouthpiece. The alto sax is the most common type of saxophone for beginners to start with. Suggested beginning Alto Saxophon brands include Yamaha and Selmer, though there are several more to choose from.
Percussion/Keyboard
Alto Saxophone
How do I get my instrument?
Trombone
Trumpet
The trombone is in the brass family. It prodices a sound by the player buzzing their lips while blowing air through a mouthpiece, while extending or retracting the slide. Suggested beginning trumpet brands include Yahama and Bach, though there are several more to choose from.
The Trumpet is in the brass family. It is played using valves, while sound is produced by the player "buzzing" their lips while blowing air through the mouthpiece. Suggested beginning trumpet brands include Yamaha and Bach, though there are several more to choose from.