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Meyzeek Middle School Bands

SUPPLIES

Money and time-saving tips

Renting an instrument is STRONGLY encouraged.

The quality of the instrument WILL be better than anything Meyzeek currently owns.
Insurance plans are frequently available.
Rent can be applied to purchase at a later date. THIS IS HUGE!
One-stop shopping—get your supplies (book, reeds, etc.) at the same location.
DO NOT PURCHASE AN INSTRUMENT! I want to help your student be successful. I’ve seen too many kids end up with the wrong instrument because they were too eager to purchase too soon. PLEASE contact me if you have questions about this!

SHOP LOCAL:

There are a couple of LOCAL music stores who will give you very good service and advice. EVERY year we have kids without books because the online retailer is delayed or sold them the wrong item. Avoid the stress and issues and support our local brick-and-mortar stores.

REEDS:

For clarinet, saxophone, oboe, and bassoon players, it might be tempting to buy online. I've seen absolute GARBAGE come in that the poor kids can't make a sound on at all. No exaggeration, I could barely make a sound, and I've been playing these instruments for over thirty years!

Beginners: You can't go wrong with Van Doran reeds. Start with a #2 or #2 1/2 strength. If funding is an issue, we suggest Mitchell Lurie or Rico Royal reeds as well.

By January, most everyone should be on a #3 strength reed.

Flute, clarinet, and especially saxophone players:

Do NOT purchase or use a fluffy "pad saver" rod. They do NOT dry the instrument out...they just move the moisture around and KEEP the instrument's pads wet. This leads to MOLD and MILDEW, which will lead to several hundreds of dollars in repairs!

2nd Year

7th Grade

Symphony Band:

This is YOUR book. "Essential Elements Book TWO." Notice the RED trim on it!

Beginning Band Supplies

The Essential Elements Book:

ALL Beginning Bandlings will need the

"Essential Elements for Band" book ONE (pictured at left.)

Each book will have the specific instrument on the cover,

as well as the instrument name on the top.

Baritones need the "Bass Clef" book, not the "Treble Clef."

Percussion books are spiral-bound...

essentially, they are two books in one:

one for rhythm percussion like snare and bass drum,

and the other "side" for keyboard instruments.

Flute:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE, for FLUTE
Polishing cloth for nickel, NOT
lacquer
Cleaning/Tuning Rod

Oboe:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE, for OBOE
Polishing cloth for nickel, NOT
lacquer
Pull-Through Swabs FOR OBOE (clarinet will NOT work)!

(Do not use an ostrich feather. Seriously!)

Cork Grease

Oboe reeds are very fragile.

(ALWAYS have at least two functioning reeds.)

Start with Medium reeds, Jones "red wrap" is fine.

Move to the "purple wrap" later.

Bassoon:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE, for BASSOON
Polishing cloth for nickel, NOT
lacquer
Pull-Through Swabs for BASSOON
CORK GREASE
Pipe cleaner (for cleaning the bocal)
Bassoon reeds, like oboe, are very fragile
(ALWAYS have at least two functioning reeds.)

Clarinet:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE, for CLARINET
Polishing cloth for nickel, NOT
lacquer
Pull-Through Swab
Mouthpiece Patch
Thumb Cushion
Cork Grease
Reeds: 1 box of TEN reeds:
What strength? 2 1/2 for beginners.

(You should be working towards a #3 by Dec./Jan.)

Which brand?

Mitchell Lurie
Van Doran (dark blue box)
Rico Royal (light blue box)
Roco (orange box)

Don't waste your time with a 3-pack of reeds;

you'll be driving RIGHT back to the store!

Saxophone:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE,

for either ALTO or TENOR sax, whichever your Bandling is assigned to!

Polishing cloth for nickel, NOT
lacquer
Pull-Through Swab
Mouthpiece Patch
Cork Grease
Padded Neck Strap
Reeds: 1 box of TEN reeds:
What strength? 2 1/2 for beginners.
(You should be working towards a #3 by Dec./Jan.)

Which brand?

Van Doran (dark blue box)
Rico Royal (light blue box)
Roco (orange box)

Don't waste your time with a 3-pack of reeds;

you'll be driving RIGHT back to the store!

French Horn:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE, for FRENCH HORN
Polishing cloth for lacquer
Mouthpiece: Yamaha 30/32 series, or any from Farkas or Bach
Mouthpiece brush

Trumpet:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE, for TRUMPET
Polishing cloth for lacquer
Tuning Slide Grease
"5C or 7C" mouthpiece. Good brands are Bach, Shilke, or Yamaha.
Valve Oil
Mouthpiece Brush

Trombone:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE, for TROMBONE
Polishing cloth for lacquer
"6 1/2 AL" mouthpiece. Good brands are Bach, Shilke, or Yamaha.
Tuning Slide Grease
Trombone Slide Oil
Mouthpiece Brush

Baritone:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE

for BARITONE BASS CLEFF

Polishing cloth for lacquer
"6 1/2 AL" mouthpiece. Good brands are Bach, Shilke, or Yamaha.
Tuning Slide Grease
Valve Oil
Mouthpiece Brush

Tuba:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE for TUBA
Polishing cloth for lacquer
Tuning Slide Grease
Mouthpiece--Good ones are the Bach 18

or similar mouthpieces by Yamaha or Helleberg

Mouthpiece Brush
Valve Oil

Percussion:

Essential Elements for Band, Book ONE, for PERCUSSION
Snare Sticks: 7A with a small bead (hard to find...) or SD2 Bolero
MATCH the sticks, as we discussed in class!
One pair of yarn mallets
One pair of rubber or plastic mallets
Practice Pad for home use
Practice Bell kit for home use
You'll want a "stick bag" like the one pictured

to the left...

Clarinets and Saxophones:

These black ligatures produce a warmer sound than the generic and cheap metal ligatures.

They aren't required, but very much encouraged, especially by the end of 6th grade.

Clarinets and Saxophones:

These are the mouthpiece patches. I much prefer the thicker rubber over the clear plastic.

BEGINNER
BOOK: