Spring Creek Middle School

Beginning Band

Introduction to Band Instruments

Mr. Hansen
Revised: 18 June 2004
The Four Instrument Families
Woodwind.
Originally made of wood, played by
blowing air over a wooden reed or over
a tone hole.
Brass.
Made of brass, played by blowing air
through the lips causing them to buzz in
a cup shaped mouthpiece.
The Four Instrument Families
Percussion.
Made of all sorts of materials, played by
hitting, striking, or shaking.
String.
Made of wood, played by bowing or
plucking strings.
Instrumentation
It is important to have a
variety of instruments in
band.
The Pyramid of Sound
The lower the pitch of
the instrument the more
players of that
instrument are needed.
Woodwinds Flute
Made of metal.
Sound produced by
blowing air over a tone
hole (like a soda pop
bottle.).
Held horizontally to the
right.
Woodwinds Flute
Small case size.
May also play the
piccolo after three
years of study.
Woodwinds Clarinet
Made of plastic or
wood with metal
keys.
Sound produced by
blowing air over a
wooden reed.
Held vertically in
front between the
legs.
Woodwinds Clarinet
Medium case size.
May also play the
bass clarinet after
two years of study.
Woodwinds Alto & Tenor
Saxophone
Made of metal.
Sound produced
by blowing air over
a wooden reed.
Held with the aid of
a neck strap while
resting on right
thigh.
Woodwinds Alto & Tenor
Saxophone
Large case size.
May also play the
baritone
saxophone after
two years of study.
Woodwinds Not Taught At SCMS:
Piccolo.
Oboe.
Double reed instrument.
Transfer to oboe from clarinet in high school.
Bassoon.
Double reed instrument.
Transfer to bassoon from tenor saxophone in
high school.
Woodwinds Not Taught At SCMS:
Soprano saxophone.
Used as a solo instrument in high school jazz band.
Sopranino clarinet.
Used as a solo instrument in college concert band.
Alto clarinet.
Becoming extinct. Used in clarinet choir ensembles.
English horn.
Usually played by oboists as a solo instrument in
college orchestras.
Brass Trumpet
Made of metal and
uses valves to
change the pitch.
Played by buzzing
lips into a cup
shaped
mouthpiece.
Brass Trumpet
Large case size.
May also play
euphonium,
French horn, or
tuba after two
years of study.
Brass Trombone
Made of metal and
uses a slide to
change the pitch.
Played by buzzing
lips into a cup
shaped
mouthpiece.
Brass Trombone
Large case size.
May also play bass
trombone in high
school jazz band.
Brass French Horn
Made of metal and
uses valves to
change the pitch.
Played by buzzing
the lips into a cup
shaped
mouthpiece.
Brass French Horn
Play trumpet for
one year and then
switch to French
horn.
Large case size.
Player needs to
have a good ear
for pitch.
Brass Euphonium
Made of metal and
uses valves to
change the pitch.
Played by buzzing
the lips into a cup
shaped
mouthpiece.
Brass Euphonium
Large case size.
Trumpet players
can usually switch
to this instrument
easily.
SCMS has one
euphonium that
may be checked
out.
Brass Tuba
Made of metal and
uses valves to
change the pitch.
Played by buzzing
the lips into a cup
shaped
mouthpiece.
Brass Tuba
Large case size.
Trumpets players
can usually switch
to this instrument
easily.
SCMS has one
tuba that may be
checked out.
Percussion
Students learn on
a bell kit which
contains a set of
bells, a practice
pad, mallets, and
sticks.
Large case size.
Percussion
Each page of the
method book is
learned first on
bells and then on
snare drum
(practice pad).
Percussion
Students will
also learn snare
drum, bass
drum, cymbals,
and other
miscellaneous
instruments.
Strings
Electric Bass
While not a traditional
band instrument, it is
still taught in band at
SCMS.
Students need to
purchase a bass, an
amplifier, and a cable.
Strings
Electric Bass
Many students find
this instrument
difficult to transport
since there is a
large case for the
bass as well as the
amplifier.
Which Instrument Should I Play?
We need a variety of instruments.
However