Intro to Band and Other Instruments SMS Band Home of the Stars Ms. Kinion

The Four Instrument Families  Woodwind.  Originally made of wood, played by blowing air over a wooden reed or over a tone hole.  Can you name all the woodwind instruments?  Brass.  Made of brass, played by blowing air through the lips causing them to buzz in a cup shaped mouthpiece.  Can you name all the brass instruments?

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 SMS:  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.  *Only if you have a private instructor

Woodwinds Not Taught At SMS:  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  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.

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.  Baritone players can usually switch to this instrument easily.  SMS has Tubas at school so that you can leave one at home and just take your mouthpiece.

Percussion  Students learn on a bell kit which contains a set of bells, snare drum, 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 (or practice pad).

Percussion  Students will also learn snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and other miscellaneous instruments.

Strings – Upright Bass/Electric Bass  While not a traditional band instrument, it is still taught in band at SMS.  Tuba students will alternate between Tuba and learning Bass.

Bell Work  Title: “What you feed your mind determines your appetite”  Reflection Paragraph: How does the above quote relate to music that you listen to or are exposed to (every day music, music in the car, commercials, shopping, etc)?

Bell Work  Title: Woodwinds  Reflection: Describe woodwind instruments and where you might find woodwinds in music.

Bell Work  Title: Brass  Reflection: Describe brass instruments and where you might find brass in music.

Bell Work  Title: Shopping with Music  Reflection: Choose an item you would sell at a store and what music you might play for your customers to help sell your item. Would it be upbeat, slow, relaxing, energetic? What instruments would be used? What artists? Would it have lyrics or be instrumental?

Bell Work  Title: Percussion  Reflection: Describe percussion instruments and where you might find percussion instruments in music.

Testing Form  Name on top right  Date  Instrument Testing  1. Name of instrument  Rating 1-10 (1 = no/hardly any sound, 10= you are a natural at this instrument)  What was easy for you?  What was difficult?  Do you think you would play this instrument? Why or why not?

Bellwork  Title: Petting Zoo Feedback  Reflection: Reflect on Friday’s Petting Zoo. What were some of your experiences? What would you change? What would you keep the same?