Our band has over 50% beginners and we are located in a rural part of the state, with around 75% of students using a school instrument. Instrument upkeep is imperative because so many students are using school instruments. Some students even have to use multiple school owned instruments in cases such as percussion and the marching brass. I have requested percussion mallets, drum sticks, snare side heads and reeds for the woodwind instruments because they are all needed.
Without reeds to play the woodwind instruments and the proper supplies to keep both the brass and woodwind instruments working their best, students will never be able to live up to their full potential as musicians. You may think all those reeds seem a bit excessive, I can assure you it is not, with 15 students playing clarinet this year, reeds are a much needed supply we end up using a lot of, and when these students move into sixth grade band and we get new beginner clarinets, the need for reeds grows greater.
While the brass and woodwinds are getting instrument care supplies, don't think I've left the percussion out. By obtaining SD1 drumsticks for the beginner percussionists, they'll be able to more easily identify proper stick holding position, due to the US flag on the stick. By getting sets of drum heads, we'll be able to bring several of our snare drums back into playing condition, allowing students to have a drum at home to use and one to use in class as well.
With the remaining percussion items, the bass drum mallets and percussion instrument accessory table, during concert band the percussionists will finally be able to do their written bass drum rolls, as well as have reasonable access to their smaller auxillary instruments and not have to risk damaging them by the instruments falling off.
About my class
Our band has over 50% beginners and we are located in a rural part of the state, with around 75% of students using a school instrument. Instrument upkeep is imperative because so many students are using school instruments. Some students even have to use multiple school owned instruments in cases such as percussion and the marching brass. I have requested percussion mallets, drum sticks, snare side heads and reeds for the woodwind instruments because they are all needed.
Without reeds to play the woodwind instruments and the proper supplies to keep both the brass and woodwind instruments working their best, students will never be able to live up to their full potential as musicians. You may think all those reeds seem a bit excessive, I can assure you it is not, with 15 students playing clarinet this year, reeds are a much needed supply we end up using a lot of, and when these students move into sixth grade band and we get new beginner clarinets, the need for reeds grows greater.
While the brass and woodwinds are getting instrument care supplies, don't think I've left the percussion out. By obtaining SD1 drumsticks for the beginner percussionists, they'll be able to more easily identify proper stick holding position, due to the US flag on the stick. By getting sets of drum heads, we'll be able to bring several of our snare drums back into playing condition, allowing students to have a drum at home to use and one to use in class as well.
With the remaining percussion items, the bass drum mallets and percussion instrument accessory table, during concert band the percussionists will finally be able to do their written bass drum rolls, as well as have reasonable access to their smaller auxillary instruments and not have to risk damaging them by the instruments falling off.
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