Congratulations on joining the Downing MS Band! Our band program has a long history of success! Fortunately, the available instruments to learn are incredibly varied, and we can always find the perfect instrument for each and every student. Your input throughout this process is extremely valuable to us, but you’ll also need to trust Mrs. Clardy when it comes to instrument selection. It’s in all of our best interests to find the perfect place for every learner in band, and we want nothing more than to see every single student thrive and enjoy learning their instrument next year. It is also important to select a "balanced" instrumentation for the band. Every instrument you see below is AMAZING, and we can’t wait to show your kiddos why!
Flute Class
Welcome to flute class at Downing! This class generally has about 6 -8 beginners in it each year, and many of them also take private lessons. The flute is the smallest and lightest woodwind instrument, with a case that is small enough to fit in student backpacks for traveling back and forth to school. The flute takes the MOST air to play of any instrument in the band, including the tuba! Having a “tear- drop” on your top lip can made initial sound development difficult, but not impossible. Our flute class starts a little slower at the beginning of the year, but then moves really fast starting in December to the end of the year. Practicing at home is must for the successful student. The flute is an instrument that is rented from a local music store called “Music & Arts”. The rental plan is a “Rent to own”, so most students end up owning their instruments by the time they leave Downing. There are many different brands and models of flutes available, and many of them are so poorly-made that it can be detrimental to the success of the student. If you plan on buying an instrument instead of renting the recommended model, please consult with Mrs. Clardy first.
Double Reed Class (Oboe and Bassoon)
The Oboe and Bassoon are both in our Double Reed Class. Our Double Reed class is our smallest class, often having no more than 4 or 5 students in it for the entire year. Our Double Reed Class is small to make sure every student receives ample individual attention with Mrs. Clardy, and all of our double reed students are enrolled in Private Lessons at Downing, as our lesson instructors personally hand-make the reeds for our students.
Both the Oboe and Bassoon are “School-Owned” instruments. This means that you would not be renting the instruments from a music store, but using instruments provided by LISD. There is a one-time annual maintenance fee of $100 for using a school owned instrument that is paid to the LISD Fine Arts Office. *As always, financial assistance is available from our Booster Club for any lessons or instrument fees
Clarinet Class
The clarinet is typically our largest and most popular woodwind class. Other than flute, it is the smallest in size and weight of all the instruments, and the case is small enough to fit in many student backpacks for travel. Year to year, our clarinet class will have anywhere from 8 - 10 beginners in it. The clarinet is a beautiful instrument with a very smooth and warm sound, created by using a reed on a mouthpiece. Unlike other instruments, there are not many “Must-have” physical characteristics necessary to play clarinet. Successful students come in all shapes and sizes. All that’s needed is a love for music and a willingness to learn. Mrs. Clardy actually started band by learning the clarinet. She LOVES her clarinet class, and takes responsibility of the individual success and happiness of all students very personally. The clarinet is an instrument that is rented from a local music store called “Music & Arts”. The rental plan is a “Rent to own”, so most students end up owning their instruments by the time they leave Downing. There are many different brands and models of clarinets available, and many of them are so poorly-made that it can be detrimental to the success of the student. If you plan on buying an instrument instead of renting the recommended model, please consult with Mrs. Clardy first.
Saxophone Class
The alto saxophone gives the impression of being both a brass AND woodwind instrument, however it is indeed considered a woodwind instrument. The alto saxophone (which uses a single reed like the clarinet) is the largest of the typical woodwind instruments. Since the balance of the saxophone is maintained by the use of a neck strap, it is extremely important that students be able to sit up completely straight when asked to. Students that typically slouch and have issues with posture tend to struggle on the saxophone. The saxophone class at Downing is typically populated by 4-6 beginners annually, and at the end of their 6th grade year, can try-out for auxiliary saxophones such as the tenor sax and bari sax. The saxophone is an instrument that is rented from a local music store called “Music & Arts”. The rental plan is a “Rent to own”, so most students end up owning their instruments by the time they leave Downing. There are many different brands and models of saxophones available, and many of them are so poorly-made that it can be detrimental to the success of the student. If you plan on buying an instrument instead of renting the recommended model, please consult with Mrs. Clardy first.
French Horn Class
The French Horn Class is usually our smallest brass class to ensure optimum individual help and attention. The french horn only has 4 buttons, but many partials that we can use a combination of air strength and direction to change. Due to this, students with a prior history of musical instruction, or a “good ear”, can often find success more easily. Physically, students with thinner-to-average lips are appropriate due to the smaller size of the mouthpiece. Most of our french horn students are enrolled in private lessons. The french horn is a “School-Owned” instrument. This means that you would not be renting the instrument from a music store, but using instruments provided by LISD. There is a one-time annual maintenance fee of $100 for using a school owned instrument that is paid to the LISD Fine Arts Office in the Fall. *As always, financial assistance is available from our Booster Club for any lessons or instrument fees
Trumpet Class
Welcome to the trumpet! Trumpet class is the largest 6th grade brass class, and sometimes even the largest of ALL 6th grade band classes. You can generally expect to find 10-12 6th graders in this class learning how to play trumpet. The trumpet is considered a “High Brass” instrument along with the french horn, and has the second smallest mouthpiece of all brass instruments. For this reason, students with thinner-to-average lip size usually find success comes a little faster. Also, slight overbites are okay for playing trumpet, but a severe underbite can make basic tone production more difficult. In general though, great trumpet players come in all shapes and sizes. The trumpet is an instrument that is rented from a local music store called “Music & Arts”. The rental plan is a “Rent to own”, so most students end up owning their instruments by the time they leave Downing. There are many different brands and models of trumpets available, and many of them are so poorly-made that it can be detrimental to the success of the student. If you plan on buying an instrument instead of renting the recommended model, please consult with Mrs. Clardy first.
Trombone Class
Welcome to the trombone! the trombone is one of the most unique instruments of all. While it is a member of the brass family and played much like other brass instruments, it has NO BUTTONS! Due to the infinite flexibility of the trombone, it is often said that the sound of the trombone most resembles the human voice. Equally at home with traditional classical music, jazz, and pop music, the trombone is a great all-around type instrument that covers all bases. Amazing trombone players come in all shapes and sizes, but taller students with longer arms generally find themselves with a slight advantage in the beginning years.
The trombone is an instrument that is rented from a local music store called “Music & Arts”. All of our beginning trombone players start 6th grade on a “Straight” trombone, which is the lightest, smallest, and least mechanically complicated type of trombone (you can see this in the bottom video below). As our trombone student advance to the 7th grade, they trade-in their rental for a “Trigger” trombone. This is a more advanced instrument that uses a trigger to make playing longer positions on the instrument much easier. The trigger trombone is slightly bigger and heavier, and what you see being played in the first video below. Our trombone class is taught by doctoral student, and amazing musician, Tommy Barttels. He teaches the trombone class and low brass together as they have many commonalities.
Low Brass Class (Tuba and Euphonium)
Welcome to Low Brass Class! Our low brass class consists of two very similar instruments, the euphonium and the tuba. In general, the euphonium can be thought of as a “smaller tuba”. However, the instruments are similar enough that we sometimes have unsure students switch between them throughout their first year of instruction.
Don’t be frightened by the size of the tuba in the video below! That is a professional model instrument, and our 6th graders start on modified “quarter-size” instruments that can be used in tandem with a floor stand also. Our tuba students get two instruments, one for school, and one for home. This makes tuba a GREAT choice for students that plan on riding a bike to-and-from school.
The tuba and euphonium are “School-Owned” instruments. This means that you would not be renting the instrument from a music store, but using instruments provided by LISD. In fact, students learning tuba will get TWO instruments. One to keep at school, and one to take home, which makes tuba the “smallest” instrument when it comes to transportation. There is a one-time annual maintenance fee of $100 for using a school owned instrument that is paid to the LISD Fine Arts Office in the Fall. Our low brass class is taught by doctoral student, and amazing musician, Tommy Barttels. He teaches the low brass class and trombone class together as they have many commonalities.
*As always, financial assistance is available from our Booster Club for any lessons or instrument fees
Percussion Class
The Percussion Class generally has about 6-8 highly motivated students per year, and is taught by one of the foremost experts in percussion education in the world, Mr. Kennan Wylie.
Percussion students have an advanced workload and expectations, so students who enjoy working toward a goal and being challenged make good percussionists. Students with a legitimate previous history in musical instruction (such as piano), are also top candidates for our percussion class. Private lessons are recommended for all our percussion students in grades 6-8. Percussion class uses a small kit that is rented from a local music store called “Brook Mays”. This kit is rented along with a few purchased supplies (Method book, sticks, and mallets). We stop renting the kit after 6th grade, and students keep their purchased sticks and mallets. Our own Mr. Kennan Wylie developed the kit, be sure to watch the second video below to learn a little about it.