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Recommended Instruments and Accessories

Flute
Recommended Brand: Yamaha - open hole, low b foot, solid silver head joint (also, solid silver body and foot, whenever possible)
Expected Accessories: Cleaning Rod and Cloth
Optional Recommended Accessories: Pad Savers

Oboe
Recommended Brand: Fox Renard
Recommended Reeds: Must be hand made; see me.
Expected Accessories: Cork Grease, Swab, Reed Case, and Water Case
Optional Recommended Accessories: Reed tools (if studying privately)

Clarinet
Recommended Brand: Buffet R-13 or E-11, Yamaha YCL-64 or YCL-52
Recommended Mouthpiece: Vandoren B-45 with step-up ligature (Rovner H ligature)
Recommended Reeds: Student must have at least four Vandoren #2-1/2 to 4 strength reeds
Expected Accessories: Cork Grease, Swab, Reed Saver, and Mouthpiece Cap
Optional Recommended Accessories: Pad Savers and Mouthpiece Pouch/Mouse

Bass Clarinet
Recommended Brand: Vito, Buffet
Recommended Mouthpiece: Vandoren B-45 with step-up ligature (Rovner H ligature)
Recommended Reeds: Student must have at least four Vandoren #2-1/2 to 4 strength reeds
Expected Accessories: Mouthpiece Cap
Optional Recommended Accessories: Mouthpiece Pouch/Mouse

Bassoon
Recommended Brand: Fox Renard, Heckle
Recommended Reed: Must be hand made; see me.
Expected Accessories: Seat Strap, Crutch, Swab Paraffin or Cork Grease

Sax
Recommended Brand: Selmer Mark VI, Yamaha
Recommended Mouthpiece: Selmer CHH with Rovner H. Ligature
Expected Accessories: Student must have at least four Hemke #2-1/2 to 4 strength reeds (Vandoren or LaVoz for Bari Sax); Cork Grease; Swab; Mouthpiece Cap; and Cloth Mute for Bell.
Recommended Accessories: Pad Savers and Mouthpiece Pouch/Mouse

French Horn
Recommended Brand: Holton Farkas H179 or H180, Yamaha YHR-461D, YHR-567D, or YHR-667D
Recommended Mouthpiece: Holton MDC
Expected Accessories: Hetman ROTOR Oil, Hetman Bearing/Spindle Oil, Hetman Heavy-Bodied Slide Oil
Recommended Accessories: Non-transposing Mute; Pencil Clip

Trumpet
Recommended Brand: Bach Stradivarius LR180S-37, many other Bach Stradivarius models, Yamaha
Recommended Mouthpiece: Bach 5C (3C for advanced players)
Expected Accessories: Al Cass FAST Valve Oil, Hetman Slide Oil (for 1st & 3rd valve slides), Hetman Heavy-Bodied Slide Oil
Recommended Accessories: Metal Straight Mute (Stomvi, Jo-Ral; copper or brass bottom*); Hand Guard for Silver Trumpets (Leather Specialties)
Additional Accessories: Cup Mute (Dennis Wick*)

*If you are buying just one mute, I would strongly recommend the Dennis Wick Cup Mute. This adjustable cup mute can actually be used as a very good straight mute by sliding the cup completely off. Though it is more expensive than other mutes, it's actually like getting two mutes for the price of one!

Euphonium
Recommended Brand: Yamaha YEP-642 or YEP-642S, Willson 2900DS, Yamaha YEP-312 (see me about this!)
Recommended Mouthpiece: Schilke 51D
Expected Accessories: Pillow-Pad as necessary; Al Cass FAST Valve Oil, Hetman Heavy-Bodied Slide Oil
Recommended Accessories: Cleaning Snake

Trombone
Please note: I recommend getting a large bore professional trombone if you are considering a step-up instrument. Intermediate trombones are somewhat of a scam: they cost nearly the same as professional instruments and the student will have to consider upgrading again to a large-bore model in ninth or tenth grade anyway.
Recommended Brand: Bach 42A ("Hagman" valve), Bach 42TG ("Thayer-valve" with gold brass bell), Bach 42BG (standard rotor with gold brass bell), Conn 88-H, Yamaha YSL-682B Recommended Mouthpiece: Bach 6-1/2 AL, Bach 5
Expected Accessories: Trombontine or Slide-O-Mix, [Hetman ROTOR Oil & Hetman Bearing/Spindle Oil † trombones with triggers, only! ] Hetman Heavy-Bodied Slide Oil, Cleaning Rod, 4"x4" cotton t-shirt rag, access to WD-40 (do not bring to school!), and Cleaning Snake
Recommended Accessories: Straight Mute (Jo-Ral aluminum)

Tuba
Recommended Brand: Getzen CB-50, Canadian Brass CB-50, Yamaha YBB-621
Recommended Mouthpiece: Conn Hellenberg, Perantucci, Schilke 69C4, Schilke Hellenberg, Bach 22
Expected Accessories: Al Cass FAST Valve Oil, Hetman Heavy-bodied Slide Oil
Recommended Accessories: Pencil clip; Cleaning Snake (you will probably have to get a large bore trombone snake)

Percussion
Recommended Brands: Ludwig, Pearl, Remo
Required Accessories: Percussionists are expected to have a number of various items. The minimum list is given below:

Students are expected to have:
  • A Stick Bag with their name on it. (Approximate cost: $15-30.)
  • One pair of SD-1 or 5B Drum Sticks with Round Beads. (Approximate cost: $6-10.)
  • Optional, but recommended: One pair of Light Snare Drum Sticks with Round Beads such as ProMark "Tom Freer OLW Light Orchestral." (Approximate cost: $10.)
  • One pair of Soft Yarn Mallets such as the Musser or Vic Firth "yellow" mallets, or Vic Firth "blue." "Rattan" handles preferred, such as Mike Balter "Rattan" 13R (Blue-Medium). (Approximate cost: $25.)
  • One pair of general Timpani Mallets such as the Payson "white" mallets. (Approximate cost: $30.)
  • One pair of Glockenspiel Mallets like Malletech 'Rattan' OR45R Plastic mallets (approximate cost: $25).

This is much less expensive than most instruments that other students have to purchase. All of the above equipment is expected to be with the student at every rehearsal, sectional, and performance. I also recommend beginning "stick bag sets" from Steve Weiss Music.


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