1--3 ring binder
2--#2 Pencils
1--Standard of Excellence Book 1 Enhanced Version. Books will be available for purchase at school.
1--Box of Tissues

We will arrange for a Hillje Music Center to come out and rent the smaller instruments shortly after school starts. A note will be sent home once the day is arranged.

Students do not have to any prior musical training to be in band class.

Welcome Back! If your son or daughter needs a musical instrument below is a list of local and online sources to take care of your needs. If you are going to play a school-owned instrument you will need to purchase a mouthpiece. All students will need to purchase their own method book here through the school. For sixth grade students it will be Standard of Excellence Book One Enhanced Version with CD’s. The book will cost $10.

We have a limited number of school-owned instruments available. They are the larger, more expensive instruments in the band such as baritones, tubas, french horns, tenor saxophones. These instruments are provided free of charge as long as we have instruments available. Students will need to purchase a mouthpiece, neck-strap and other care products for school issued instruments. These items will also be available for purchase from the school or local music store. We only ask that you help to make sure that they take care of them as they are expensive. Any damage due to neglect will be the financial responsibility of the parent or guardian.

Renting instruments has a great advantage over buying in that if your child is not progressing on their first choice then all you have to do is call the store and they will exchange it for a different instrument. Prices will vary from one store to another. You will be offered a Protection Plan for a small monthly fee that covers repairs, loss, or theft (highly recommended).

There are several classified and auction websites that have great deals but buyer beware. Please give us a call and let us know the make and model# so that we can let you know if it is a good buy.

Please let us know what we can do to assist you in securing an instrument or any other question you may have concerning band. Our number at school is 357-2470.


Places in town that rent instruments are:

Hillje Music Center
3703 Colony Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78230
(210)696-0039

Sam Ash Music Stores
25 Northeast Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 530-9777

High School Music Service Inc
2106 Northwest Military Highway, San Antonio, TX 78213
(210) 349-2775

Alamo Music Company
425 N. Main San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 224-1010

Musiqueweb Inc.
6846 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 5.48mi
(210) 829-8245


Online Instrument Rental Stores

Taylor Music Company- www.1800usaband.com
Phone# 1-800-USA-BAND

National Educational Music Company- www.nemc.com
Phone# 1-800-526-4593


If you wish to discuss buying versus renting please give us a call at 357-2470.

Online stores include:

Woodwind and Brasswind- www.wwbw.com or call 1-800-348-5003
Instruments made by Prelude and Barrington are the best value for middle school students.

Musician’s Friend- www.musiciansfriend.com or call 1-800-391-8762
Instruments recommended at this sight are by Giardinelli in addition to the above

Music 123- www.music123.com or 1-888-590-9700

1. The objective of daily practice is to work toward producing a clean characteristic sound on their instrument. In addition to the production of the characteristic sound the students are learning the fundamentals of reading music.

2. Students will practice 15 to 20 minutes a day.

3. Here is a step by step guide to practicing at home.

a. Start with 3 minutes of abdominal exercises. Breathe in for 4 counts and exhale for 4 counts with a sizzle sound. Students are required to tap the foot at a steady speed any time they play the instrument. Not tapping the foot will result in 10 points off the playing grade.

b. Two minutes of buzzing on the mouthpiece only. Students should not be puffing their cheeks. Students should appear to have a smile on their face will buzzing. Students should never have what appears to be a wrinklely chin.

c. Play page 6 out of the book. Students should not sound like a whisper. They should be playing a little loud (mezzo forte) but should not be playing at extremely loud volumes as this will not produce a good sound on the instrument.

d. Students need to focus on producing a steady sound without pumps in the sound.

e. Students should not be playing fast notes. We are learning whole, half and quarter notes.

f. Students proceed to homework. This next part is mandatory. Students are to first point at the notes with their finger and say the count values. Next students are to point at the notes with their finger and say the letter names of the notes. This is very important because this is how they will learn to read music and follow the music across the page. If they cannot read music they cannot play music.

g. Students are to play thru music one exercise at a time. Students are required to perform step "f" before they play the exercise on the instrument.

h. When finished practicing the students should write down the time they practice on the practice log and put the instrument back in the case. Clarinets and saxophones should always remove the reed from the mouthpiece and dry it off. Leaving the reed wet will result in mold growth on the reed. The reed should be placed back in its protective case.