Playing a Band or
Orchestra
Instrument at
Patrick Henry and
Long Branch
Elementary
Schools!!
Estelle Roth, director
Steps to Success
• Practice!! Practice!!! Practice!!!!
• Come to class prepared.
• Bring your instrument to school on lesson
days.
• Participate in our Winter and Spring
Concerts!
• Not sure what instrument you want to play?
Come to Instrumental Music Information
Night - IMIN!!
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
INFORMATION NIGHT
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
•An “Instrument Petting Zoo” where you can test out various
instruments to find the one which
suits you best.
• Local music instrument retailers
will be there to answer your
questions about rent-to-own
programs and purchasing an
instrument.
Instrument Rental
• School Rentals for the year are $85. $40 for
reduced lunch students, $20 for free lunch
students.
• We have plenty of stringed instruments,
flutes, clarinets, trumpets and trombones.
We have limited string basses, saxophones
and euphoniums.
• Instruments are also available to rent from
Foxes Music and Music & Arts.
Instrument Choices
• String Instruments:
Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass
• Band Instruments:
Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone,
Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium,
Percussion
Violin
• Great beginning instrument! The smallest
instrument in the string family.
• Most popular instrument in the orchestra.
• The violin comes in various sizes to
fit the player!
• The violin can express a variety of
emotions – joy, sadness, anger, and calm.
• Relatively quiet!
• Can pluck (pizzicato) or use the bow.
• Watch the “World’s Fastest Violinist”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q0WGQbJbso
Violin
Viola
• Played like a violin.
• Bigger than a violin - with a
deeper, darker, more
mellow sound.
• Watch on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEPaBpMNWTU&feature=relmfu
Viola
Cello
• The cello is a deep-sounding instrument.
It has a beautiful, warm tone.
• It has to be played sitting down.
• Some school buses might be too crowded
to allow the cello on board. 
• Like all of the stringed instruments, the
cello comes in various sizes to fit the player.
• Watch on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKC-lRhvdNY&feature=share&list=UUmKurapML4BF9Bjtj4RbvXw
Cello
String Bass
• The double bass is the largest
of the string instruments.
• It produces very low pitches
and is used in orchestra, band,
and jazz ensembles.
• VERY LIMITED school rental!!
• Watch on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDLezRsB-_c
String Bass
Flute
• The flute family has the highest
range of the wind instruments.
• The tone is light and beautiful.
• The flute is a difficult instrument
(but fun!!) to play.
• You MUST practice!!!
• Small enough to put in backpacks,
and quiet enough to play in apartments!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfrKqFp0Zg
Flute
Clarinet
• The clarinet is an extremely
important instrument in the band.
• Can play very bright, high sounds
and rich, deep, beautiful, low sounds.
• Quiet enough to play in an apartment!
• Easy to carry to school!
• Watch on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKOUKtlwLEw&feature=related
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
• The saxophone is a very versatile
instrument, and is used in band and
jazz ensembles.
• Very few saxophones to rent from the school.
• May be too heavy for some students to play.
Beginners can be pretty loud!!
• Watch President Clinton on Saxophone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTkUeb6zQFA
Alto Saxophone
Trumpet
• The trumpet or cornet is a
sparkling, high brass instrument. It is
very fun to play!
• It is easy to carry, but very loud!!
• Watch this eight year old play:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOahdokrg5c
Trumpet
Trombone
• The trombone is instantly recognizable
because of the slide.
• The trombone uses a mouthpiece like a
trumpet, but has a much lower, more mellow,
sound.
• Trombone students should have arms long
enough to reach all of the notes!
• The versatility of the trombone makes it
popular in band, orchestra, and jazz ensembles.
• Watch this trombone trio play:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhWjhZE2ew
Trombone
Euphonium
• Very large instrument!!
• Very limited school rentals.
• Looks like a small tuba, but
sounds more like a trombone!
• Watch flight of the Bumble Bee!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USb41jLx410
Euphonium
Percussion
• Beginning students will have
to rent or buy a bell/snare
kit. 2nd year players will have
to rent bells.
• All percussion students will
learn on both the practice pad and
the melodic orchestra bells.
• Watch a percussion ensemble play Mission Impossible:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu-jWHd7qs4&feature=relmfu
Percussion
Next Steps
• Register Online!!!
• Henry Students:
http://apsva.us/page/5078
• Long Branch Students:
http://apsva.us/Page/18663
• Don’t send in any money now!!
• Information packets will go home in the
Thursday folder.
Return as soon as possible.