INSTRUMENT VIDEOS
We recommend watching all of the instrument videos so you have a brief overview of each instrument we offer in band at Alamo JH! Keep in mind that it is not necessary for you to have a musical background to be successful at any instrument! We will help you try any instrument you wish at your selection day!
The videos might take a few seconds to load on the page; you can watch them in their current video box or make them full screen once they start playing.
woodwind faces
This video briefly explains how to form the embouchure (face/mouth) for each of the woodwind instruments. While it isn't easy to form the proper embouchure without actual instruments, it will give you an idea of what we are doing when you watch the introductory videos and what you can expect if you choose a woodwind instrument.
flute
The flute produces sound from the flow of air across a tone hole. Flutes will often play melodies - beautiful and slow, or fast and flying!
Teardrops or fuller lips can make it more difficult to play flute, but NOT impossible!
oboe
The oboe is a double reed instrument and can be one of the more difficult instruments to learn. Academically inclined, patient, determined students are successful on the oboe.
Oboes are rented from the school.
bassoon
Made for the student who likes to give thumbs up! (You'll see what we mean!) Bassoon can be one of the more difficult instruments to learn.
Students who are academically inclined, patient, and determined are successful on bassoon. It also helps if you are on the taller side and have larger hands, but that is not an absolute.
Bassoons are rented from the school.
CLarinet
The clarinet is a single reed instrument that gets to play the melody a lot! The set up of the clarinet is a little more forgiving than other instruments, so students can have quick success!
Students with underbites or double-jointed fingers can have difficulty playing clarinet.
Clarinet can be meticulous, so students who like order would be a good fit.
Saxophone
The most modern, single reed instrument, the sax is a popular instrument. (This is usually one of the first instruments to fill up!)
Saxophones use a neck strap to help hold the instrument, so it might be uncomfortable for students with neck/back issues.
brass faces
This video explains how to form the embouchure (face/mouth) in order to produce a buzz. All brass instruments use a buzz to create sound!
"Free buzzing" isn't the easiest thing to do, but try your best while watching the video! After explaining a basic embouchure for buzzing, Ms. McBurney will teach you a cool trick to practice it at home (you'll need a water bottle and scissors).
French Horn
A versatile instrument, horns frequently have melodies with the woodwind instruments, and contribute a beautiful color to brass chorales and a heroic sound to big brass fanfares!
Successful horn players can match pitch (sing), are hard workers and self-motivated.
French Horns are rented from the school.
cornet/trumpet
The trumpets have the melody quite often in band! It is not for the faint of heart...trumpets will be heard! Students who are natural leaders or don't mind standing out in a crowd are good for trumpet!
Due to the size of the mouthpiece, thin lips and straight teeth produce sounds easier, but we can work with any student who wants to play trumpet!
trombone
The weird slidey one! ☺ Trombone players rely heavily on muscle memory and their ears when learning positions. Students who like to sing are good candidates for trombone!
Students with fuller lips are often successful on trombone. 6th and 7th positions can be challenging for shorter students, but we can teach you some tricks to work around it! Sometimes you have to "grow into" the trombone!
Baritone/Euphonium
The euphonium is similar to trombone, but uses valves like a tuba! Used in melodies and big brass fanfares!
Euphonium players should have confidence - a smaller section that tends to play melodic lines! Students who like the trombone, but worry about the handling the slide might prefer euphonium.
Euphoniums are rented from the school.
Tuba
The tuba is the foundation of the band and one of the most important instruments!
While tuba is a large instrument, size does NOT matter when it comes to the player! Students should have good balance, firm control over their body, and not be afraid of holding the instrument. This mouthpiece also allows for fuller lips.
Tubas are rented from the school.
percussion
Please read all details listed here before watching the Intro to Percussion video!
Percussion is the most popular instrument family for beginning band students and is one of the hand-picked sections in the band. Just because you can tap a cool beat with a pen on a desk does not mean you are a natural percussionist (drummer).
Students wishing to be considered for percussion should have good coordination in gross and fine motor skills, a natural ability to keep a steady tempo, background in piano is a plus, hard working, rhythmically inclined, very detail-oriented, good grades, no discipline problems
Other Considerations: Many students want to be in percussion so they can be on the drumline. Beginning Band percussion is predominantly snare drum and bell kits. Students will also learn the accessories such as triangle, tambourine, maracas, claves, cymbals; as well as other larger percussion instruments like xylophone, marimba, and timpani. 8th grade Advanced Band percussionists are on the drumline during marching season only.
All students wishing to audition for percussion must first pick another instrument.