CVMS Beginning Band

Getting Started In Band

To the Parents of ______.

Your student has been selected to play the ______in band this year. Please read the following instructions to ensure that your child gets off to a strong start. I also ask that you acquire the necessary items as quickly as possible so that we can get playing as quickly as possible. Thank you! And please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.

  1. BINDERS: I ask that each band member have a ½” or 1” binder specifically designated for Band. Please also have 1 or 2 pencils designated to Band that stay in your binder. Lastly, you’ll need some lined binder paper in your binder. Please label your binder clearly with your name and class period so that it is easily identifiable if it is left out in the band room.
  1. INSTRUMENTS: There are a couple of vendors that I highly recommend for either purchasing or renting instruments. Both renting and purchasing are great options and you’re welcome to do whichever one is most comfortable for you. Both programs are ‘rent-to-own’, so as you pay rent you are slowly paying off your instrument!

1)Musicarts.com : Music and Arts is a wonderful vendor that makes things super convenient for you by handling everything online. Go to “musicarts.com” and click on the “Rental” tab, and then enter “89410” as the zip code. Click on “Carson Valley Middle School” and you will then see all of the instruments available for rent. Once you select an instrument you can decide what else you want to purchase (if anything). There are starter kits available which include a portable music stand for at-home practice, a cleaning kit for the instrument, and an ID tag for the instrument case. This kit is optional and can be removed from your ‘shopping cart’ if you wish. You will need to purchase the “Essential Elements” book, however, as we will need that in class each day. Please see the backside of this paper for more info on which book you need.

2)Absolute Music: Absolute Music is another great option. Rentals tend to be $1-2 cheaper each month than MusicArts.com. I have flyers available which offer a free method book when you sign up to rent an instrument! They also offer the “Essential Elements” book that you need to have, so they will be a one-stop-shop.

Address: 8175 So. Virginia St, Suite 600, Reno, NV 89511

Phone number: 775-852-2637

3. LESSON BOOKS: You will need “Essential Elements for Band”, Book 1 for your instrument (each instrument has a different book). You will need your own copy as we will be using this book nearly every day this year. These books can be purchased at either of the vendors listed above. Most of them can also be purchased on Amazon!

Additional Notes:

*Clarinets and saxophones: your instrument requires a reed. I would buy a pack of 10 to get you started. Beginners, I’d recommend a size 2 Rico reed. Intermediate players, I’d suggest you bump up to a 2.5 reed, and you may think about getting the VanDoren brand instead of Rico. For my more advanced players, I’d like you to try using a size 3 reed this year, and VanDoren’s will get you a better sound than the Ricos.

*Trumpets, baritones, and tubas: your instrument requires valve oil in order to keep the moving parts moving. Most any will do, but I’ve found that “Blue Juice” works best if it’s within your budget.

*Trombones: your instrument requires slide grease and a small water bottle with a spray nozzle. It is very important that the slide on your instrument be kept smooth. You will need to clean it and reapply slide grease occasionally to keep it working well. The water helps give it the extra bit of lubrication for that perfect, non-rigid sliding that you will come to love!

*Percussionists: you will need to purchase or rent a drum kit that comes with both a snare drum and bell kit. You will also need at least two pair of drum sticks and a pair of mallets (for the bell set). As time goes on, I will be asking you to purchase other mallets as well. Most of the percussion instruments are supplied by the school, but I would like for my percussionists to have/use their own mallets for these instruments. By the start of next year you will need a full set of sticks and mallets. Please ask if you’re interested in purchasing these up front and I will give you a list of what will be needed.

I’m so glad to have you all here this year! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and let me know right away if you have financial concerns that I can help you with. Thanks, and I look forward to meeting you all at Back to School Night!

Karissa Kondo

Band, Choir, and World Drums Teacher

Carson Valley Middle School