The Flute
A popular woodwind instrument. Success on the flute depends on finding the correct mouth position to the mouthpiece. The player has to blow across the mouthplate, not into it. Flute parts are usually melody or in direct support to the melody. With the popularity of the instrument, there is competition for playing opportunity later on. It is relatively inexpensive to rent or purchase a beginner model flute and it is very easy to take back and forth between home and school. Students who do well on flute have the option of playing the piccolo-a small high-pitched flute.
The Clarinet
Easy to produce a good sound in the middle and low registers. The challenge to the beginner is to cover the tone holes, not allowing air leaks. The middle of the first year, there is a challenge of playing high notes-initially challenging, but becomes easy with practice. The basic band sound is built around the clarinet, there are never enough good clarinet players in band. Clarinet players at Alki have an advantage, since Mr. Hascall specializes on the instrument. Clarinet players later have the option of learning related instruments as well as bass clarinet. Saxophone and flute have fingering similarities and are not difficult to pick up later. The clarinet is not expensive and easy to transport.
The Saxophone
The Alto Saxophone is very popular among beginners. The instrument projects well and it doesn't take many saxophone players to overbalance the band. This results in the existing players having to play softer than they would like and in limited playing opportunity later, as we have to limit the number of saxophone players in our top ensembles. Students looking for more playing opportunity may opt to play the Tenor or Baritone Saxophone. They are larger and more awkward to handle than the Alto but are easily mastered. Parents concerned with budgetary constraints should note that saxophones are also expensive to rent and/or purchase. Saxophones really come into their own in jazz ensemble with great written parts and solo opportunities. They are a band instrument, seldom used in the symphony orchestra setting. The saxophone is not as easy to transport, the tenor and baritone are among the larger, heavier instruments and don't travel on the school bus.
Other Instruments
This group of instruments is more costly and generally more difficult to play. With limited school instruments, older students are given first preference. The first of these are the oboe. The oboe looks roughly like a skinny clarinet, but is much more expensive and more difficult to play, both in the fingerings and in the tone production. The oboe and bassoon are double reed instruments. Blowing into a double reed is much more of a challenge than a single reed. The bassoon, like the oboe is a double-reed instrument. It is large and very awkward to hold. It is also very expensive.
update in progress for school year 2007-08