A parent's guide to school band programs

Beginners' band

Serious instrumental music programs will always begin with a an instructional class. This is usually a year-long class, and, if the students are relatively young, it is followed by another year or two of group instruction during which the students are gradually making the transition to a band class that is entirely rehearsal time (with the students largely expected to take care of questions and difficulties outside of class time).

Individual lessons are normally not required, and are usually not offered through the school. Private lessons are always recommended, though, and some directors do make an effort to find private teachers for students who are interested. (See A Parent’s Guide to Music Lessons .)

The typical beginners' band includes (simultaneous) instruction for all of the main instruments used in the concert band .

Concert band

The typical in-school band class is a concert band for all or most of the school year. A concert band, sometimes called a wind ensemble , is usually a fairly large (orchestra-sized) group that performs seated on a stage. The repertoire is mostly "classical" music , although marches and arrangements of "pops" standards such as movie scores are also common.

To make up for the lack of strings, so to speak, most bands have much larger flute , clarinet , and trumpet sections, typically six to ten or more of each instrument. A very large clarinet section is particularly useful in developing a well-balanced wind ensemble sound. There is also a full section of alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones (typically several of each, but fewer baris than altos and tenors), and one of baritones and/or euphoniums , which, along with saxophones, are normally not present at all in an orchestra. The trombone and French horn sections typically have four to six or more players. At least two each of tubas , oboes , , bassoons , and bass clarinets and several percussionists are also necessary.

Contrabass clarinet (and other unusual clarinets ), English horn , contrabassoon , piccolo (flute), and soprano saxophone are sometimes needed in concert bands, but these instruments will not have parts in every piece, and are usually played by students who normally play some other related band instrument. Non-band instruments, such as piano or strings, are also rarely used in bands, but again are often covered by a band member switching from their normal instrument.

Marching band

Marching band may be the in-class band during "marching season" (football season, in the U.S. late summer to early winter), or may be an optional or required extra-curricular for band students at that time. Marching band programs often begin meeting before the first day of school, so it may be necessary to find out the band's summer schedule, if your child is interested in or required to be in marching band.

Marching bands perform standing and marching on the field during half-time at football games. They also may perform marching in parades and other school and community events, or standing in the stands during athletic events. (See pep band .)