Instrument Rentals
All band students must have an instrument to be able to participate in class. Band instruments include flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and percussion. Instruments can be rented directly from the store of your choice (we work closely with Needham Music, but please choose somewhere that works for your family).
If renting an instrument is not in your family’s budget, please reach out to us via email for assistance! We will help make sure that every child who wants to participate is able to get access to an instrument. Any instrument borrowed from Somerville Public Schools must be returned at the end of the year. This program is only for your family if the cost of renting an instrument will stop your student from participating. Due to limited supply of certain instruments, first choice of instrument is not guaranteed.
If renting an instrument is not in your family’s budget, please reach out to us via email for assistance! We will help make sure that every child who wants to participate is able to get access to an instrument. Any instrument borrowed from Somerville Public Schools must be returned at the end of the year. This program is only for your family if the cost of renting an instrument will stop your student from participating. Due to limited supply of certain instruments, first choice of instrument is not guaranteed.
Instrument Care and Maintanance
Instruments are an investment that have to be carefully maintained. Please tell a band teacher if your instrument isn’t working properly! Some instrument-specific things to remember:
Flute
Swab your flute out with a clean cloth when you finish playing. Do not rest your instrument across your stand or try to stand it upright; place it down gently to keep keys from bending.
Clarinet
Reeds break easily! Never touch the thin part of the reed with your fingers. Always take the reed off your instrument when you’re done playing. The screws on your ligature should always be on the reed side, and the heads of the screws should point to the right. Never stand your clarinet up when you need to set it down; lay it down gently to keep keys from bending.
Saxophone
Reeds break easily! Never touch the thin part of the reed with your fingers. Always take the reed off your instrument when you’re done playing. The screws on your ligature should always be on the reed side, and the heads of the screws should point to the right. If you need to set your saxophone down, lay it gently down so the keys all face up.
Trumpet and trombone
Valve oil will help your valves/slide move smoothly! Whenever it feels sticky, oil it. Never stand your instrument on the bell, but lay it down gently. Trombones, use the slide lock when you put your instrument away.
Percussion
Write your name on your pad and sticks with a sharpie if you’ve purchased them! Hitting your pad too hard will cause both your pad and the sticks to break.
Flute
Swab your flute out with a clean cloth when you finish playing. Do not rest your instrument across your stand or try to stand it upright; place it down gently to keep keys from bending.
Clarinet
Reeds break easily! Never touch the thin part of the reed with your fingers. Always take the reed off your instrument when you’re done playing. The screws on your ligature should always be on the reed side, and the heads of the screws should point to the right. Never stand your clarinet up when you need to set it down; lay it down gently to keep keys from bending.
Saxophone
Reeds break easily! Never touch the thin part of the reed with your fingers. Always take the reed off your instrument when you’re done playing. The screws on your ligature should always be on the reed side, and the heads of the screws should point to the right. If you need to set your saxophone down, lay it gently down so the keys all face up.
Trumpet and trombone
Valve oil will help your valves/slide move smoothly! Whenever it feels sticky, oil it. Never stand your instrument on the bell, but lay it down gently. Trombones, use the slide lock when you put your instrument away.
Percussion
Write your name on your pad and sticks with a sharpie if you’ve purchased them! Hitting your pad too hard will cause both your pad and the sticks to break.