Instrument Selection
Band & Strings
Genesis Band
Woodwind and Brass Instruments
Students commence instruction on one of the following five Band instruments;
Flute
Clarinet
Trumpet
Trombone or
Euphonium.
In Term Two students may transition to other instruments including Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Tuba and Percussion.
Students may have a good idea of what they would like to play, however, sometimes physical characteristics are important factors.
Mr. Lovett will connect with students as required, and follow recommendations if students were in the Band Basics course.
Allegra Ensemble
String Instruments
Allegra Strings Students select from the following instruments in Term one. Violin, Viola, Cello or Double Bass.
Allegra students will have a chance to explore instruments as they desire in the first ASA/School Quarter (to October break).
String Instruments come in various sizes, so each Stringed Instrument can be learnt from a young age.
Unsure of which instrument to play?
Watch the video for an introduction to all the Genesis Band instruments.
(from 5 minutes into the video)
Band Instrument Selection Considerations
String Instrument Selection Considerations
Band Instrument Introduction
Unsure of which band instrument to play?
Watch the video for an introduction to all the Genesis Band instruments. (from 5 minutes into the video)
Physical Characteristics: Lips, Teeth, Bite and Jaw structure, Hand Size
Coordination Characteristics: Hand Dominance, Hand Eye Coordination, Hand-Foot Coordination, Finger Dexterity
Other Factors: Personality, Desire
Woodwind Instruments:
Woodwind players use all fingers and in the case of bassoon both thumbs, so finger dexterity is important. A child with any problem or difficulty controlling and coordinating the fingers may not be happy playing a woodwind instrument. Children with double-jointed fingers, especially thumbs may find the balancing and playing of a woodwind instrument a challenge.
Quick learners and impatient children enjoy the rapid initial progress Clarinet provides. The child's lower teeth should not be jagged and an overbite can cause major problems. Sensitive teeth can make playing this instrument uncomfortable and a thick lower lip will muffle the reed. Small hands can be a challenge, make sure your child’s fingers can span the distance between the keys and can cover all holes completely.
The soprano instrument of the woodwind family. Flute players normally have medium full lips with no ‘tear-drop’ in the center of the lips. If the lower jaw either protrudes or recedes radically the child would be best advised to select another instrument.
Brass Instruments:
These shiny powerful sounding instruments appeal to a large number of children. A child who can sing, hum or whistle a tune from memory can learn a brass instrument. Playing a Brass Instrument generally uses only three or four fingers of the right hand, unlike the woodwind instruments, which can require precise coordination of the fingers from both hands. Because brass playing can require physical strength and stamina, athletically inclined children may do well on these instruments. Lips must be free of scar tissue, and the size of the lips generally indicates the size of the instrument best suiting the child.
The soprano voice for the brass Family. Successful Trumpet players are generally self-assured outgoing individuals. Good trumpet players’ lips are usually fairly thin. Children with excessive overbites may want to consider another instrument. All types of academic learners generally achieve well with trumpet.
The only brass instrument that changes pitch by using a slide. Trombonists need good pitch discrimination and eye hand coordination. A good sense of pitch is essential as trombonists need to adjust the slide position to correct the pitch. Responsible and determined children make good trombonists.. Students may have fuller lips on Trombone.
The Euphonium uses the same size mouthpiece as the Trombone but has valves to change pitch. Responsible, good natured children with a good sense of rhythm make good players. Lips may be fuller.
String Instrument Selection Considerations
Stringed Instrument Introduction
Physical Characteristics: Hand Size, Arm Length, Upper body posture.
Coordination Characteristics: Hand Eye Coordination, Finger Dexterity
Other Factors: Personality, Desire
When your child first decides to take up a string instrument, there’s no guarantee that he or she will know exactly which one to try. The most famous orchestral string is the violin, but maybe your aspiring musician would prefer the deeper voice of the viola, or to play in even lower registers with the cello or bass.
Watch this video introduction on the String instruments.
Read below for an overview of the violin, viola, cello and bass, along with a brief history of each one and some details of what they’re like to play and handle. With that information, you and your child will be well-prepared to make an informed choice that will lead to a bright musical future.
The Violin
With its wide variety of sounds and its unmistakable tone, it’s no surprise that the violin has been an incredibly popular instrument for centuries. From the classical music that gave the violin its place in our culture to the modern folk genres that lend its second name – fiddle – there’s no question that the violin has more than earned its place in the musical landscape of the past, present and what’s sure to be a very bright future.
As the smallest of the four primary string instruments, the violin delivers a characteristic sound that’s well-suited to carrying a melody. This makes it a leader in any orchestra, band, ensemble or duet, as well as a popular solo instrument. The violin outnumbers any other single instrument in a typical orchestra, where its section is divided into two parts: first violins (playing the primary melody) and second violins (playing the harmony).
Although it’s true that violins are the smallest instrument in the orchestral string family, this is not to say they’re all the same size. In fact, violins come in quite a few sizes ranging from the smallest “1/32” models to full-size instruments (often referred to as “4/4”). The reason for this is quite simple: a violin needs to fit its player closely for proper playing, so the range of sizes allows musicians to start learning at an early age and trade in for larger instruments as they grow.
The Viola (right) is slightly larger than the Violin (left).
Viola
The viola is an instrument derived from the violin, which explains why it tends to appear in orchestras as a complement to the latter. But don’t be mistaken: the viola can definitely stand on its own as a solo instrument, or even take the place of a violin in an ensemble if the music allows. A viola is a bit larger than a violin, with a deeper, more resonating tone that greatly enriches the overall sound of the upper-registers string section.
The viola is an all-star for fleshing out a string ensemble. It makes for a nice contrast against the sound produced by its slightly smaller violin cousins. If you’re interested in adding depth and character to the music, the viola may be the instrument for you.
History
The roots of the viola go back to the mid-16th century, around the same time as the emergence of the 4-string violin. These ancestors to the modern viola were alternate versions of violins, and changes made to the viola in the last century were responsible for separating it enough to become a distinct instrument. These changes were the culmination of improvements that began in the late 1700s, aiming to solve the challenge of building violas that delivered the best possible sound without being too physically large to play.
Music written for the modern viola is about as old as the first of those revisions, dating to late in the 18th century – even though the instrument was going through its “growth spurts” at the time, today’s violas are designed to fill the same role (they just manage to be much easier to play while doing so). The most recent revisions to basic viola design can be attributed to violist Lionel Tertis and builder Arthur Richardson in the early 1900s, who worked together to refine the instrument to its present form.
Details
Since it was based on the violin, the viola shares many things in common with its older and smaller brother. For instance, it’s capable of the same versatile dynamics, which makes it an excellent solo instrument and a natural fit into any orchestra. The viola also has a similar requirement to be sized to the player’s body, and so it’s available in sizes ranging from 11 to 17 inches. The playing posture is about the same as well: propped between the neck and shoulder, supported by the left hand, and played with a bow held in the right hand.
Because the viola is so well-suited to an orchestral setting, it can be easy to mistake it for a mostly professional instrument. However, nothing could be further from the truth: one more similarity it shares with the violin is that it’s just as fantastic to play for your own enjoyment, or to adopt as your new solo instrument. So don’t be afraid to try the viola – if you’re looking for an instrument that’s much like a violin, but with a little added depth and character, this is the way to go.
Cello
Overview
Compared to the violin and viola, the cello is a big leap in instrument size. It’s the second-largest string instrument after the double bass, and produces sound in a much lower register than its smaller cousins. The cello also makes more extensive use of “pizzicato” (plucking) techniques, while still being played quite often with a bow. Most music written for the cello will specify one or the other, but some pieces require switching back and forth.
The role of the cello in an orchestra can include support, harmony or lead – or sometimes varying between the three within a single composition. Occupying the middle ground of the string section acoustically, it can serve as a high or low accent as needed. The cello is a versatile solo instrument as well as a key contributor in string ensembles and quartets, thanks to its capable handling of a fairly wide variety of sounds and melodies.
History
The cello is a good example of how pioneering luthiers used creative thinking to get around design challenges. Demand was growing for a string instrument that could produce deeper sounds than violins and violas, and in order to do that, the instrument had to be larger – but even the viola was already pushing the boundaries of what players could be expected to comfortably play while held up high. The solution was a clever yet simple idea: stand the instrument upright on the floor instead.
Using this arrangement allowed instrument makers to develop the earliest “tenor violin” models, much larger than the higher-pitched violin and viola, and capable of delivering the tonal qualities that players and composers were looking for. Over time, the new instrument became known as the “violincello” – usually shortened to “cello” by modern musicians.
Details
The cello is played from a seated position, and the foot of the lower bout is fitted with an “end-pin” allowing it to rest on the floor between your feet. Playing a cello is sort of like hugging it, extending one arm around to reach the strings at the front for plucking or bowing, while the other arm manipulates the fingerboard to change notes. As with other string instruments, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a professional vocation – you can play the cello purely for your own enjoyment if you like.
One thing that cellos share in common with their smaller brethren is that they come in various sizes, ranging from “1/10” to full size, which allows a young player to step up as he or she grows. However, even the smallest cello is larger than a violin or viola, and aspiring players should be aware that the instrument can be unwieldy to transport. Some cellists go as far as keeping two cellos (one at home and one at the school or band hall) to avoid carrying them altogether. But even the players who exert themselves to carry their cello from place to place would agree that playing one is worth the effort!
Bass
Overview
The double bass, or “bass” as it’s usually shortened, is the biggest member of the string instrument family. With its rich, deep and mellow tone, it’s more versatile than it may appear at first glance – which becomes pretty obvious when you consider how often it’s used in a leading role by jazz musicians. In that case, the bass is usually played “pizzicato.” In an orchestral setting, it can be either plucked or bowed, depending on the piece being played.
Orchestras and other string ensembles are still the most common places to see the double bass in action, with smaller groups usually including a single bassist and orchestras having several. The dynamic of the bass makes it a fantastic support instrument which is not usually considered for soloing, but solo play is completely possible for an ambitious player. And since good bassists are always in demand in the music community, the bass is a wise choice for aspiring professional musicians.
History
The double bass is an instrument that evolved as a sort of loose collaboration. Just like the cello before it, the bass was the result of luthiers attempting to create an instrument that could play lower parts than the other orchestral strings existing at the time. However, there has never been a great deal of cooperation between bass makers, and the result is that it’s much less standardized than the violin, viola or cello. To this day, basses from different makers can vary significantly in overall size, shape and design.
As more luthiers began to produce the double bass, it quickly became an essential part of virtually every orchestra’s string section. Although there is a lot of variation between individual basses, they’re all designed to fill the same role of carrying the string section in the lowest registers and creating a backdrop for the smaller and higher-pitched string instruments alongside them.
Details
Being another leap in size even above the cello, an upright bass is tall enough that it’s played from a standing position. With one hand, you support the neck of the instrument to keep it balanced while changing notes on the fretboard. The other hand is responsible for bowing or “pizzicato” plucking, and since the arms need to wrap partway around the instrument to reach the correct positions, having the right-size bass is perhaps even more important than it is with other orchestral strings. Sizes begin at “1/8” for very young players, and go up to “4/4” full-size – although the bass is so big that “3/4” models are a good size even for many adults.
Transporting an instrument as large as the bass can be daunting, and like the cello, many student players choose to avoid transportation altogether by having a practice instrument at home and a performance instrument that stays at the school or band hall. But with that big instrument comes equally big sound, which no other string instrument can match – so if that’s what you’re looking for in your string instrument, the bass definitely has you covered
Credit: http://thevault.musicarts.com/choosing-a-string-instrument-the-first-step-in-the-musical-journey/