Band News
School will soon be in session, and the various aspects of the band program will be underway. The most active ensemble in the early part of the school year is Marching Band. Information on that ensemble can be found under the Marching Band page of this site.
In addition to Marching Band, both Concert and Symphonic Band begin on the first day of school. Musicians should be well prepared for the beginning of the school year. This page will provide some valuable information to help everyone prepare for the school year. Enjoy the remaining part of vacation, and we'll see you at school in a few weeks!
~Mr. Morris
Instrument repair & reeds/accessories
Many people don't realize how much regular maintenance is required for a woodwind instrument. Brass and percussion tend not to need a lot of preventive maintenance, but woodwinds need to be constantly re-adjusted. Pads need to be replaced, and leveled. Rods often get slightly bent, and need to be straightened.
It is important to use a good repair technician.
Instruments can be sent out through the school, on Tuesdays, to Zeswitz Music Store. Their representative visits the school weekly, and takes any instruments that need work. They will contact you at home regarding payment for the repairs.
Lewis & Son Music, a new store in Quakertown, also has superb repair technicians on staff. They are located on Rt. 309.
Please make sure you have a great supply of reeds, and all of the lubricants/swabs, etc. that are needed to maintain an instrument. High School students should be purchasing reeds at least a full box at a time. Good quality reeds are also expected. Van Doren makes good quality reeds. They are available at most music stores. When switching from low quality reeds, you will need to drop 1/2 a number in the reed that you play. If you played a 3 Rico in middle school, switch to a 2.5 VanDoren.
A good quality reed case is also a good idea. VanDoren makes one that will hold your reeds flat, and let them dry without warping, and make your reeds last weeks longer. They cost around $15.00 and all of your reeds will play better, and last longer. It's a great investment.
Priavate lesson instruction
Every musician needs to study their instrument separately from band rehearsals. Nothing can inspire a student to achieve great things with an instrument better than a top notch private instructor. During private lessons, you study in detail how to manipulate the equipment you are playing to sound like a professional musician. It's very different than what you do in rehearsal, which is basically "fit the parts together."
If it is at all possible, students in the high school band program are strongly encouraged to have a good private teacher. Mr. Morris has a list of private teachers available. It's important to note that the least expensive teacher is often not the best one available. It might make more sense to have lessons every other week from a phenomenal teacher, than every single week from a less advanced teacher. It's a good idea to take a couple of lessons with an array of different teachers, and see which one gives you the most for your money. Different students will get better results from different teachers. It's worth the time to find the perfect fit.
Another important consideration is that it is good to switch teachers every 2-3 years. This is a difficult notion for many people, because often students come to really respect and admire their private teachers. However, if you get to the point in studying where you "know what they are going to say before they say it," it's a good indication that a new teacher might be more effective.