What instrument do you want to play?
It's often said the player doesn't choose the instrument rather the instrument choose the player. Just as we all have our own unique personalities, so do the various instruments. Sometimes the player just knows what they want to play and for other it takes a while to figure it out. So don't be in a hurry if your not sure. You should speak to your band director and ask to try out a few different instruments, or you can come and see us and we can let you play the instruments and help you make your decission. it's also a great idea to know what the various instrumens look and sound like. Below you will find links to all the instruments we rent and sell. Click on anyone to be taken to a bit more information about that instrument and a video where you can see and hear it being played by professional musicians.
Flute
An extremely popular instrument. Almost every culture has created their own variation of the flute. It provides the highest notes in the orchestra.
Clarinet
The clarinet provides a very rich and vocal like tone featuring an extremely large range.
Saxophone
The saxophone is the most diverse member of the woodwinds with the greatest flexibility in its sound and voices.
Oboe
The oboe is the primary member of the double reed family. it has a beautiful and piercing tone.
Trumpet
The Trumpet is one of the oldest instruments known to man. As the most powerful instrument in the ensemble, it's going to be heard and demand attention.
Trombone
A unique member of the brass family. Due to the moving slide the trombone adds a great deal of "flexibility" to any ensemble.
French Horn
The French Horn, or sometimes just known simply as "The Horn" has a very unique tone compared to the other brass instruments and features the largest range. Its often considered to be the most expressive.
Bariton/Euphorium
The Baritone or, Euphonium as it's often called, provides the middle voice to the ensemble similar to the trombone but with a more vocal like quality.
Tuba
The tuba provides the bass line for the ensemble. It's the lowest and largest instrument in the ensemble so it's going to get noticed.
Percussion
Other then the human voice, percussion instruments are the oldest in the world and the largest of all the instrumental families. It provides the rhythm and keeps the beat.
Clarinet
The clarinet originated in the early years of the 18th century as a need arose to perform parts that were a bit to difficult for the trumpets of the time. It's name directly translates into "little trumpet". In the last 300 or so years the clarinet has greatly advanced from its humble beginnings and become one of the most popular instruments in the wind ensemble. It features the largest range of any woodwind instrument and some of the greatest flexibility.
Clarinets have been created from wood since they originated. The most common is grenadilla wood. A dark, nearly black variation of African blackwood. However other woods such as rosewood and cocobolo are often used. Student clarinets are often made from very hard, impact resistant plastics.
The Clarinet creates it's tone by the player blowing over a single read and setting the air column inside the instrument in motion.
The clarinet is a flexible instrument commonly used in classical and jazz and very popular in klezmer music. However it has been used in rock and other pop styles.
The clarinet family is the largest of the woodwinds. The most common is the Bb soprano clarinet, but it also includes the smaller Eb sopranino and the bass clarinet up to the extreme contra-bass and multiple sizes and variations in between.
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The clarinet originated in the early years of the 18th century as a need arose to perform parts that were a bit to difficult for the trumpets of the time. It's name directly translates into "little trumpet". In the last 300 or so years the clarinet has greatly advanced from its humble beginnings and become one of the most popular instruments in the wind ensemble. It features the largest range of any woodwind instrument and some of the greatest flexibility.
Clarinets have been created from wood since they originated. The most common is grenadilla wood. A dark, nearly black variation of African blackwood. However other woods such as rosewood and cocobolo are often used. Student clarinets are often made from very hard, impact resistant plastics.
The Clarinet creates it's tone by the player blowing over a single read and setting the air column inside the instrument in motion.
The clarinet is a flexible instrument commonly used in classical and jazz and very popular in klezmer music. However it has been used in rock and other pop styles.
The clarinet family is the largest of the woodwinds. The most common is the Bb soprano clarinet, but it also includes the smaller Eb sopranino and the bass clarinet up to the extreme contra-bass and multiple sizes and variations in between.
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The flute is one of the oldest instruments known to mankind. It is the basis for all woodwind instruments and every culture has created their own variation of the flute. Originally created from wood or bone, the modern concert flute is now made from metal. Usually nickel, but other precious metals such as silver, gold and platinum are sometimes used.
The flute provides the highest voice in the ensemble and it's sound is often compared to the song of a bird. It is an extremely beautiful sounding instrument.
The tone on the flute is created by blowing over an open hole. This causes the air to vibrate and by opening and closing holes in the tube changes the pitch.
The flute is an extremely diverse instrument and is used in all forms of music from classical, to jazz, rock, etc.
The flute family is huge Some of the more common members of the flute family is the piccolo, which is a full octave higher than the standard flute and provides the highest notes in the orchestra. The alto and bass flutes are also increasing in popularity. Other popular types of flutes include the recorder, and the Irish and Native American flutes.
The flute provides the highest voice in the ensemble and it's sound is often compared to the song of a bird. It is an extremely beautiful sounding instrument.
The tone on the flute is created by blowing over an open hole. This causes the air to vibrate and by opening and closing holes in the tube changes the pitch.
The flute is an extremely diverse instrument and is used in all forms of music from classical, to jazz, rock, etc.
The flute family is huge Some of the more common members of the flute family is the piccolo, which is a full octave higher than the standard flute and provides the highest notes in the orchestra. The alto and bass flutes are also increasing in popularity. Other popular types of flutes include the recorder, and the Irish and Native American flutes.
The saxophone or just the "Sax" is one of the world’s most popular instruments. It was originally created in the 1840's as a means to bridge the gap between the two families of wind instruments. It succeeded at it has the flexibility of the woodwind and the power and projection of the brass.
Since its creation the saxophone has become a prevalent instrument in jazz and many popular forms of music. It's also commonly used in classical and modern orchestral music.
Although the saxophone is made from brass, it is technically a member of the woodwind family. It uses a single reed like a clarinet to create its tone and a fingering system based loosely on the design of the oboe.
The modern saxophone family consists of 4 primary instruments. The alto is the most common and considered the primary member of the sax family. The tenor and baritone provide the middle and bass voices and the soprano provides a higher voice. In addition to these four, other less common members of the saxophone family include the tiny sopranino, the very large bass, the super large contra-bass, and a few other less common variations.
The sound of the saxophone is the most highly diverse of the woodwind family. Depending on the player and the style, the sound of the saxophone has been described as, dark, bright, dry, piercing, dirty and even "laser focused". To this day saxophone players are still experimenting with the saxophone to create new sounds and effects
Due to its flexibility the sax has been used in almost every style of music since its creation. However it's most commonly known for its use in jazz and was one of the founding instruments in the early development of rock and roll
Since its creation the saxophone has become a prevalent instrument in jazz and many popular forms of music. It's also commonly used in classical and modern orchestral music.
Although the saxophone is made from brass, it is technically a member of the woodwind family. It uses a single reed like a clarinet to create its tone and a fingering system based loosely on the design of the oboe.
The modern saxophone family consists of 4 primary instruments. The alto is the most common and considered the primary member of the sax family. The tenor and baritone provide the middle and bass voices and the soprano provides a higher voice. In addition to these four, other less common members of the saxophone family include the tiny sopranino, the very large bass, the super large contra-bass, and a few other less common variations.
The sound of the saxophone is the most highly diverse of the woodwind family. Depending on the player and the style, the sound of the saxophone has been described as, dark, bright, dry, piercing, dirty and even "laser focused". To this day saxophone players are still experimenting with the saxophone to create new sounds and effects
Due to its flexibility the sax has been used in almost every style of music since its creation. However it's most commonly known for its use in jazz and was one of the founding instruments in the early development of rock and roll
The oboe is one of the oldest woodwind instruments in the orchestra second only to the flute. It's ancestry dates as far back as the ancient Greece and Roman times with instruments such as aulos, which used a double reed attached to 2 tubes. The modern oboe begins to evolve in the late 17th century through a great deal of experimentation with many similar instruments. The oboe uses a very complex mechanism, but it is surprisingly simple to use. This results in an extremely flexible instrument that takes advantages all the other woodwinds strengths and has virtually none of their weaknesses. The oboe is most commonly found in the orchestra and used in classical music. Due to the fragile double reed it's rarely used out doors or in any type of military or marching bands. The oboe and it's double reed relatives have been used in jazz and pop music from time to time. The double reed creates a "pinched" or nasal tone which is very piercing, and easily carries over the rest of the orchestra. While the flute and clarinet section require multiple players on each part to be heard, the oboe often only needs one or two players to reach the same volume. The oboe is commonly made from grenadilla wood like the clarinet but student oboes will often be manufactured from plastic. The oboe is the primary member of the double reed family which includes the English horn and bassoon, as well as several less common instruments.
The trumpet is one of the oldest instrument known to man and one of the few instruments that is specifically mentioned in the bible. Early trumpets were made from bone, wood, sea shells, animal horns and many other natural materials. Today trumpets are commonly made from brass and considered a member of the brass family. The trumpet and it's many relatives holds the position of the highest voice in the brass family as well as having the most volume. It is easily recognized by its distinctive sound and appearance. The primary member of the trumpet family is the Bb trumpet. However trumpets in additional keys are also quite common especially for use in orchestras. The piccolo trumpet sounds a full octave higher than the standard Bb trumpet. The cornet and flugelhorn are also popular members of the trumpet family.
The trombone is a unique instrument in the brass family as it uses a slide to change the pitch instead of valves thus it is sometimes called "the slide trombone". However it's name can be more directly translated to "large trumpet". The trombone is a rather recent addition to the orchestra as it wasn't added until the middle 18th century. The trombone was originally developed in central Europe as a means to "send signals" from location to location as it could easily be heard from a distance. Due to its extreme flexibility and vocal like tone composers began to use it in their compositions. Originally used to double vocal parts, the trombone soon became a valuable solo instrument. Although the standard slide trombone is the most common, there are several variations of the trombone. The most popular is the F-attachment trombone that uses additional tubing with a valve activated by the players thumb to increase the range and flexibility of the instrument. Also the alto and bass trombones are popular members of the family. In addition to the orchestra the trombone has been used in every style of music from classical, pop, jazz, rock, etc. Anywhere you find a trumpet you will likely find a trombone right next to it.
The French Horn or just "The Horn" has one of the most unique histories. It can trace its lineage back to when horns were literally made from animal horns. These were used to signal others in battle and on horseback. As metal and brass became available the shape of the original animal horns was emulated and then lengthened to allow the instrument to be louder and project further. As the instruments became longer they were wrapped in the circle shape we recognize today as this makes them easier to carry and play while horseback. The modern French horn evolved from the "hunting horn" and now uses valves like all brass instruments to change the pitch. Unlike other brass instruments the diameter of the tubing is very small compared to it's length. This gives the French horn a unique and easily recognizable sound compared to the other brass instruments. Although mostly an orchestral instrument the French horn can occasionally be found in jazz ensembles and some pop musical styles. Other members of the French horn family include the mellophone and marching French horn. These are commonly used in marching bands and some jazz ensembles to provide a richer middle voice.
The Baritone / Euphonium is a middle register instrument in the brass family. Using valves similar to the trumpet it's length is comparable to the trombone but with a larger and more conical bore. The word euphonium means "Sweet Voice" and that is a very accurate description of the sound of the instrument. In appearance the baritone / euphonium resembles a small tuba, but its range sounds a full octave higher In the United States the terms Baritone and Euphonium are often used interchangeably. However, in Europe and many other parts of the world they are considered to be very different instruments. The traditional baritone horn has a more cylindrical bore similar to a trumpet and a trombone. The euphonium has a more conical bore allowing for more flexibility and a "sweeter tone". Most of the "baritone" instruments found in the United States are technically euphoniums. The baritone and euphonium developed in the early to mid 19th century as a result of several of instrument inventors looking for ways to improve the brass instruments and take advantage of the newly invented piston valves. One of the more famous of these inventors was Adolphe Sax. He created a series of brass instruments called “sax horns” from which the modern euphonium and flugelhorn derives. In his lifetime the Sax Horns he created were very popular and what he was primarily famous for. But he would be forever remembered after his death as the inventor of the saxophone. The baritone / euphonium are commonly used in wind ensembles as well as marching and military bands. It's use in the orchestra is somewhat limited as much of the literature was written before the euphonium was developed.
The Tuba is the largest member of the brass family and plays the bass line. Due to its size low range it's impossible not to notice the tuba. The modern tuba developed in the early 18th century and became a standard member of the orchestra replacing many of the more primitive instruments originally used for the bass line. Today the most common tuba is the BBb (double B flat). However many sizes are available from the slightly larger CC tuba to the smaller Eb tuba. Also the tuba is available in sizes from 3/4 up to 5/4. Regardless of the size, the length of the tubing does not change but the diameter of bore does. The larger bore can project much further and provide a fuller tone, however it can be difficult for younger players to use. Thus younger players often begin on the 3/4 BBb tuba. A relative of the tuba is the sousaphone. The sousaphone is in essence a marching tuba. It is in the shape of a circle and wraps around the players body allowing it to be carried while marching. The sousaphone was named after the famous American band leader and composer John Philip Sousa.
Other than the human voice, percussion instruments are the oldest musical instruments known to mankind. Once ancient man learned to make a sound by hitting something with a stick, a rock, or even his hand he began to make simple rhythms and eventually music followed. A percussion instrument is any instrument that produces a sound when something is struck. The drum is the most popular member of the percussion family. Every culture has developed their own unique type of drum. From the Native American Powwow drums to the Japanese Takio and many, many in between the drum has been one of the few things that has bridged all cultures to bring people together. Historically drums were made from various materials but shared the characteristic of having a skin stretched over a bowl or hollow tube. Today the stretched skin has been replaced with various plastic materials that hold up much longer and produce a better and louder tone. The instruments in the percussion section number into the hundreds if not thousands. In addition to the various types of drums, keyed percussion such as the bells, and xylophones and even the piano are considered a percussion instrument. Young percussionists often start using the snare drum and a simple bell kit. This serves to teach them both the rhythmic aspects and melodic aspects of music.