SUPPLIES

   Swab – you want a silk swab with a string, like this one made by Hodge.  They come in different colors, so just get whichever one you like.  You must swab out your instrument after you play it before packing it into the case, or the moisture will damage the instrument over time. 

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   Reeds – 6th graders should get the blue box D'Addario Royal brand reeds, size 2.5. 
                  7th and 8th graders should get size 3.0.

   Cork Grease -- Either Vandorren or D'Addario brands are good.

   Swab – you want a silk swab with a string, like this one made by Hodge.  They come in different colors, so just get whichever one you like.  

   Mouthpiece Brush – you should brush your mouthpiece inside and outside once each week with soap and water.  Be very careful not to scratch or chip your mouthpiece while cleaning it.

Nice, But Not Mandatory Stuff

   Rico Reed Gard IV – All serious players seem to use something like this.  These are designed to prevent your reeds from warping while they are in storage.  The plastic sleeves your reeds come in do not do this.  Get the Rico brand.  The ridges on the D’Addario brand reed guard are too far apart and they mess up your reeds, do not get it.  

   Neck Strap - Not mandatory, but some kids like these, especially for marching band.  This one by Neotech comes with a clip that attaches to the thumb rest on your clarinet.  

   Rovner Dark Ligature – if you need a new ligature, or if you want to upgrade from the basic ligature that may have come with your clarinet, get this one.

   Hite Premiere Clarinet Mouthpiece – if you need a new mouthpiece, get this one.

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   Alto Saxophone Reeds – 6th graders should get the blue box D'Addario Royal brand reeds, size 2.5. 
                                                7th and 8th graders should get size 3.0.

   Tenor Saxophone Reeds – 6th graders should get the blue box D'Addario Royal brand reeds, size 2.5. 
                                                   7th and 8th graders should get size 3.0.

   Baritone Saxophone Reeds – 6th graders should get the blue box D'Addario Royal brand reeds, size 2.5. 
                                                        7th and 8th graders should get size 3.0.

   Cork Grease -- Either Vandorren or D'Addario brands are good.  I know this listing might say "clarinet," but cork grease is the same for clarinet and saxophones.

   Swab -- You want a nice silk one, and Hodge is a good brand.
                    Alto Saxophone Swab
                    Tenor Saxophone Swab
                    Baritone Saxophone Swab

   Neck Strap - Protec is a very good brand.  Try to choose the appropriate size, based on how tall you are.  Another option is the harness style strap, which would be great for marching band.  

   Mouthpiece Brush – you should brush your mouthpiece inside and outside once each week with soap and water.  Be very careful not to scratch or chip your mouthpiece while cleaning it.

Nice, But Not Mandatory Stuff

   Rico Reed Guard -- All serious players seem to use something like this.  These are designed to prevent your reeds from warping while they are in storage.  The plastic sleeves your reeds come in do not do this.  Get the Rico brand.  The ridges on the D’Addario brand reed guard are too far apart and they mess up your reeds, do not get it.  Alto Sax Reed Gard ... Tenor and Bari Sax Reed Gard

    If you need a new mouthpiece, I recommend the Hite Premiere mouthpiece.  Yamaha is another good option. 
Alto Sax Mouthpiece ... Tenor Sax Mouthpiece... Baritone Sax Mouthpiece

    If you need a new ligature, I recommend the Rovner ligature.  These are much better than the cheap metal ligatures.  They sound better, are easier to play, are easier to use, and are almost indestructible.  Alto Sax Ligature ... Tenor Sax Ligature... Baritone Sax Ligature.

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   Reeds – 6th graders should get the blue box D'Addario Royal brand reeds, size 2.5. 
                   7th and 8th graders should get size 3.0.

   Cork Grease -- Either Vandorren or D'Addario brands are good.

   Swab -- You want a nice silk one, and Hodge is a good brand.

   Mouthpiece Brush – you should brush your mouthpiece inside and outside once each week with soap and water.  Be very careful not to scratch or chip your mouthpiece while cleaning it.

Nice, But Not Mandatory Stuff

   Rico Reed Guard -- All serious players seem to use something like this.  These are designed to prevent your reeds from warping while they are in storage.  The plastic sleeves your reeds come in do not do this.  Get the Rico brand.  The ridges on the D’Addario brand reed guard are too far apart and they mess up your reeds, do not get it.

   Neck Strap - Some kids like to use these, especially for marching band.  Protec is a very good brand.  Try to choose the appropriate size, based on how tall you are.  Another option is the harness style strap, which would be great for marching band.

   Ligature -- If you need a new ligature, I recommend the Rovner ligature.  These are much better than the cheap metal ligatures.  They sound better, are easier to play, are easier to use, and are almost indestructible.

   Mouthpiece -- If you need a new mouthpiece, I recommend the Hite Premiere bass clarinet mouthpiece.  Yamaha is another good option.

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   The easiest thing to do is get the trumpet cleaning kit made by Monster.  It includes the oil, grease, and cleaning brushes that you need.  Or you can get the items individually. 

   Valve Oil --  My highest recommendation is Monster original valve oil.  Ultra Pure is another great option.

   Tuning Slide Grease -- Monster is what I use.  Superslick or Schilke are other good options.  You could also use anhydrous lanolin, which is the main ingredient in most slide grease.

   Mouthpiece Brush – you should brush out your mouthpiece once a week with soap and water.  You can brush the cup with a regular toothbrush, and use this special brush to clean inside the backbore.

   Snake Brush -- for cleaning inside the instrument when you give it a bath.  

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   Valve Oil --  My highest recommendation is Monster original valve oil.  Ultra Pure is another great option.

   Tuning Slide Grease -- Monster is what I use.  Superslick or Schilke are other good options.  You could also use anhydrous lanolin, which is the main ingredient in most slide grease.

   Mouthpiece Brush – you should brush out your mouthpiece once a week with soap and water.  You can brush the cup with a regular toothbrush, and use this special brush to clean inside the backbore.

   Snake Brush -- for cleaning inside the instrument when you give it a bath.  

   Tuba Mouthpiece --  If you need a new tuba mouthpiece, get a Bach size 25 Mouthpiece .  

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   Trombone Slide Lubricant -- The brand that seems to be most recommended by trombone players I know is Yamaha.  Other recommendations are Monster and Ultra Pure.

   Small Spray Bottle -- You need to spray the trombone slide lubricant with water every day.

   Tuning Slide Grease -- Monster is what I use.  Superslick or Schilke are other good options.  You could also use anhydrous lanolin, which is the main ingredient in most slide grease.

   Mouthpiece Brush – you should brush out your mouthpiece once a week with soap and water.  You can brush the cup with a regular toothbrush, and use this special brush to clean inside the backbore.

   Snake Brush -- for cleaning the inside of the instrument when you give it a bath.

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   The easiest thing to do is get the horn cleaning kit made by Monster.  It includes the oil, grease, and cleaning brushes that you need.  Or you can get the items individually. 

   Rotor Oil -- Monster is a good brand.

   Tuning Slide Grease -- Monster is what I use.  Superslick or Schilke are other good options.  You could also use anhydrous lanolin, which is the main ingredient in most slide grease.

   Mouthpiece Brush – you should brush out your mouthpiece once a week with soap and water.  You can brush the cup with a regular toothbrush, and use this special brush to clean inside the backbore.

   Snake Brush -- for cleaning inside the instrument when you give it a bath.  

   Holton Farkas MDC Mouthpiece – If you need a new mouthpiece, this is absolutely the one to get.

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   Mallets -- If you need new mallets, these are a good choice.  Vic Firth is the most recommended brand, and these are good general purpose mallets.

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   Snare Drum Sticks -- the only sticks that we should use in middle school concert band are Vic Firth SD1 drum sticks.  Please do not enter the band room with anything else.

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