Instrument
Information
Looking to purchase AN instrument?
We did the research for you! Please read our instrument purchasing guide.
Looking to rent an instrument?
Students can rent to own from our music vendor, PM Music. This would be a monthly payment that would slowly pay off the instrument over time. While you are renting, you can always upgrade or switch instruments. Regular maintenance is also covered under that monthly payment. This option is strongly encouraged by all music directors. You can contact PM Music at any time to do this.
Instrument Rental Night
Every year, we bring Music & Arts to you to make the rental process easier. We have PM Music representatives and Round Lake music teachers at this event to help walk you through all of the details and answer your questions. Look for information from the directors in the spring!
Details:
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Enter through Door 18
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No Appointment Needed - Open House format
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Open to all 4-11th grade students in the Round Lake District
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Interpreters available at the event
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If you plan on renting an instrument, please bring an ID & form of payment.
Woodwind Supplies
REEDS
All woodwinds should have a minimum of three reeds in rotation at all times meaning they are broken in and playable. Students should have extra reeds in case of emergencies, so total they should have a total of four to five reeds in their case at all times.
MOUTHPIECES
A mouthpiece can significantly impact the way you play. Investing a small amount of money into a good mouthpiece and putting it on an ok instrument will do you much more than investing a lot of money into a great instrument and using an ok mouthpiece.
OBOE
CLARINET
ALTO SAXOPHONE
BARITONE SAXOPHONE
BASSOON
BASS CLARINET
TENOR SAXOPHONE
Brass Supplies
Mutes
As you progress through high school and college, brass players will see more and more pieces calling for different mutes. There is no need to buy every single mute out there. It is best to purchase the mutes as they come up, and that will spread out the cost. Trumpet players will have the most mutes of all of the brass players. Always invest in a quality mute. We DO NOT recommend AT ALL purchasing the Humes and Berg cardboard mutes. They have poor sound quality and will deteriorate quickly forcing you to make another mute purchase.
MOUTHPIECES
A mouthpiece can significantly impact the way you play. Investing a small amount of money into a good mouthpiece and putting it on an ok instrument will do you much more than investing a lot of money into a great instrument and using an ok mouthpiece.
TRUMPET
TROMBONE
TUBA
FRENCH HORN
BARITONE
Percussion Supplies
Percussion kit
Percussion students use district percussion equipment, but they should be supplying their own sticks, mallets, and certain other pieces of equipment.
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All beginning percussion students will need to get a percussion kit. There are a wide variety of kits that contain similar items, and some kits contain more items than others. At minimum, a percussion kit should contain the following:
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Carrying case for all gear (some have backpack straps or wheels)
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Practice pad
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Bell kit
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Stand for the practice pad and/or the bell kit (some kits have a single stand for both items)
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Snare drum sticks (for practice pad)
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Plastic mallets (for bell kit)
A percussion kit is available for rental through PM Music. Follow this link to begin that process:
If you want to purchase a different kind of percussion kit, please purchase from one of the following brands to ensure you get good quality equipment:
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Yamaha
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Vic Firth
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Pearl
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Ludwig
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Innovative Percussion
Percussion Supplies
The following is a list of equipment percussion students should obtain sorted by the year in school when they should be purchased. Required to be purchased by the end of the first semester of that school year. The other items on the list are good to have for those who are serious about becoming an advanced percussionist. Students are encouraged to purchase these supplies ahead of the suggested year if possible.
Note that some of the items come in many varieties. The brands and styles listed are those known to be of good quality. See your director before making any purchases outside of these recommended brands.
GRADE
6th
Snare Drum Sticks (Use on Snare Drum) (also found in percussion kit)
Practice Pad (also found in percussion kit)
Required:
Snare Drum Sticks & Practice Pad
(Also, found in percussion kit)
GRADE
8th
Timpani Mallets (General) - Two options listed, only need to purchase one
Drum Set Sticks (use on Jazz Drum Set)
Required:
General Timpani Mallets
Optional:
Drum Set Sticks
GRADE
10th
Cord Mallets (use on Vibraphone)
Rubber Mallets (use on Xylophone and Woodblock)
Required:
Cord Mallets
Optional:
Rubber Mallets
GRADE
7th
Plastic Mallets (use on Xylophone and Bells)
Stick Bag (for carrying all the equipment) - Two options listed, only need to purchase one
Required:
Plastic Mallets & Stick Bag
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GRADE
9th
Yarn Mallets (use on Marimba)
Pitch Pipe (for tuning Timpani)
Timpani Mallets (Staccato)
Timpani Mallets (Cartwheel)
Required:
Yarn Mallets & Pitch Pipe
Optional:
Timpani Mallets - Staccato and Cartwheel Models
GRADE
11th
Optional:
Bass Drum Mallets & Chime Mallets
GRADE
12th
Triangle
Woodblock