Stephenson Middle School
Band Instrument & Equipment Upgrade List
There are Three Essentials that will ensure your students success in not just the Stephenson Band Cluster, but any
musical program are:
1. The BEST possible working instrument 2. Private Lessons 3. Participation in Summer Music Programs and Camps
Additionally, investing in high quality musical equipment can make the difference in your students individual
performance. Below are instruments and/or accessories that we recommend for each student.
Woodwinds *Please note that all reed and mouthpiece/head joint suggestions will come from either the director or private
instructor only. Please speak with a professional source before purchasing.
Flute Intermediate Instruments
James Galway JG3
Yamaha YFL-481
Powell 601 Sonare
Professional Instruments
Yamaha 700 Series (open-hole, C# trill and Gizmo key, Low B foot
joint))
Head Joints
Double Reeds OBOE
Intermediate Instruments
Buffet
Covey
Fox Renard
Yamaha
Reeds
Jones
Stadella
Marlin Lesher
BASSOON
Intermediate Instruments
Fox
Heckel
Schreiber
Yamaha
Clarinets (Soprano and Bass) Intermediate
Instruments
Buffet Crampton E-12
Leblanc Concerto
Professional
Instruments
Buffet Crampton R-13
Yamaha YCL650
(Bass)
Yamaha YCL-621
Buffet Crampon 1183
Mouthpieces
Vandoren B45
Vandoren M30
Vandoren M35
(Bass)
Vandoren B45
Ligatures
Vandoren Optimum
Vandoren M/O
Vandoren Leather
Rovner DARK
Reeds
Vandoren
(3.0 or higher)
(Bass)
Vandoren
(2.5 or higher)
Saxophone (Alto, Tenor and Baritone) Intermediate
Instruments
(Alto/Tenor)
Jupiter XO
Professional
Instruments
(Alt/Tenor)
Yamaha 62
Selmer Super Action 80
(Series 2 or 3)
(Baritone)
Yamaha YBS-62
Mouthpieces
Selmer C* S80
(Alto)
Vandoren Optimum AL3
Selmer C* S90
(Tenor)
Vandoren Optimum TL3
Ligatures
Vandoren Optimum
Vandoren M/O
(Alto/Tenor)
Vandoren Leather
Rovner DARK
Reeds
Vandoren V12
Vandoren V16
(2.5 or higher)
(Tenor)
Vandoren V12
(3.0 or higher)
(Baritone)
Vandoren V12
(2.5-3.0)
Brass
*Please note that Megatone Mouthpieces are highly recommended due to better pitch center and resonance. Please
speak with a professional source before purchasing.
Horn in F Intermediate Instruments
Holton H379
Yamaha YHR-667
Professional Instruments
Conn 8D
Holton H280
Mouthpieces
Laskey 75g
Lasket 775g
Laskey 85g
Trumpet Intermediate Instruments
Jupiter XO
Yamaha
Bach
Professional Instruments
Yamaha Xeno
Bach Stradivarius
Mouthpieces
Bach 3c
Bach 5c
Bach 1c
Trombone Intermediate Instruments
Yamaha w/ F Attachment
Bach w/ F Attachment
Jupiter XO w/ F Attachment
Professional Instruments
Conn 88H w/ F Attachment
Yamaha Xeno w/ F Attachment
Bach Stradivarius w/ F Attachment
Mouthpieces
Bach 5g (megatone)
Bass Trombone Intermediate Instruments
Professional Instruments
Bach 50T3 Stradivarius
Yamaha YSL-613
Mouthpieces
Dennis Wick Heritage A00
Schlike 60
Euphonium Intermediate Instruments
Bach 1103
Yamaha YEP 201 or 321
Professional Instruments
Besson (Compensating Valve)
Jupiter XO (Compensating Valve)
Mouthpieces
Shlike 52E2
Tuba Intermediate
Instruments
Besson 1087
Conn 12J or 5J
Yamaha YBB 105 or 321
Professional Instruments
Besson 997
Yamaha 621 or 641
Meinl Westin 2020/5
Mirafone 1864U
Mouthpieces
Mike Finn 3
Bach Megatone 18 or 24
Percussion
*Please note that ALL percussion students will encounter a host of instruments that are a part of the percussion
family. Specialized percussion equipment will be provided such as timpani, marimba, etc. However, ALL
percussion students should have the basic items below and expand from there. The cost of basic percussion supplies
my equate or be less than that of a wind students instrument and supplies, however this is the nature of this
instrument choice. If performed properly and NOT shared, percussion sticks and mallets should last for years.
However if some part of their collection breaks or unravels, it should be replaced immediately. Students should
ALWAYS be performing with matched pair(s).
Intermediate Percussion Students Advanced Percussion Students
www.lonestarpercussion.com
Drum Practice Pad
Bell Practice Kit
Pitch Pipe
Innovative Percussion Fundamental Intermediate Stick and
Mallet Pack (item FP-2)
Drum Practice Pad
Bell Practice Kit
Pitch Pipe
Innovative Percussion Fundamental Intermediate Stick and
Mallet Pack (item FP-3)
Drum Set
Yamaha GigMaker
Pearl Export
Drum Heads
Evans Cymbals
Zildjian ZBT
http://www.lonestarpercussion.com/
Stephenson Middle School
Instrumental Method Book List
This is a list of books that are specifically tailored for instrumental development. These books include
expanded ranges of notes, rhythm, time and key signatures. There are articulation and scale studies,
embouchure and tone production exercises; as well as other techniques of the instrument in a very logical
progression and in a thorough manner. Repetition of concepts within a variety of melodies enables
students to develop natural tone quality while becoming adept at music reading.
Written Methods for all Instruments
Rubank Intermediate Method Vol. 1 & 2
Rubank Advanced Method Vol. 1 & 2
Melodious Etudes, Selected from the Vocalises of Marco Bordogni; o Larry Clark and Sean O'Loughlin
Flute
E. Wagner Flute Method, Foundation to Flute Playing
Altes Flute Method, Complete Method 1 & 2
Taffanel and Gaubert 17 Daily Exercises
Double Reeds
Barret Oboe Method, A Complete Method for Oboe; o Boosey &Hawkes
Niemann Method for Oboe
48 Famous Studies for Oboe & Saxophone o W. Ferling
Clarinet
H. Klose, Celebrated Method for Clarinet
C. Rose, 32 Etudes for Clarinet
C. Baermann, Complete Celebrated Method for Clarinet
F. Kroepsch 416 Progressive Daily Studies
Saxophone
Top Tones for Saxophone: Four Octave Range; o Sigurd Rascher
Universal Method for Saxophone; o Paul DeVille
48 Famous Studies for Oboe & Saxophone o W. Ferling
Horn in F
Pottag-Hovey Method for French Horn Book 1
Lyrical Studies for Horn; o Bordogni and Concone
Sixty Selected Studies for Horn Book 1
G. Kopprasch, 22 Studies for Horn;
o J.F. Gallay
335 Selected Melodious Progressive Technical Studies for French Horn Book 1; o Pottag and Andraud
Trumpet
Lyrical Studies for Horn; o Bordogni and Concone
H.L. Clarke Technical Studies for Cornet
Arbans Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet
Trombone
Arbans Complete Conservatory Method for Trombone
Remington Warm Up Studies for Trombone
Technical Studies for Bass Clef Instruments, o Clarke and Gordon
Euphonium (Baritone)
Arbans Complete Conservatory Method for Tuba
43 Bel Canto Studies for Tuba
Tuba
43 Bel Canto Studies for Tuba
Arbans Complete Conservatory Method for Tuba
Percussion
Portraits in Rhythms; o Anthony Cirone
Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba & Vibraphone; o Morris Goldberg
Modern Method for Timpani; o Saul Goodman
Art of Bass Drum & Cymbals; o Anthony Cirone and Garwood Whaley
Art of Tambourine & Triangle; o Neil Grover and Garwood Whaley
Art of Percussion Accessory Playing; o Anthony Cirone and Garwood Whaley
Instrument Care and Maintenance
Flute Daily Maintenance
Take flute apart and shake the water out of the head
joint. Wipe the joints clean. Dry the inside of the flute
with a soft cloth placed over a cleaning rod. Wipe the
outside of each part with a soft clean cloth. After you
care for each part of the instrument return it to its proper
place in the case.
Deep Clean
Use a soft chamois cloth. Carefully polish the flute with
the cloth until it's free of fingerprints and other possible
gunk. Then lightly wipe off the keys so that you're going
in the direction of the keys. Pay extra attention to the
areas between the parts of the flute, as this is where the
most gunk usually builds up. Rub the mouthpiece gently
with the cloth, to remove the gunk and spit. Use a Q-tip
dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove dust and buildup
between the keys in those hard to reach spots. Clean
your pads. Slide pad paper or a piece of clean cigarette
paper under a key, then close the key firmly. Open the
key and then slide the paper out. Make an effort to keep
the flute dry. Use this technique gently
