ABSTRACT
When observing a successful high school program it is easy to forget that the groundwork for students’ achievement is laid in the elementary and middle schools. Most school programs begin band and orchestra study between Grades 4–6. There are two approaches when deciding which instruments to make available to new students. For band instruments, the first is to offer a wide variety, including: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, and percussion. The second approach streamlines the number of instruments to a small core—e.g., flute, clarinet, trumpet, and trombone. Starting with a core of instruments can be a first step to preventing gluts of popular instruments—especially percussion. It is important to understand the difference between musical aptitude and musical achievement. It is important to recognize that aptitude tests are not designed to exclude weak students from participation. Some instruments create recruiting challenges because they are burdened with stereotypes.
