For Parents

Helping your child choose which instrument is right for them can be really confusing! There are so many factors: are there instruments that your family already has at home that are ready for your child  to play? Will they like the instrument that they choose? How expensive will it be to rent/buy? How many hours a week will they need to practice?

The first thing to remember is how AMAZING music is for your child! Music has been proven to help with both Social/Emotional Learning and academic learning, even if your child only plays for a few years. Attributes like teamwork, pride, and discipline are all developed in music classrooms alongside skills like note reading and body conditioning. 

The second thing is to listen to your child's teacher. Each district has their own way of assigning instruments. Your child's teacher will be able to help explain your district's protocols and how the selection process works, as well as practicing expectations and tips on setting up a practice routine once lessons begin. 

If your child has a disability that isn't mentioned on this site, work with your teacher to find some modifications for the instrument that your child would like to play. 

Check out the video below to hear more about how you can best support your child through the process of instrument selection:

Instrument Selection Process

There are several determining factors that are taken into account when choosing students to participate on a particular instrument.  Along with the student’s preference sheet and musical aptitude test score, consideration is placed on the quality of classroom performance.  This information gives the instrumental staff an idea of what instrument is best suited for each child.  The students are also individually screened for physical characteristics necessary to be successful on particular instruments (i.e. length of arms, finger and hand size, facial composition).  This facet of the selection process allows the instrumental music staff to get to know, as much as possible, each student before any selections are made. 

All students will be required to submit 3 instrument choices to the music teachers at the start of the process. 

Please note that each ensemble need to have a balanced instrumentation. A band with 40 flutes and 2 trombones, or an orchestra with 25 cellos and 3 violas, would not give the students a true ensemble experience (and wouldn't sound very good either!). 

Please reach out to the teachers listed at the bottom of this page if you have any questions.