What To Bring To School

I know that as the school year begins, many parents rush out to buy a new instrument for their students. We would recommend not doing that if you can at all avoid it. The San Felipe Del Rio CISD has a recommended instrument list that we have thoroughly researched and include an assortment of instruments that are made by reputable manufacturers that are known for high quality workmanship.

Often, when students come to band with instruments that are not on the recommended instrument list, they have problems with valves, slides, keys, pads, or screws. These problems can sometimes be easily solved, but there are many cases where we have seen these problems compound and parts are unavailable for the repairs, so the students often end up being unable to play their instrument for weeks at a time. As a result, we highly recommend buying an instrument (specific manufacturer and model number) that is on the list.

That will be made available at the beginning of the school year, and may also be obtained by emailing joel.wagner@sfdr-cisd.org and asking for it. We will not be playing instruments in the first couple of weeks of school, and so an students do not even need to bring instruments until they are instructed to do so in class.

On August 24th, we will have some music stores setting up at SFMMS. They will be available to discuss renting or purchasing a district-approved instrument and accessories. All beginning band students should attend this evening any time from 6:00 until 9:00pm. Location will be determined at a later date.

The only thing that students will need for band during the first week of school will be a 1" 3 ring binder.