Having the right equipment and lesson material is essential to your music studies. Always consult your private teacher before purchasing a new instrument or mouthpiece! There may be other materials that we'll use for your lessons, but here are the basic lists for Saxophone, Clarinet, and Flute:

All Instruments:

  • Space for practicing - noise-free and distraction-free where you can play and hear well
  • Music stand
  • Chair (without armrests)
  • Mirror - body-length if possible
  • Metronome, preferably with a tuner. I recommend the Korg TM-40 or TM-50 because the user can run metronome and tuner functions simultaneously, but other brands/models are fine, too. The metronome must be loud enough to be heard over the sound of the instrument. You can get by temporarily with a smart phone metronome app, however, I recommend having a separate metronome because of volume, battery life, and less distraction.
  • Blank manuscript paper and pencil - preferably in a book where notes can be taken and tracked.

Saxophone

Equipment:

  • Saxophone (in good working condition, all pads sealing properly, neck cork in good shape)
  • Neckstrap - this is mandatory for saxophone playing, as it is not possible to maintain a proper playing position without one. When renting an instrument, check that the strap inside the case has one connection hook (if there are two hooks it is a case strap, not a saxophone strap. You need a saxophone strap.) The strap must be an appropriate length, with no slack when the saxophone is suspended in the playing position.
  • Cork grease - use this daily with new neck corks.
  • Cleaning swab - I prefer the "drop-through" type, weighted at one end.
  • Mouthpiece (students at the intermediate level or higher are encouraged to upgrade their mouthpiece. There are many brands and models to choose from - Selmer makes very good "classical" mouthpieces which are good for concert band playing, and the Vandoren Optimum line is excellent as well. Meyer (5M is what many players choose) makes very good mouthpieces for jazz and contemporary styles. As always, consult your private teacher before purchasing a new mouthpiece.
  • Ligature (more advanced students will want to upgrade - Rovner, Rico "H", or Vandoren M/O are good choices).
  • Reeds. Students must keep a minimum of four good, playable reeds in their case. Rotate reeds on practice days. Most players can start with 2-strength. The strength should be determined by the feel and the sound of the reed. Consult me regarding brand, style, and strength. Reeds can last between two weeks and several months, depending on the care taken of them, the quality of the reeds, and other factors. Plan to purchase additional reeds over time. Most brands are available in boxes of ten.

Books and other material:

  • At the beginner level, (and possibly beyond, at my discretion) we may use your book from the Band program at your school (Tradition of Excellence, or one of the other band methods) to start off with. 
  • Rubank Beginning and Intermediate Methods for Saxophone (consult your private teacher before purchasing.)
  • For advanced students, Trent Kynaston Daily Studies for Saxophone.
  • Beginning and intermediate students working on solo material may select appropriate literature. There are many collections of popular songs and movie music available as books, many with accompaniment CDs. You may also select your own solo material from other sources - please consult me regarding this.
  • Intermediate students will work from the Rubank Concert and Contest Collection, or equivalent classical solo material.
  • Other etudes and solo literature at the teacher's discretion.
  • Jazz students will use Lennie Niehaus' Basic Jazz Conception for Saxophone, Vol. 1 and 2.
  • Jazz students studying improvisation will use the Jamey Aebersold play-along series. Volumes 1, 8, and 54 are the most-used in the early phases, however the series is very large, with many excellent volumes - please consult me.

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Clarinet

Equipment:

  • Clarinet (in good working condition, all pads sealing properly, connecting corks in good shape).
  • Cork grease - use this daily with new corks.
  • Cleaning swab - "drop-through" type.
  • Mouthpiece (students at the intermediate level or higher are encouraged to upgrade their mouthpiece. There are many brands and models to choose from. The Vandoren B45 is one very good step-up mouthpiece. As always, consult your private teacher before purchasing a new mouthpiece.)
  • Ligature (more advanced students will want to upgrade - Rovner, Rico "H", or Vandoren M/O are good choices).
  • Reeds. Most players can start with 2-strength. The strength should be determined by the feel and the sound of the reed. Students must keep a minimum of four good, playable reeds in their case. Rotate reeds on practice days. Consult me regarding brand, style, and strength. Reeds can last between two weeks and several months, depending on the care taken of them, the quality of the reeds, and other factors. Plan to purchase additional reeds over time. Most brands are available in boxes of ten.
  • Thumb cushion or strap - since the clarinet is held up using the right thumb, it can help to have some extra padding on the thumb rest. There are a number of rubber cushions available which slip over the clarinet's existing thumb platform. I use one called the Ridenour Thumb Saddle. There are also neckstraps available for clarinet which take a lot of the weight off of the thumb.

Books and other material:

  • At the beginner level, (and possibly beyond, at my discretion) we may use your book from the Band program at your school (Tradition of Excellence, or one of the other band methods) to start off with. 
  • Rubank Beginning and Intermediate Methods for Clarinet (consult your private teacher before purchasing.)
  • Advanced students should consult with me regarding the Rose and/or Lazarus Methods for Clarinet
  • Beginning and intermediate students working on solo material may select appropriate literature. There are many collections of popular songs and movie music available as books, many with accompaniment CDs. You may also select your own solo material from other sources - please consult me regarding this.
  • Intermediate students will work from the Rubank Concert and Contest Collection, or equivalent classical solo material.
  • Other etudes and solo material at the teacher's discretion.

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Flute

Equipment:

  • Flute (in good working order, with pads sealing properly and joints connecting correctly)
  • Metal cleaning rod - should have notch at one end to check position of headjoint cork
  • Cleaning cloth - I prefer the cloth "handkerchief" type.
  • Polishing cloth - if the body of your flute is silver, please make sure your cloth is designed for polishing silver.

Books and other material:

  • At the beginner level, (and possibly beyond, at my discretion) we may use your book from the Band program at your school (Tradition of Excellence, or one of the other band methods) to start off with. 
  • Rubank Beginning and Intermediate Methods for Flute.
  • Advanced students should consult with me regarding the Marcel Moyse Daily Exercises.
  • Beginning and intermediate students working on solo material may select appropriate literature. There are many collections of popular songs and movie music available as books, many with accompaniment CDs. You may also select your own solo material from other sources - please consult me regarding this.
  • Intermediate students will work from the Rubank Concert and Contest Collection, or equivalent classical solo material.
  • Other etudes and solo material at the teacher's discretion.

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