Recommended Beginning Instrument Brands
The following are highly suggested brands for the listed instruments and are listed alphabetically.
All instruments must be acquired for student use no later than Wednesday, August 23rd, 2024.
Recommended Flute and Clarinet Brands:
| Armstrong Artley Buffet Conn | Gemeinhardt LeBlanc Selmer Yamaha |
Recommended Saxophone Brands:
| Bundy Conn | Jupiter Selmer Yamaha |
Recommended Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone Brands:
| Bach Besson Conn Getzen | Holton King Selmer Yamaha |
Recommended Percussion Brands:
| Innovative Percussion Meinel | Promark Vic Firth Zidjian |
Recommended Mouthpiece / Reed Brands:
● Clarinet / Saxophone Reeds – Vandoren size 2-2.5
○ Be prepared to switch to size 2.5-3 at end of 6th grade
● Clarinet / Saxophone Ligature – Rovner Versa, BG / BG Duo, Bois, Yamaha
● Upgraded Clarinet mouthpieces – 5RV Lyre / M13 or M15 Lyre / Yamaha 4C
● Trumpet Mouthpieces – 5C
● Trombone/Euphonium Mouthpieces – 6 1⁄2 AL (small shank) / 12 C
● Tuba Mouthpieces – Conn Helleburg
DISCLAIMER
If you are wanting to buy an instrument online that isn’t one of these brands, I strongly encourage you to talk to me first and let me help you research.
DO NOT PURCHASE ANY COLORED INSTRUMENTS OR INSTRUMENTS WITH
GLOVES!! The instruments may seem like a great deal, but they often break quickly and cannot be
repaired, which can result in a frustrated child who needs to buy another instrument. A used/rented
instrument in one of the above brands is always preferred over a shiny new instrument of an unknown brand.
FIVE FORKS MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND PROGRAM INSTRUMENT INFORMATION SCHOOL-OWNED INSTRUMENT RENTALS
The Five Forks Middle School Band Program owns instruments that the students are able
to rent for the year, if you are not financially able to rent/purchase an instrument from a music
store or vendor. The Gwinnett County Board of Education has a $60.00 annual fee ($30.00 per
semester) through our MyPaymentsPlus to help cover normal maintenance and repair of county
owned instruments played during school. Repairs due to damage or neglect will be the
responsibility of the parent/legal guardian of the student.
Additional paperwork will be sent home for a parent/guardian’s signature if you would
end up renting a school-owned instrument. Please note that our instruments are limited, and your
student may be unable to rent an instrument if there are none left to use. The following
instruments are able to be rented through the FFMS Band:
| ● Clarinets, ● Trumpets, ● Horns, | ● Trombones, ● Euphoniums, and ● Tubas |
Students who rent school-owned instruments must provide their own materials to go
along with the instrument, unless otherwise specified/discussed with Mrs. Romo (i.e.
mouthpiece, reeds, ligature, neck strap, valve oil, slide grease, cork grease, etc.). School-owned
instruments may also be checked out to stay at home, for an event off campus, or for
weeks/months at a time if pre-arranged with Mrs. Romo.
If your student plays one of the above instruments, and you would like to rent a school
instrument, please let me know as soon as possible. If this is an option you would like to pursue,
I must be informed no later than August 18, 2024. You can reach me at my email:
jordan.romo@gcpsk12.org , or send a signed note to school with your student.
DISCLAIMER: We do NOT have an unlimited inventory. Renting a school-owned instrument
is on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS! If you are not able to get an instrument
through the school, one MUST be rented/owned by Wednesday, August 23rd!