Band Registration Night is Monday, April 24th from 5:00-8:00 PM at Hudson Middle School   

Parents will attend a brief meeting with Band Directors and then will speak to music store representatives about renting or leasing instruments. This will take about 45 minutes. To help with your planning, please see the time schedule based on the school your child attends:  Hudson Prairie, Willow River, St. Patrick’s – 5:00 PM  EP Rock, Trinity, North Hudson – 6:00 PM  River Crest, Houlton – 7:00 PM

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If you are unable to attend your child’s time slot, please come to one of the other meeting times. Music books, instrument supplies and music stands will be available for purchase. We highly recommend that all students purchase a music stand for home practice. 

Items purchased at the Registration Night will be delivered on July 31st – the first day of Band Camp.

The music staff expects and encourages Beginning Band students to stay in the Band Program through their entire 6th Grade year. This will be sufficient time for proper instruction and guidance and the students will by the end of the year have mastered the basic skills needed to be successful in band.

What do I need to know about instruments? Leasing an instrument is an affordable way to get started in band. Below you will find details on instrument rentals.  Students who play tuba, baritone, French horn, oboe, or bassoon will be renting a school owned instrument for $75.00. These students will need to purchase a Method Lesson book.  Most music stores have a four-month introductory rental offer and or lease-to-own plan. Our Music Department works with Eckroth Music. Details below are based on how Eckroth manages their rental program:  Introductory offer includes a down payment towards the instrument and includes maintenance coverage for most repairs or incidental damage. If at the end of the introductory period, a family wishes to purchase the instrument, the introductory offer deposit will be deducted from the total purchase price and you are eligible for an additional early payoff discount. Otherwise, families may continue to lease-to-own the instrument on a month to month basis until they eventually own it (typically 24-36 months).  Families may cancel their agreement at any time. The lease payments stop automatically when the instrument is returned—this can be arranged for school pick up by the Eckroth Music School representative.  This four month period gives students, parents, and teachers a chance to evaluate the student’s progress and interest on a quality instrument without a major investment.  The instrument rental deposit can be collected at our Registration Night or families may order the instrumental rental at www.eckroth.com.  Rented instruments will be delivered directly to school for the first day of Summer Band Camp. If your child is not attending camp other arrangements will be made. If your child is NOT renting an instrument—you will still need to purchase a Method Book. Fees will be collected at registration: $14.24 for percussionists and $11.55 for all other instruments. Your check can be made to Eckroth Music.

Do You Have Questions? We are here to help: Mrs. Connie Root ([email protected]) Mrs. Kaylyn Brown ([email protected]) Mr. Paul Krasin ([email protected]) 715.377.3820

Previously Owned Instruments If you are purchasing or renting an instrument from a source other than our recommended dealers, please be cautious of obtaining a substandard instrument. You may contact one of the Middle School Band Directors if you have questions. 

For families who may be purchasing a previously owned instrument or if you already own the instrument, make sure that it has been checked over by a qualified instrument repair technician by July 17th. You may bring your previously owned instrument to Registration Night to have it evaluated by one of the technicians on site.

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If you rent or purchase an instrument from a source where you will have the instrument BEFORE Summer Band Camp, please do not let your child try to play the instrument before receiving instruction. Many bad habits or damage to the instrument can occur!

School Owned Instruments Instruments such as tuba, baritone, trombone, French horn, oboe, and bassoon are owned by the Hudson School District. Students who are selected to play one of these instruments will have the opportunity to use a school owned instrument for a yearly fee of $75.00 which will be collected at the end of 1st trimester. 

Trombone players will be charged a $25.00 yearly fee. This trombone is for school use only. Students will still need to rent a trombone for home practice use. The $25.00 fee applies to the maintenance for these school instruments. Information of this user fee will be distributed at our Summer Band Camp.

What if I can’t be at the Band Registration Night? We highly recommend that you plan to be at the information portion of registration. If you cannot be at the rental portion of the night be sure to complete your instrument rental or purchase by May 31st to ensure you child will have a quality instrument to use for our Summer Band Camp.

Recommended Accessory Packages—accessory packages may be purchased at Band Registration Night Flute 

Cleaning rod, cleaning cloth for inside instrument, polishing cloth for the outside of the flute (cleaning rod and cleaning cloth are part of Eckroth “lease-to-own” plan)

Clarinet 

Vandoren 5RVLYRE mouthpiece, Rovner ligature/cap, 1 box of 10 JUNO #2.5 strength reeds, 4RL reed guard (holds 4 reeds), handkerchief body cleaning swab, cork grease, woodwind mouthpiece cleaning brush (Vandoren mouthpiece, and Rovner ligature/cap with #2 reeds are included with the Eckroth “lease-to-own” plan)

Alto Sax 

Vandoren AL3 Optimum mouthpiece, Rovner ligature/cap, (PS) padded neck strap, 1 box of 10 JUNO #2.5 strength reeds, 4RL reed guard (holds 4 reeds), handkerchief body cleaning swab, cork grease, woodwind mouthpiece cleaning brush (Vandoren mouthpiece and Rovner ligature/cap with two #2 reeds are included with the Eckroth “lease-to-own” plan.

All Beginning Band students are required to purchase a method book. This year is Tradition of Excellence Book 1 The method book will be purchased as part of the Summer Band Camp fee. If your child is unable to attend the summer camp, the book may be purchased through school: $14.24 for percussionists

$11.55 for all other instruments

Recommended Accessory Packages—accessory packages may be purchased at Band Registration Night Trumpet 

Bach 5C mouthpiece, Yamaha synthetic valve oil, Hetman grease, brass mouthpiece brush (Bach 5C mouthpiece is included with Eckroth “lease-to-own” plan)

Trombone 

Yamaha 48 mouthpiece, Yamaha slide lubricant YAC1021P, Bach tuning slide grease 2942B, brass mouthpiece brush (Yamaha 48 mouthpiece is included with Eckroth “lease-to-own” plan)

French Horn 

Mouthpiece supplied by school as part of school rental agreement, Holton rotary valve oil H3261HT, Bach tuning slide grease 2942B, brass mouthpiece brush (accessory package may be purchased from Eckroth)

Baritone 

Mouthpiece supplied by school as part of school rental agreement, A1 Cass valve oil 2740, Bach tuning slide grease 2942B, brass mouthpiece brush (accessory package may be purchased from Eckroth)

Tuba 

Mouthpiece supplied by school as part of school rental agreement, A1 Cass valve oil 2740, Bach tuning slide grease 2942B, brass mouthpiece brush (accessory package may be purchased from Eckroth)

Percussion We require all percussionists to purchase the following percussion package: For practicing at home you will need 

ADAMS brand or Majestic brand Scholastic MARIMBA with practice drum pad and stand (can be purchased or obtained through “lease-to-own” plan (4 month introductory offer $65 + tax/$59 + tax per month after intro offer)

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1 pair of Vic Firth SD 1 drum sticks

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1 pair of Mike Balter medium yarn (blue color) (MBBB2) mallets with birch handles

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1 pair of Mike Balter hard (yellow color) rubber mallets (MBBB7)

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1 Vic Firth 1HT Timpani Mallets (VFT1HT)

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1 Pitch Pipe F-F (MK1HT)

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1 stick/mallet bag (Protec HR337 bag)

Please contact the Hudson Middle School or High School Band Directors if you have any questions or concerns about the percussion requirements. Hudson Percussion teacher/specialist: Ryan McCarthy; 715.377.3800 ext. 6256

Accessories may be ordered online at: www.eckroth.com

We highly encourage all students to have a wire music stand for home practice! These will be available at registration night, April 24th for purchase ($19.93).