Hilliard Beginning Band Program!
Does your child want to play music in the band next year at school?
If so, you’re in the right place to learn more about joining the band!
If you have any questions or need help, please send an email to:
diana_nicklas@hboe.org – Station 6th Grade
nicole_brocke@hboe.org – Tharp 6th Grade
Joining the band is really easy! It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3! We’re having a special meeting just for parents like you. Please come to learn all about the school band for kids in sixth grade. We’ll show you how to join the band in three easy steps!
THARP BOUND
IN PERSON MEETING
- DATE: Monday, January 26, 2026
- TIME: 7PM
- LOCATION: Tharp Sixth Grade Building Gymnasium
Video recording of the meeting will be available HERE a few days after the meeting
STATION BOUND
LIVE WEBINAR MEETING
- DATE: Thursday, January 29
- TIME: 6:30PM
- LINK TO LIVE WEBINAR: Click Here
Passcode:
Recorded meeting will be available HERE a few days after the meeting,
STEP 1: FITTING (try out the instruments)
What is a “Fitting”?
A fitting is like a short meeting that lasts about 20 to 30 minutes. During this meeting, you get to try out different musical instruments. This helps you figure out which instrument you like the best and which one is right for you!
If you want to try out some instruments, click on the link below to sign up for a fitting session.
THARP BOUND
- DATES: February 4/5, 2026
- LOCATION: Tharp Sixth Grade Building
- TIME: 4-8PM
- Fittings are scheduled 15 minutes apart, but your fitting may take longer than 15 minutes. The average band fittings takes 20-30 minutes, but can take longer if your child wants to try several different instruments.
Click THARP FITTING to sign up for a fitting time
STATION BOUND
- DATES: February 4/5/9, 2026
- LOCATION: Station Sixth Grade Building (enter door A21)
- TIME: 4-8PM
- Fittings are scheduled 15 minutes apart, but your fitting may take longer than 15 minutes. The average band fittings takes 20-30 minutes, but can take longer if your child wants to try several different instruments
Click STATION FITTING to sign up for a fitting time (link coming soon!)
In February, the sixth grade guidance counselors will go to each elementary school to help students select their elective classes. This is when you child needs to know which instrument they want to play. So, start thinking about it now!
The Instruments
FLUTE – The flute is a woodwind instrument. It is the highest sounding instrument of the band and usually plays the melody.
Balance: A good sounding band has several flute players.
CLARINET – The clarinet is a woodwind instrument. It has a wide range (high and low sounds). It it the most important woodwind instrument in the band.
Balance: A good sounding band has MANY clarinet players.
ALTO SAXOPHONE – The saxophone a woodwind instrument. It has a lower sound and often plays the harmony parts. It is also the loudest sounding woodwind.
Balance: A good sounding band has some (but not a lot) saxophone players.
TRUMPET – The trumpet is a brass instrument. It is the highest sounding brass instrument and often plays the melody.
Balance: A good sounding band has MANY trumpet players.
FRENCH HORN – The french horn is a brass instrument. It is a challenging instrument to play and requires a good ear to play well. We encourage students who have a good ear, up for a challenge, and may be willing to take private lessons to play the french horn. This instrument will require a second fitting.
Balance: A good sounding band has a few horn players (5-6).
Student Characteristics: Good student in school, good ear for music (can sing on pitch), hardworking, patient
TROMBONE – The trombone is a brass instrument. It is the only instrument that has a slide instead of key/valves. It plays the bass line in the band
Balance: A good sounding band has LOTS of trombone players.
BARITONE – The baritone is a brass instrument. It is very similar in sound to the trombone, but uses valves instead of a slide. It is often considered to be a “mini tuba”.
Balance: A good sounding band has several baritone players.
TUBA – The tuba is a large baritone and is the lowest instrument of the band. A few select students will be invited to play tuba AFTER the year begins. If your child wants to play tuba, they should start on baritone.
PERCUSSION (Bells and Snare Pad) – The bells are a percussion instrument. They are similar to a xylophone and uses mallets to make the sound. The snare pad is a quieter option to learning the snare drum. Students who choose to play the percussion learn both bells and pad in 6th grade. During middle school, they will add other percussion instruments (i.e. bass drum, timpani, triangle, cymbals, etc). Therefore, percussionists eventually learn many instruments, not just one. This instrument will require a fitting in order to participate. Students that register for percussion but have not had a fitting will be removed from the list.
Balance: A good sounding band has several percussionists
Student Characteristics: Good coordination, good ear for rhythms (can repeat a rhythmic pattern), hardworking, independent
*Note: Drum set is NOT taught in band. It needs to be learned in private lessons. Students may have the opportunity to play drum set in high school jazz band.
QUESTIONS?
Nicole Brocke (Tharp) at Nicole_Brocke@hboe.org or 921-6900
Diana Nicklas (Station) at Diana_Nicklas@hboe.org or 921-6801
WHAT INSTRUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MY CHILD TO PLAY IN SIXTH GRADE BAND?
Click on the button below to learn more about the band instrument options.
QUALITY INSTRUMENTS:
Not all musical instruments are the same. If parents are careful when they buy, it will be better in the future. Also, your child will see a difference right away when they start learning music.
If you buy a brand new instrument from a website or a store that doesn’t usually sell musical things, you might not get a good one. A really low price usually means the instrument is made with cheap parts that will break easily.
Even though companies are trying to make better instruments every year, it’s best to buy or rent an instrument from a brand that is known to be good.
These brands have been around for a long time. They still work great every year, and they can handle being used a lot for many years. The best place to find these instruments is at a local store that rents musical instruments.
Buying a cheap instrument just to see if your child likes playing in a band might not be a good idea. The instrument might not be good enough for them to learn how good they are at music. It’s very important for your child to start learning music with an instrument that works well and is taken care of. This will help them do well in band.
WHERE SHOULD I GO TO GET MY INSTRUMENT?
If you want to play an instrument, you have lots of choices about where to get one! You can buy or rent an instrument for kids who want to make music.
It’s a good idea to look around at different stores. See which one has the best instrument for you, the best price, and a good plan to help you take care of your instrument. Also, think about if you want to keep going to that store for help with your instrument later on.
Be careful if you see instruments that you don’t know the name of, or if they cost way less than other instruments. They might not be very good!
It’s a really good idea to get your instrument from a music store in Hilliard. When you rent or buy from a local store, they promise that the instrument is good. Plus, you can go back there if you need help fixing it, want to make it better, need to buy something for it, or just have questions. You can’t get that kind of help anywhere else!
Here are some links to music stores near you. You can look at their websites to see what they have. Also, look at the FAQ link on the tab above. It has ideas for questions you can ask the people at the music store when you are shopping.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What if my mom or dad can’t come to the parent meeting? Can I still be in the band or strings program?
Yes! You can still join! Just look at the website the day after the meeting. There will be a video of the meeting there for your parents to watch.
You already have a child who finished the program. Do you still need to come to the meeting?
Maybe not. We will have a video of the meeting you can watch. It will be ready the day after the meeting happens. If you want to watch it, that’s okay! Make sure you sign up to get measured for the program. When you come in, we can give you all the things you need and answer any questions you have.
Yes. The Zoom Meeting recording will be posted on the home page. We encourage you to watch that video at your convenience. Remember to sign up for a fitting (see the “fitting’ link to the left), and contact Nicole Brocke (Tharp) or Diana Nicklas (Station) if you have any questions
We already have an instrument at our house. Do we still need to come to the parent meeting or sign up for a “fitting”?
YES! Everyone’s body is different, so some instruments are easier for some kids to play than others. The fitting helps us make sure the instrument your child wants to play is a good match for them. You can bring your instrument to the fitting, and we can check it out to see if it needs any fixing before your child uses it at school.
We strongly encourage all parents to attend the meeting if possible to get all of the information about the Hilliard Band Program. We also encourage you to sign up for a “fitting”. You can use this time to make sure that your instrument is in good working condition and will be a good “fit” for your child. **ALL students registering for percussion MUST complete a fitting. Percussionists will be selected based on fitting success and behavior recommendations from previous teachers.
If my child does not take band in sixth grade, can he/she join band in seventh grade?
The beginning instrumental program is only offered in sixth grade. If a student wants to join in seventh grade or later during the sixth grade year, he/she will be required to take private lessons to catch up on the missed materials before joining the group.
The Instruments
FLUTE – The flute is a woodwind instrument. It is the highest sounding instrument of the band and usually plays the melody.
Balance: A good sounding band has several flute players.
CLARINET – The clarinet is a woodwind instrument. It has a wide range (high and low sounds). It it the most important woodwind instrument in the band.
Balance: A good sounding band has MANY clarinet players.
ALTO SAXOPHONE – The saxophone a woodwind instrument. It has a lower sound and often plays the harmony parts. It is also the loudest sounding woodwind.
Balance: A good sounding band has some (but not a lot) saxophone players.
TRUMPET – The trumpet is a brass instrument. It is the highest sounding brass instrument and often plays the melody.
Balance: A good sounding band has MANY trumpet players.
FRENCH HORN – The french horn is a brass instrument. It is a challenging instrument to play and requires a good ear to play well. We encourage students who have a good ear, up for a challenge, and may be willing to take private lessons to play the french horn. This instrument will require a second fitting.
Balance: A good sounding band has a few horn players (5-6).
Student Characteristics: Good student in school, good ear for music (can sing on pitch), hardworking, patient
TROMBONE – The trombone is a brass instrument. It is the only instrument that has a slide instead of key/valves. It plays the bass line in the band
Balance: A good sounding band has LOTS of trombone players.
BARITONE – The baritone is a brass instrument. It is very similar in sound to the trombone, but uses valves instead of a slide. It is often considered to be a “mini tuba”.
Balance: A good sounding band has several baritone players.
TUBA – The tuba is a large baritone and is the lowest instrument of the band. A few select students will be invited to play tuba AFTER the year begins. If your child wants to play tuba, they should start on baritone.
PERCUSSION (Bells and Snare Pad) – The bells are a percussion instrument. They are similar to a xylophone and uses mallets to make the sound. The snare pad is a quieter option to learning the snare drum. Students who choose to play the percussion learn both bells and pad in 6th grade. During middle school, they will add other percussion instruments (i.e. bass drum, timpani, triangle, cymbals, etc). Therefore, percussionists eventually learn many instruments, not just one. This instrument will require a fitting in order to participate. Students that register for percussion but have not had a fitting will be removed from the list.
Balance: A good sounding band has several percussionists
Student Characteristics: Good coordination, good ear for rhythms (can repeat a rhythmic pattern), hardworking, independent
*Note: Drum set is NOT taught in band. It needs to be learned in private lessons. Students may have the opportunity to play drum set in high school jazz band.
QUESTIONS?
Nicole Brocke (Tharp) at Nicole_Brocke@hboe.org or 921-6900
Diana Nicklas (Station) at Diana_Nicklas@hboe.org or 921-6801
Instruments Providers
Music and Arts
www.musicarts.com
Rettig Music
www.rettigmusic.com
- Rettig: Rent-to-Own Informational Video: https://bit.ly/38I08ic
- Rettig: Rent-to-Own Informational Website: www.rettigmusic.com/rentingmadeeasy
Buckeye Brass and Winds
www.buckeyebrassandwinds.com
Kincaid’s Music
www.kincaidsmusic.com
Obtaining an instrument from family and friends can be a very affordable way to find one. For those obtaining a pre-owned instrument, please have the instrument checked by a quality technician (allow several weeks just in case) to ensure proper working condition, especially if it has not been played in several years. Also, obtain the necessary supplies that are needed for your chosen instrument. Contact a local music store for repair information and supplies.
The Instruments
FLUTE – The flute is a woodwind instrument. It is the highest sounding instrument of the band and usually plays the melody.
Balance: A good sounding band has several flute players.
CLARINET – The clarinet is a woodwind instrument. It has a wide range (high and low sounds). It it the most important woodwind instrument in the band.
Balance: A good sounding band has MANY clarinet players.
ALTO SAXOPHONE – The saxophone a woodwind instrument. It has a lower sound and often plays the harmony parts. It is also the loudest sounding woodwind.
Balance: A good sounding band has some (but not a lot) saxophone players.
TRUMPET – The trumpet is a brass instrument. It is the highest sounding brass instrument and often plays the melody.
Balance: A good sounding band has MANY trumpet players.
FRENCH HORN – The french horn is a brass instrument. It is a challenging instrument to play and requires a good ear to play well. We encourage students who have a good ear, up for a challenge, and may be willing to take private lessons to play the french horn. This instrument will require a second fitting.
Balance: A good sounding band has a few horn players (5-6).
Student Characteristics: Good student in school, good ear for music (can sing on pitch), hardworking, patient
TROMBONE – The trombone is a brass instrument. It is the only instrument that has a slide instead of key/valves. It plays the bass line in the band
Balance: A good sounding band has LOTS of trombone players.
BARITONE – The baritone is a brass instrument. It is very similar in sound to the trombone, but uses valves instead of a slide. It is often considered to be a “mini tuba”.
Balance: A good sounding band has several baritone players.
TUBA – The tuba is a large baritone and is the lowest instrument of the band. A few select students will be invited to play tuba AFTER the year begins. If your child wants to play tuba, they should start on baritone.
PERCUSSION (Bells and Snare Pad) – The bells are a percussion instrument. They are similar to a xylophone and uses mallets to make the sound. The snare pad is a quieter option to learning the snare drum. Students who choose to play the percussion learn both bells and pad in 6th grade. During middle school, they will add other percussion instruments (i.e. bass drum, timpani, triangle, cymbals, etc). Therefore, percussionists eventually learn many instruments, not just one. This instrument will require a fitting in order to participate. Students that register for percussion but have not had a fitting will be removed from the list.
Balance: A good sounding band has several percussionists
Student Characteristics: Good coordination, good ear for rhythms (can repeat a rhythmic pattern), hardworking, independent
*Note: Drum set is NOT taught in band. It needs to be learned in private lessons. Students may have the opportunity to play drum set in high school jazz band.
QUESTIONS?
Nicole Brocke (Tharp) at Nicole_Brocke@hboe.org or 921-6900
Diana Nicklas (Station) at Diana_Nicklas@hboe.org or 921-6801
Questions To Ask Instrument Provider
-
- What monthly rental options do you offer?
-
- What accessories come with the monthly rental (i.e. book, music stand, reeds, valve oil, cleaning cloth/supplies)?
- How many months do I rent until it is paid off?
-
- Can I pay it off early, and if so, is there a discount?
-
- What is included in the maintenance plan while I am renting?
-
- How long does it take for most repairs? Do you provide a loaner instrument while it is being repaired?
-
- If I decide to switch instruments or trade in for an upgrade, what percentage of my payments will go toward the new instrument?
