Band Gear Recommendation guide

Wondering what equipment/reeds/sticks/etc. to get to set yourself up for success? Below is a starter list of band gear that will get you started on the right track!
If you have any additions you think we missed, or other comments about the list feel free to message me at contact@madmusic.band

*disclaimer - this page may contain affiliate links which may earn us a commission if you purchase using them, through no cost to you. Thanks for the support! None of the choices on this page were influenced by this- these are purely our recommendations based on our experience and research.

Reeds

  • A beginner would typically be safe to start on a 2.5 or 3 strength reed. A 2 strength might be a bit easier for them to make sound on, but a lot of directors think they are too thin to control for that age group.

    Personally, I’m ok with 2s and 2.5s for my students and we adjust from there.

  • DON’T CHEAP OUT HERE! There are packs of 10 reeds for 10 dollars on Amazon, but they are wildly inconsistent- bordering on unplayable, and your student will learn bad technique/habits to compensate for them.

  • You will want to get a box of 10 for Alto Sax/Clarinet, or 5 for Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, or Bass Clarinet. They should rotate between 3 or 4 at a time, and young students inevitably go through them (break) them quickly.

Vandoren

The “Blue Box” Reeds. These reeds are some of the best available for pros or beginners alike. The strengths on Vandoren reeds are thought to run a bit “stronger”, so a 2.5 Vandoren might be more like a 3 Rico.

Rico

The “Orange Box” Reeds. Very common in public schools for their price and performance. They are said to run a bit “softer” than Vandoren, so a Rico 3 will play like a Vandoren 2.5. Our school buys these.

Juno

Made by Vandoren, and marketed as being made specifically for young/beginning students. A lot of schools recommend and use these with their younger students.

La Voz

The same parent company that makes Rico reeds. We use these for our Bari Sax and Bass Clarinet because they are typically a bit more affordable.

Legere

These are synthetic reeds, and I wouldn’t recommend them for beginners. I personally use a Legere alto sax reed and love it. They are very expensive but last a long time if you take care of it.

Woodwind Accessories

Reed Cases

The D’Addario Case (left) is the one I personally use. It holds 8 reeds (clarinet or sax) and comes with built in humidification. The Protec (center) is essentially the same with no humidification. The D’Addario Guard (right) is a cheaper case that holds four reeds. Having a case can pay for itself by protecting your reeds and making them last longer.

Miscellaneous

Cork Grease is used to lubricate and protect your instrument cork. The Silicon Clarinet Thumb Rests aren’t 100% necessary, but my young clarinet players love them. You can’t go wrong with a Neotech Saxophone Neck Strap, especially if your current strap doesn’t have a closure that locks the strap on the instrument. Lastly, a screwdriver set will allow you to adjust all the little screws on your instrument.

Mouthpieces

The above are all good mouthpieces for beginners (and in general). They aren’t the top of the line, but these can be an upgrade over a lot of the “stock” mouthpieces that come with beginner instruments. They are all worth looking into, and if you can’t decide (or want other options) this would be a great topic to talk with your band director about.

Brass Accessories

Trumpet Valve Oil

Trumpet players will argue over which valve oil is superior for days, so I’ll solve that riddle for you. The answer to which is best is, “whichever you’ve got”. I’ve used all of these at one point, and they all do the job. One note- it’s probably best not to mix valve oils unless you thoroughly clean out the trumpet before switching.

Trumpet Tuning Slide Grease

Like the valves, the trumpet tuning slide needs to be able to move well. Thing is, you don’t want it to move so well that it moves on it’s own- enter slide grease. The above are all all good options for the tuning slide. A note for the third valve slide, a lot of people put a very thin layer of grease on it and then mix in a few drops of valve oil. Some just use a slide lubricant (like trombones). Some just use valve oil. To each their own, try and see what works for you.

Trombone Slide lubricant

The most important thing to make sure of when you are getting slide lubricant for your trombone isn’t which brand you get, it’s just that you have it at all. Try any of the above and they are sure to help your trombone slide move more free. If they aren’t, you likely need to check the horn itself, not the oil.

Miscellaneous

Valve guards are a nice/cheap upgrade for a trumpet. They aren’t necessary, but feel nice and can protect the valves. For the trumpet mutes and trombone mutes I linked to a page with many options. There isn’t one mute to rule them all so if you’re just looking for something to make practicing quieter any of these should work. I also linked to a page of mouthpiece pullers. The “Bobcat” is widely considered the go-to puller, but it’s also quite expensive compared to others. I’ve had luck with cheaper versions as well, so it might be worth testing your luck if you don’t want to shell out the extra money.

Instrument Cleaning Kits

You’ll want to keep your new instrument clean, and these kits will help you do it. I chose these two brands because they come with instructions which will help you/your student correctly navigate the cleaning process- Afterall, all the tubes/cleaning implements won’t do you any good if you don’t know how to use them.

Percussion

Sticks

Drum sticks can be very personal, but here is some general info. The number is the weight of the stick (smaller # is heavier), the letter is the thickness (A is thinner than B). 7’s are great for jazz or light playing, the 5’s are fantastic all-rounders from drumset to concert band, the SD1 Generals are the most common stick for concert band playing, and the white Ralph Hardiman’s are probably the most common marching band stick. I added the Ahead as it’s actually made of aluminum which makes them much harder to break. I absolutely love them for pep band (or any heavier drumset playing).

Brands that are know for making quality sticks- Vic Firth, ProMark, Vater, Ahead, Zildjian

Mallets

Marimba: Innovative IP240N
Xylophone/Bells: Malletech Bob Becker BB34
Vibraphone: Innovative RS251
Timpani: ProMark JH4

There many great mallets, so I’ll just be putting some of the mallets I currently use and suggest for myself and my students. I’ve used all of these for many years and they are all great. All of the above are great general-use mallets for the instruments they are made for.

Brands that are known for making quality mallets- Innovative Percussion, Malletech, Marimba One, ProMark, Vic Firth, Balter, Encore

Miscellaneous

A drum pad is a godsend when it comes to practicing, and I highly recommend the Evans “real feel” drum pad. I got this pad around 2007 (it was called HQ then), and it’s still working perfectly. Looking to keep your new sticks and mallets safe? Check out the Meinl Stick Bag. It’s very affordable and will make carting your gear much easier. Another fantastic addition for young drum set players is a set of noise reducing headphones. These are specially designed to both protect your ears and allow you to play along with music (or a metronome) at safe volumes. Lastly, a drum key is a must for every percussionist, so you might as well get the other tools you’ll need at the same time in a multitool. The Pearl tech tool has been in my kit for years., and unlike other multitools there’s no knife to get you in trouble at school.

Everyone

These are things that every music student should have. First of all- get your students pencils, specifically for band. If you want to be the best band parent every, donate a box of pencils to your school, your band director would be thrilled. Second, a music journal would be a fantastic addition for them. I picked one out that has one side regular line paper, and the other side music staff paper, which makes it perfect for musicians. Third, an at-home music stand makes practicing a lot easier. The one I listed is super affordable and leagues better than wire stands that may come with their instruments. Lastly, a tuner/metronome is also a necessary practice tool. If your student has a phone there are tons of free and paid apps (I suggest “Tunable” or “TonalEnergy” for apps). Sadly, they likely won’t be allowed to use their phones in class, which makes a hardware tuner like the one I listed indispensable.