Music Theory
4/4 time means there are this many beats in a measure.
4
If your valves or slide gets stuck, use this slick stuff. Just don’t use the olive version.
Valve/Slide Oil
Buzz, buzz. It’s what touches your embouchure when playing a brass instrument.
Mouthpiece
The grades that currently attend Finley Middle School.
7th and 8th Grades
If you can play a euphonium, you should have no problem playing this instrument. And no, it’s not a “baby tuba”.
Baritone Horn
Make sure you check your key signature! The first two flats are always going to be these notes.
B and E
Hey brass players! Don’t hit your mouthpiece when it’s in your instrument. It makes a fun sound, but if you do it too much this could happen.
It could get stuck
The top part of a flute. You know, the piece with the hole in it you blow into.
Head Joint
The name of the current principal of Finley Middle School.
Mrs. Roethel
The kind of B in an Ab Scale. Is it natural, flat, or sharp?
Bb (flat)
Solo means you play by yourself. Soli means you play with…
Your instrument section
What you should do with your instruments at the end of rehearsal so they don’t get broken or go missing. I’m looking at you percussion section.
Put them away
Saxophonists and Clarinetists can’t simply blow faster air to get higher notes. They get a little help from this key.
Register/Octave Key
The name of this school. The full name, no abbreviations.
John Taylor Finley Middle School
Every year Huntington band students get together to play music and have fun at this event.
BandFest
This is what “subito” means. Remember Dragon Wars?
suddenly/all of a sudden
Clarinet/Saxophone players! Make sure you keep extra ones of these in your case in case an old one gets chipped.
Reeds
The part of a drum that you hit. You can tighten it, but don’t make it too tight or your stick might go through it. You might need to use yours to figure this one out.
Drum Head
The number of students in the 7th grade band. No hand motions necessary, thanks.
67
What you should do before you play your first note on a wind instrument. “Wind”, hint, hint.
Breathe
6/8 time means that the quarter note equals this many beats.
2
The metal piece that holds your reed in place. Make sure it’s in the right place.
Ligature
Bassoon players put their reed on this long curvy metal tube. This one might come to you more later than sooner.
Bocul
The year Finley middle school was opened.
1965
The name of the stick a conductor uses.
Baton