WOODWINDS SECTION
Large harmony instruments (Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone) are provided directly by Lincolnview Schools. For primary flutes, clarinets, and alto saxophones, families utilize regional music partners offering rent-to-own programs with full repair insurance.
- Annual $45 district maintenance checkout for school-owned horns
- Approved brands: Yamaha, Selmer Paris, Buffet Crampon, Jupiter
- Required accessories: Rovner ligature, Vandoren reeds (strength 2.5 - 3.5)
Woodwinds are delicate acoustic instruments vulnerable to moisture buildup and sudden temperature fluctuations.
- Swab bore moisture after every single rehearsal
- Rotate between 3-4 conditioned reeds in a ventilated reed guard
- Apply cork grease weekly to tenons; never force dry joints
- Monthly key-oil inspection with section leader
Every Tuesday afternoon sectional targets unison tone blend, chromatic dexterity, and intonation matching.
- 15-minute drone pitch matching (Concert F and Bb tonal centers)
- 12 major scales memorized in cyclical patterns
- Weekly sight-reading of advanced OMEA Class A wind literature
- Subdivided metronome articulation checks
BRASS SECTION
Sousaphones, marching baritones, and French horns are assigned from the Lincolnview equipment inventory. Standard trumpets and trombones are rented or privately owned by student musicians.
- Standard mouthpieces: Bach 3C/5C (Trumpet), Schilke 51D (Trombone/Euphonium), Conn Helleberg (Tuba)
- Padded flight cases provided for all traveling school instruments
- Inspection protocol logged each semester before competition season
Smooth mechanical action is critical for fast fingerings and clean slide positions on the field.
- Synthetic valve oil (Hetman or Ultra-Pure) applied every other day
- Tuning slide grease applied every two weeks to prevent calcification
- Monthly chemical flush with lukewarm water and snake brushes
- Daily mouthpiece sanitization with disinfectant spray
Wednesday sectional focuses on powerful, dark acoustic projection without edge or stridency.
- Remington lip slurs extending over 3 octaves
- Clarke technical studies focusing on clean tongue release
- Horn angles checked for uniform 10-degree upward trajectory
- Tonal pyramid balance: bottom heavy with sousaphones grounding
PERCUSSION & DRUMLINE
Lincolnview maintains Pearl Championship marching drums, Yamaha synthetic keyboard instruments, and handcrafted Caribbean steel drums.
- Individual stick bags: Innovative Percussion marching sticks, mallets
- Custom contoured ergonomic belly-plate carrier harnesses
- Steel drum transit cases with velvet-lined protective ring covers
Extreme tension requires meticulous care to avoid warping bearing edges or snapping tension rods.
- Cross-star lug tightening pattern with high-torque drum keys
- Snare gut strainers calibrated individually to eliminate buzz
- Never place steel drums in direct sunlight or freezing temperatures
- Mallet tips inspected weekly to avoid cracking keyboard rosewood
Thursday battery rehearsals push metric subdivision and stick height uniformity to microscopic precision.
- Metronome cadence drills locked between 116 and 168 BPM
- Standard 40 International PAS Rudiments executed cleanly
- Stick heights measured strictly: 3" tap, 6" accent, 9" forte, 12" rimshot
- Steel band polyrhythmic syncopation memorization without sheet music