Click on the link below for information about each of our district bands. Check back often as this information is frequently updated!

RLMS Concert Band

6th Grade Varsity Band

Beginning Band

A note on purchasing instruments

RLMS Concert Band

The RLMS Concert Band is made up of 7th and 8th grade instrumentalists. This is a class that meets daily during 4th hour.

Varsity Band is made up of District #116 6th grade elementary students. These students meet on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8am in the RLMS band room.

REMEMBER! All instruments and music should be going home every day for practice. Now your child should be able to practice longer without getting tired. AS YOU IMPROVE, SO WILL YOUR BAND!! When we sound good we feel good about our performances.

Please check the calendar on the main page for all our band's upcoming concerts and events!

Go to Mrs. Langhoff's Page!

The RLAS Beginning Band is made up of 1st year instrumental students.

Please check the events calendar on the main page to view upcoming concerts and events.

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REMEMBER! All instruments and music are to go home everyday for practice. Now your child should be able to practice longer without getting tired. The more you practice, the easier playing will become and the better you'll sound. When we sound good we feel good about our performances!

Instruments to Avoid

The following is a note that was found on a MENC message board. It includes comments and suggestions music directors have used when suggesting buying an instrument. Please read through this if you are thinking of purchasing a musical instrument for your son or daughter.

"Our local instrument repair shop has a list of instrument brands that they can't/won't repair. I copied that list and pass it out to the parents at orientation. I also pass out a list of well known brands that can be repaired.

ATTENTION!

We reserve the right to decline service on the following brands of instruments:

• Costco instruments
• Diamond
• La Monte
• Lark
• Skylark
• Aria
• Belmonte
• Diamond
• Conservarte
• Grassi
• Lancaster
• Alpine
• Amati
• Pearl (wind instruments)
• La Monte
• Blueline
• Bestler
• Sonora
• Rainbow
• Westminster
• Diamond
• Monique
• Maxima
• Locto
• Zeus
• Nadir Ali & Co.
• Liang
• and others.

If the above instruments are repaired they will not be guaranteed! (La Monte is listed twice because we feel that they are twice as bad. Diamond is listed three times…)"

"PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE AN INSTRUMENT WITHOUT MUCH RESEARCH! This is very important! Cheap instruments are often available for purchase on E-Bay, at Costco or even at some music stores. There is a reason they are cheap. No decent instrument will cost less than several hundred dollars, and that is for the small instruments like trumpet or clarinet. At this developmental, experimental stage of your child’s musical education, such a large purchase is not only risky but also unnecessary! For now, I highly recommend renting an instrument from a reputable music store. Many stores offer a program where the money used to rent an instrument can be applied towards its future purchase! Then, after some years of playing, purchasing an instrument will be an enjoyable experience for all involved!"

"Please do not buy western style school band instruments made in China or India. While many wonderful ethnic instruments are manufactured in those countries, the "western" style band instruments made in China and India are not of an acceptable quality for school band use. Also, unfortunately, the band instruments found at Costco and other discount stores are of lesser quality. A good instrument will generally cost at least several hundred dollars. An instrument is a big investment; spend your money wisely."

"I tell my students and parents that if it is too good to be true, it is too good to be true."

"Yamaha is the largest musical instrument producing company in the world. If a quality instrument could be made and sold for $250 or less they would be the company to do it."

"Parents always ask 'How much does a clarinet/trumpet/etc. cost?' In the orientation meeting I always use the analogy that instruments are a lot like cars. There are different brands - BMW, Fords, Yugos... There are different models - sports cars, your basic family sedan, junkers. You can pay several hundred thousand for a car or you can find one for $75. Same goes for instruments. Just like cars, instruments have moving parts. They need regular maintenance done by the owner. They need periodic tune ups and they need repairs. New drivers are rough on cars and new musicians are hard on their instruments. Parents need to buy an instrument that can be repaired. Not too many people would buy a car that had to be junked after the first minor repair - no matter how good of deal if was.

A kid won't will have a very difficult time learning to drive a junker with a broken clutch."