Solo and ensemble festival season is a thrilling time to be a music educator. Watching your students master their skills and focus in on their abilities as musicians demonstrates how all your hard work from the year comes out in their performances. While their chosen piece of music may be the most critical aspect, making sure that these young musicians have the best accessories to support their instrument and their music is also an important part of the season. Upgraded accessories like high-quality mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures, mallets, sticks, and straps and supports will provide that extra backing to help them sound their best while performing.

No matter whether you are stocking up on accessories for brass and woodwind players, orchestral strings students or percussionists, Woodwind & Brasswind has upgraded accessories from all of the top brands. If you’re just browsing, check out the full selection of solo and ensemble musical products. Or check out these hand-selected accessories from our school music experts!

Reeds

Légère Reeds Signature Series Alto Saxophone Reed – these synthetic reeds allow the player to produce a full spectrum of overtones and a beautiful sound with minimum effort.

D'Addario Woodwinds Select Jazz Filed Tenor Saxophone Reeds – these tenor sex reeds offer great projection, focus and a vibrant sound, making them perfect for solo and ensemble performances.

Mouthpieces

D'Addario Woodwinds Select Jazz Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece – for your jazz sax players, this tenor mouthpiece is free-blowing, has great tone and could quickly become your students’ favorite.

JodyJazz HR* Hard Rubber Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Model 8* - for those looking for a traditional yet versatile mouthpiece, this JodyJazz tenor mouthpiece offers a beautiful warm sound and a nice free blowing feel.

Denis Wick DW3180 Heritage Series Trombone Mouthpiece – trombonists will love this Denis Wick trombone mouthpiece because it provides power but also sensitivity and response at softer dynamics. Students will find easier articulation in the upper register and a colorful tonal response.

Yamaha Bobby Shew Lead Trumpet Silver-plated Mouthpiece – Yamaha is a world-leader in all things music and this trumpet mouthpiece is no exception. It’s designed for extended range and for easing fatigue, which will be helpful when students are practicing extensively for festivals.

Mallets and Sticks

Innovative Percussion Soloist Series Mallets Medium Birch Handles – these marimba mallets feature 100% wool around a hard rubber core which delivers a brilliant, rich tone with the warmest fundamental possible in all registers of the marimba.

PROMARK Concert Two Snare Stick – for the advancing student, these snare sticks have a smaller round bead that provides ideal articulation at a wide dynamic range. The rear taper helps achieve a balanced feel and better response off of the drumhead.

Strings

D'Addario Prelude Violin String Set – these D'Addario violin strings are perfect for students and amateur players because they are not affected by temperature and humidity changes. They are bright, without the shrill sound of traditional steel strings, and are easy to bow.

It’s never too soon to plan for next festival season

When you begin planning for next year’s solo and ensemble season, don’t forget that Woodwind & Brasswind has an impressive selection of music that is perfect for the solo and ensemble season. Browse choices from chamber music scores and parts or read a companion article to get some ideas: Solo and Ensemble Checklist: Print Music.

Stock up on upgraded accessories

Music educators are eligible for incredible discounts at Woodwind & Brasswind. Call our school music experts to submit your quote or shop online on the Educator Website – it’s easy and convenient. And, if you’re having any trouble finding the item you want, or need help sorting through the hundreds of accessories we offer, don’t hesitate to call us at 800.346.4448. Good luck to all the solo and ensemble festival participants!