When your child decides that they want to play an instrument at school, it’s no doubt that you’ll be proud. But once you see the cost of these musical utensils, you may be hesitant to pay full price for an instrument that may only get played a few times. After all, your child has already been through art, karate, swimming and now music.

The Benefits to Renting an Instrument

At Catfish Music, we have a smart solution for parents: rent an instrument. It’s the best of both worlds; kids get the instrument of their choice and parents don’t have to purchase the actual device. It saves money, allows the child to test out the instrument without pressure and gives parents the peace of mind that they can return the instrument if needed.

Typically, kids begin playing instruments in fourth, fifth and sixth grades. If your child starts showing interest in music, it’s important to foster this curiosity and allow them to test the waters without having to make a long-term commitment. Thanks to our full selection of school band and orchestra instruments, it has never been easier to experiment with a variety of musical devices and find the right fit for your child.

No Long-Term Contract

Of course, if your child does fall in love with a particular instrument and wants to continue participating, this is the right time to buy it. Until then, however, renting is an excellent compromise. There are some factors to keep in mind, such as the length of the contract. Many companies will expect parents to sign a long-term contract, and this means that you’ll end up paying more for the instrument over time than if you would have just purchased it upfront.

At Catfish Music, we have no long-term contracts, and rental fees are as little as $17 a month. We have flexible payment options that cater to all budgets, and all of our instruments have the benefit of rent-to-own, which means you can choose to buy the instrument at any time and your previous rental payments will count toward the final price. You also can’t beat our repair and maintenance plans all from our family friendly music company. 

Image c/o: topnews.in 

Comfortable, quaint and dominated by professionals working for the federal government, Stafford, Virginia is equally beautiful and unique. It’s also home to the bright and promising Stafford County Public Schools. Located in the midst of historical sites such as Ferry Farm and along the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean and Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s no surprise why Stafford County is one of the fastest growing counties in Virginia. It also has a close proximity to Washington D.C., Richmond and Maryland. Yet even with this growth, the public school system has maintained its commitment to excellence by offering modern-day technology in the classrooms, keeping student-to-teacher ratios low and providing instructional programs.

There are eight county middle schools that serve over 6,500 students in 6th through 8th grades. Teachers use a team approach and work together to create instructional programs and implement new strategies. With this collaborative approach, students receive consistency and understanding from instructors. Some classes are taught in blocks, meaning that the same teacher will teach several academic subjects in one setting.

Furthermore, it’s important for Stafford County middle schools to offer well-rounded programs for middle school students to take part in. Programs like art, music, drama, foreign language and technology are a core part of the schools’ offerings. Let’s take a look at the eight middle schools in Stafford County.

Edward E. Drew

Home of the Rams, this middle school has approximately 950 students and 67 teachers, with a ratio of 14:1. Students test higher than average for Virginia schools thanks to the small class sizes and strong parent-teacher networks.

Dixon-Smith

Home of the Bulldogs, the student enrollment is approximately 875 students. Parent reviews for the middle school are favorable. Testing higher than Virginia schools at large, the school also offers music, art and drama programs.

T. Benton Gayle

Home of the Panthers, this middle school is home to 890 students and has a strong network of parents and staff. The school also has the honor of being the Thinkfinity Model School in all of Virginia.

H.H. Poole

Home of the Mustangs, the middle school has an enrollment of 882 students, with a ratio of 12:1. These small classroom settings allow students to flourish, and there are many after-school programs, including music and art.

Shirley C. Heim

Home of the Timberwolves, this school has a student population of 800 students and is well-recognized in the community. Students test well and above Virginia schools at large. The school has also been tackling bullying and communicates its progress on its website.

Stafford

Home of the Spartans, this is the smallest of the middle schools. With a student population of 500, the school has low student-teacher ratios. Half of the student population is white, while nearly 30 percent are African American. With the more diverse setting, the school offers an abundance of programs to meet the needs of all students.

Rodney Thompson

Home of the Jaguars, this large middle school serves nearly 1100 students and has a 19:1 ratio. Even though the classrooms are large, this does not affect the quality of education. Students test higher than both Virginia schools and other schools in the district.

A.G. Wright   

Home of the Tigers, this school has been serving the county for 30 years. They have a school improvement plan in place and continually improve their vision in order to provide the best education and advanced technology in their classrooms.

Image c/o: prweb.com

If you’ve ever picked up a woodwind instrument, you know how simple and beautiful these instruments are. They produce noise when the user blows air into the reed, which causes air within the resonator to vibrate. Traditionally, woodwinds were made of wood, but today, these musical devices can be made from plastic or metal as well. Despite their construction, woodwinds are simplistic in nature and brought to life through seasoned musicians who have an appreciation for these instruments.

Types of Woodwind Instruments

Flutes – There are two types of flutes: open and closed. Open flutes are generally made from high-grade metal alloys that contain nickel, silver and copper. They require that the player places their lips on the reed of the flute to deliver the air. Examples of open flutes include transverse flutes and end-blown flutes. Closed flutes have a channel that forms and directs the air stream over the edge. Examples of closed flutes include whistles and musical recorders.

Reeds – There are many types of reeds, including bagpipes, single and double reeds and free reed aerophone instruments. Reed instruments use a reed that forces air from the player’s lips between the reed and the mouthpiece. The reed vibrates and the sound is created. Examples of reed instruments include clarinets, saxophones and bassoons.

How Woodwind Instruments Work

With single reed instruments, the player blows air against the mouthpiece and the sound vibrates. There are fingerholes that vary pitch of the sound as well. Double reeds work similarly, expect that two reeds are tied together to make the noise. The sound can be somewhat nasaly and difficult to maintain, which is why many players that use double reeds build their own.

With double reeds, users can play for longer phrases in one breath, which is a huge advantage. There are other types of woodwind instruments besides the common single and double reeds, such as flutes and whistles, which require their own system. With flutes, the player blows air across the holes; a whistle requires that the user blows air into the end.

If you want to learn more about playing woodwind instruments or need help selecting the perfect one for your taste, let Catfish Music help. With plenty of gently used instruments and professional lessons to follow, you can count on our team to help you become a master woodwind musician.

Playing Different Notes

One of the beautiful components to woodwinds is their ability to play different notes. The user simply shortens or lengthens the air column inside the instrument when placing their fingers on the holes. Not only is this brilliantly designed system ingenious, it allows musicians to reach their creative peak.

Image c/o: en.wikipedia.org