<p>Hey there everyone! I'm a Music Ed major, and I'll be a freshman next year. My primary instrument is percussion, and I also play piano pretty well.</p>
<p>I will be part of my college's marching band, and I signed up for the mellophone section, instead of drumline! I don't have a working knowledge of wind instruments, so I thought doing one for marching band would help me get caught up with my peers who already understand wind instruments.</p>
<p>The only problem is, the music school doesn't start renting out instruments until August 6th, and I was really hoping to get some practice time in on mellophone with all this summer down time. But oh well. So I was thinking of picking up a different instrument until I can get to the mellophone. Just to have a basic understanding on said instrument, you know? I was thinking trumpet, since it has the same fingerings as a mellophone. I can rent a trumpet from a music store, but not a mellophone (otherwise I would!). :) Anyone have any thoughts?</p>
<p>And just so everyone knows, I will still be diligently practicing percussion and piano this summer! I just also wanted to help set myself up for success in the wind instrument area, too. That way once college starts, I won't be as overwhelmed with having to learn the ways of the wind instruments. :)</p>
<p>If you have a way to contact your HS band director now that school is out, what about the possibility of borrowing a mellophone from your high school?</p>
<p>Oh. Well my school is just making a switch to a new director, and he’ll be gone (out of state) until way late July! Otherwise I would have definitely asked if something could have been arranged! Haha. Thanks though!</p>
<p>When I was in HS Marching Band, all of the Mellophone players played French Horn when not Marching. Maybe it would be easier to rent or get your hands on a French Horn or other related instrument? </p>
<p>Kids that used school owned French Horns also were allowed to take them home for the summer, so maybe some one has one nearby? </p>
<p>Where I live they start Marching/Field Band Practice next week! I guess that’s why we were state champs! :)</p>
<p>LGSMom: Thank you for the advice! But I’ve tried all the music stores in my area, and unfortunately had no luck!</p>
<p>redeye41: Oh yeah, that would be a good idea too! I had almost forgotten about the relation of the mellophne to the French horn, haha. I know for sure a few stores in my area rent those horns! And wow, that’s awesome; good luck with the practicing. I’m jealous it starts so early for you guys haha!</p>
<p>SpiritManager: Well, the college I’m going to doesn’t have a competitive marching band. So anyone can join, and play whatever they want! It’s a great learning experience, and at my college, many music majors that join marching band do it to further skills on a secondary instrument! You only have to audition for leadership roles, drumline, and auxiliary/colorguard. Hope that was helpful…ish. I don’t know much about the grand scheme of all college marching bands!</p>
<p>Maybe a facebook post seeking a trumpet loan would fan out quickly with good results. Certainly there are friends or friends of friends that have a former hobby instrument in their closet collecting dust.</p>
<p>I know nothing about the mellophone, but I’d recommend trumpet over French horn. It’ll give you some work on your brass chops and it’s easier to play than French horn. Even though the French horn is an F instrument and the trumpet is a Bb, a C scale is fingered the same on each instrument (at least, you use the 2nd octave C scale trumpet fingering for the “regular” octave C scale on the French horn.) </p>
<p>(I’m a trumpet player who gave French horn a shot for a few weeks in 8th grade: too bulky to carry and I couldn’t get the right note to sound unless I could already hear it in my head – plus there were a lot more cute guys in the trumpet section :-)</p>
<p>I also know nothing about the mellowphone, but I have rented both a French horn and a trumpet. Trumpet rentals are far cheaper and more available.</p>
Thanks though!</p>