Beginning of the Year Procedures:
First days of school: Instrument Demonstrations, Talk about band to students, hand out band and instrument information sheet.
2nd and 3rd weeks of school: Instrument screenings. At this time, students try instruments they are interested in and we come to an agreement which instrument best suits the students and the balance of the band. Students will receive the sign up form and agreement at that time. This is when you should get the instrument and lesson book (Sound Innovations For Concert Band - Book 1)
First days of school: Instrument Demonstrations, Talk about band to students, hand out band and instrument information sheet.
2nd and 3rd weeks of school: Instrument screenings. At this time, students try instruments they are interested in and we come to an agreement which instrument best suits the students and the balance of the band. Students will receive the sign up form and agreement at that time. This is when you should get the instrument and lesson book (Sound Innovations For Concert Band - Book 1)
Why Band? What Are The Benefits?
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What is that Sound?!?
If Band is new to you and your family (it was for my Mom back in the day), the sound may not be so pleasing right away. Beginners are using muscles that they have never really used before and it takes some time to develop them. This is a skill that does not develop overnight. The patience and determination that is needed to start a band instrument will show up in other areas of your child's development. It's one of the reasons band kids are often successful in other endeavors. Keep up the encouragement and support. If they practice 10-15 minutes a day, they will start to sound pretty good, pretty fast.
If Band is new to you and your family (it was for my Mom back in the day), the sound may not be so pleasing right away. Beginners are using muscles that they have never really used before and it takes some time to develop them. This is a skill that does not develop overnight. The patience and determination that is needed to start a band instrument will show up in other areas of your child's development. It's one of the reasons band kids are often successful in other endeavors. Keep up the encouragement and support. If they practice 10-15 minutes a day, they will start to sound pretty good, pretty fast.
What Does My Kid Need?
Band students need the following equipment. It can be obtained from any reputable music instrument dealer:
- An instrument (I require students to try 2-3 instruments to see what fits them (and the band) best.) Please see the handout the students received or the sign-up form on the home page of this site for a list of recommended brands
- Sound Innovations for Concert Band Book 1 for their instrument.
- Flutes should have a 6"x6" lint-free cloth and a cleaning rod.
- Clarinets should have 1 box of size 2 1/2 reeds - nothing softer (lower), a pull-through swab, cork grease, and a reed holder.
- Saxes should have 1 box of size 2 1/2 reeds - nothing softer, cork grease, and a reed holder.
- A note about reeds. Try to stick with the following brands: Juno, Rico, or Royal. There are some very suspect reeds out there on Amazon that who knows how they were made or what the cane was treated with
- Trumpets and Horns should have slide grease/cream and valve oil (trumpet) or rotor oil (horn).
- Trombones should have tuning slide grease and slide cream with a small spray bottle or 'Slide-o-mix Quick Comfort'.
- Percussion should have a drum pad, bell set, at least one pair of S1 sticks, hard rubber bell mallets, and a stick bag.
(pictures at bottom of page)
Band students need the following equipment. It can be obtained from any reputable music instrument dealer:
- An instrument (I require students to try 2-3 instruments to see what fits them (and the band) best.) Please see the handout the students received or the sign-up form on the home page of this site for a list of recommended brands
- Sound Innovations for Concert Band Book 1 for their instrument.
- Flutes should have a 6"x6" lint-free cloth and a cleaning rod.
- Clarinets should have 1 box of size 2 1/2 reeds - nothing softer (lower), a pull-through swab, cork grease, and a reed holder.
- Saxes should have 1 box of size 2 1/2 reeds - nothing softer, cork grease, and a reed holder.
- A note about reeds. Try to stick with the following brands: Juno, Rico, or Royal. There are some very suspect reeds out there on Amazon that who knows how they were made or what the cane was treated with
- Trumpets and Horns should have slide grease/cream and valve oil (trumpet) or rotor oil (horn).
- Trombones should have tuning slide grease and slide cream with a small spray bottle or 'Slide-o-mix Quick Comfort'.
- Percussion should have a drum pad, bell set, at least one pair of S1 sticks, hard rubber bell mallets, and a stick bag.
(pictures at bottom of page)
Practice, Practice, Practice
When that instrument comes home, it is the ultimate in 'new toy' syndrome. After that honeymoon period, especially when it starts to become a challenge, it is VITAL to help reinforce your child's practice habits. If he/she is only playing the instrument at school, it is no different than doing any other class or sport once a week. Not only is beginning band for learning how to play the instrument, it is also about learning the written language of music. Students will have a much easier time learning that new language when they are exposed to it on a daily basis.
When that instrument comes home, it is the ultimate in 'new toy' syndrome. After that honeymoon period, especially when it starts to become a challenge, it is VITAL to help reinforce your child's practice habits. If he/she is only playing the instrument at school, it is no different than doing any other class or sport once a week. Not only is beginning band for learning how to play the instrument, it is also about learning the written language of music. Students will have a much easier time learning that new language when they are exposed to it on a daily basis.