Lessons

·     Students will be pulled out of an academic class for 30 minutes once a week.

·     The 4^th grade teachers are familiar with the schedule and will help your child to become responsible for making up work that is missed. There are very few problems with students missing class for band lessons.

·     It is your child’s responsibility to remember to come to their lesson and to remember to bring their instrument and other materials.

·     Lessons will begin in mid-September and continue throughout the school year.

Band rehearsals supplement lessons as well as get the children ready for concerts.

·     1-2 mornings before school per week (exact days to be determined by instrument and homeroom).  Each student will have a full band rehearsal per school once per week and a sectional rehearsal before school once every 2 weeks.  Morning band rehearsals will begin in late September and continue throughout the school year. (There is no after school commitment other than the 2 evening concerts.)

·     There is no bussing for the morning band rehearsals.  Parents are responsible for transportation.

·     Rehearsals will begin at 8:20 AM.  (Arrival time-- between 8:00 and 8:10 for sufficient set-up/warm-up)

·     A schedule and permission slip will be handed out in September.  More schedules will be distributed throughout the year to minimize confusion.

Concerts--There will be 2 evening concerts (dates to be determined)—one in March and one in June and an assembly during the school day in December or January for the band to showcase what they’ve learned in 3months—parents are invited.

At Home Practice Time

·     Due to the fact that lessons only occur once per week, a significant amount of learning and maintenance of skills must occur at home.

·     Before school rehearsals are not practice time.  Students are expected to come to these rehearsals prepared to play their part accurately (with the understanding that some of the music will be a work in progress).  The focus of these large group rehearsals is to learn how to play as a group.

·     Students should practice an average of 20 minutes daily (or 140 minutes per week) and will be required to keep a record of their practice time(signed by parents weekly).

·     Students should strive to practice effectively and to complete each lesson’s assignment to the best of their ability.  This is even more important than the number of minutes practiced each week.

Instruments

·     Lessons will most likely begin around September 13^th. Students should have an instrument before that date so that they can participate fully in their first lesson.

·     What if an instrument breaks? If your child is careful with his or her instrument and maintains the instrument properly, most major problems can be avoided, however I understand that accidents do happen and that sometimes instruments just break. The first thing to do is to have your child bring the instrument in to school as soon as you realize it is broken.  Do not wait until your child’s next lesson!!  I can fix most problems and if I cannot fix it, I can advise you on how to solve the problem.

·     Accessories- For your convenience, your child can purchase most accessories/lesson books necessary for their instrument through me at school. 

·     No instrument switching will be permitted after October 1^st!  Even after just a few lessons the students have already learned basic skills on their instrument and new students to the instrument will be quite far behind.