Beginning Band Information
Check out this cool website!
Flutes
This is a great site for showing you how to form your embouchure (lips/mouth) for playing a great tone.
http://www.kjos.com/band/band_news/band_news_emb.html
Beginning Band Schedule - 3rd Quarter
Parents, if you were not able to attend the Beginning Band parent meeting, please read the information below. You can contact me at smencel@gmail.com.
Beginning Band Information Sheet
Beginning Band
Welcome to Beginning Band. Learning to play an instrument can be an exciting endeavor. It is a skill that can be utilized throughout a lifetime. Playing an instrument has been shown to improve overall academic performance. It is also a great way for students to express themselves through music. I am thrilled that your son/daughter is getting the chance to experience band. It is my goal to help them become a successful musician. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have throughout the year.
Below is some information that may answer some questions about Beginning Band.
• Beginning Band will start approximately 2 weeks from the parent night (whenever instruments are delivered from Griggs Music.) I will send home a note with the 5th graders letting them know to bring their band “gear.” All students will need an instrument, red “Standard of Excellence” book and pencil. I also suggest they have a music stand at home to practice on.
• For the first semester, students will participate in one sectional and one full rehearsal each week. The exact schedule will depend on the instrumentation of our band, but will look roughly like the one below. I will see them in band twice a week. They will also see me once a week for a private lesson.
|
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
Low Brass Sectional |
Woodwind Sectional |
Percussion Sectional |
Upper Brass Sectional |
Full Band Rehearsal |
• Beginning Band time is from 12:10 – 12:45 pm.
• Beginning Band students will have a twenty-minute private lesson with me on Fridays.
• If students are progressing well at the end of the first semester, I will change their sectional schedule to include one extra full band rehearsal during the week in the second semester. The schedule will look somewhat like the one below.
|
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
Brass Sectional |
Woodwind Sectional |
Full Band Rehearsal |
Percussion Sectional |
Full Band Rehearsal |
• Students are expected to have their instrument, book and a pencil at each rehearsal. If they forget their instrument, I will deduct one point from their 10 participation points for the day. If they forget their music, I will deduct 1 point from their 10 participation points for the day. Although a student may forget their instrument or music, I still expect them to show up for band and participate. Most often they can share music with a fellow student. I am sometimes able to loan school instruments for rehearsals. If a student chooses to not show up for band, they will receive a 6 out of 10 points for the day, which is a failing grade. Please help your son/daughter remember band days with notes on the door or refrigerator OR start good habits of putting instrument cases by the door or in book bags every night before band rehearsal days.
• IN ORDER FOR YOUR SON/DAUGHTER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, they will need to spend time practicing their instrument. As with any activity, the more time they spend on it, the better they become, AND the more fun it is to play (also might I mention it makes it easier for you to listen to them play when they have practiced and can make a pleasing sound. J ) It will take a while for their playing to become easy. Please encourage them throughout the year, but especially at the beginning to spend time EACH DAY on their instrument. I know sport schedules are busy, and homework comes first, but if you start good practice habits from the beginning, the time and effort will definitely pay off. I recommend 15 – 20 minutes each day.
• Each week in sectionals, your students will be given a playing assignment they need to work on for their next weekly sectional. I will be assessing their ability each week based on their performance on the given assignment. During full band, our goal will be to play the assignment together as an ensemble. Once again, I can’t stress enough how important it is for your son/daughter to spend time each day practicing their playing and note reading skills. It can easily become frustrating if days or weeks of practice time are lost. Together, with our combined support and effort, your student will succeed.
• Although my goal is for every student to enjoy band, band is not for everyone. If your son/daughter is struggling with band and you feel they need to drop the course, they have until the end of the 1st quarter OR the end of the instrument rental trial period. THEY MUST HAVE A WRITTEN PERMISSION SLIP SIGNED BY A PARENT TO DROP BAND. Students who drop band or neglect to show up for band lessons or rehearsals after the 1st quarter will receive an “F” for each class period missed through the end of the school year.
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN BAND. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOUR SON/DAUGHTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR IN OUR BEGINNING BAND PROGRAM.
Mrs. Stephanie Mencel
217-659-3260
