Beginning Band
Beginning Band Parents!
Welcome to Beginning Band!!! Please bookmark this page and visit it frequently for updates that you might need to know! This is the best way for me to get information out to the masses!!
Upcoming Events:
SPRING BAND CONCERT 2024
When: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Who: Bands- Grades 6-7-8, (ms jazz band too)
Time: Report time for kids = 6:30 pm
Start time = 7:00 pm
Dress code= Dress clothes (dress shoes, dress pants, dress shirt), skirts/dresses- must be below knee length when seated, otherwise, they need leggings underneath please.
=======================================================
NOTICE TO ALL BAND STUDENTS/Parents!!
INSTRUMENTS NEED TO COME TO SCHOOL EVERY BAND DAY AND GO HOME EACH NIGHT!
>NO HORNS SHOULD STAY AT SCHOOL OVERNIGHT!
CUSTODIANS NEED TO DO DEEPER CLEANING AND HORNS GET IN THE WAY OF THAT! (PLUS, YOU NEED TO BE PRACTICING YOUR HORN EACH NIGHT ANYWAY!) :)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Every horn/instrument case, book, and binder needs to have a name on it!! These get mixed up easily without the tags/names!
(Nametag on cases is REQUIRED, name on the other items as best you can!)
=======================================================
Dear Beginning Band Parent!
If you are just starting the band journey with your child, it can be a bit overwhelming. However, I've tried to line out a few things here to put you a bit more at ease.
If you have any questions about beginning band, please feel free to contact a Band Director!
You will receive more info. closer to school time in late summer with timelines of how to rent/purchase your child's instrument, etc. We will have a designated evening after school starts where you can come and rent/purchase whatever you need for your child's band experience! Stay tuned for more details as school gets closer to start! Your child will not need an instrument for the first days of school. We will do some music theory to make sure they know a few necessary music theory things before they pick up an instrument. After the rental night takes place, we will give you the exact date of when your child will need to have an instrument in hand.
IF you find a great lead on an instrument, you might want to contact one of us! We do not check school phones in the summer! Email is the best way to get in touch with us! PLEASE DO NOT buy an instrument off of the internet....it might be a really great price, however, most horns of that price point are more 'toy like' and not geared for band usage! Past experience has also taught us, if that less expensive horn needs repair at any time, there are no parts available for them, and most music stores cannot work on them.
If you have a question about 'what brand/s to look for', please let us know (please see below, I've made a quick list to get you started)! Just like everyday items, there are brands that are 'good to go', and there are definitely brands you should stay away from! We are in the business to help guide you in that search!! The old adage holds true, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is".
Debbie Higbee Roberts, Band Director
Band Directors emails=
dhigbee@hannibal60.com
or
or
***As stated above. here are some RECOMMENDED BRANDS for instruments. Here's a list of solid 'tried and true' horns to get you started in your search! Disclaimer: this is not a complete list, (there might be other solid horns). If you find a brand (not on this list, please email a band director for advice).
>If you are wanting your child to use an older family horn, please make sure that the instrument is in good playing condition and ready to go for him/her! Older horns can be quite solid horns to play, however, if they've not been maintained, they might also be a concern.
Woodwinds:
FLUTES: Gemeinhardt, Armstrong, Artley, Selmer, Yamaha, Pearl, Jupiter
CLARINETS: Yamaha, Vito, Selmer, Buffet, LeBlanc, Jupiter
ALTO SAX: Yamaha, Bundy/Selmer, Conn, Jupiter
Brass:
TRUMPET: Bach, Conn, Holton, King, Yamaha, Besson, Jupiter
FRENCH HORN: Yamaha, Holton, Conn, Jupiter
TROMBONE: Holton, King, Yamaha, Besson, Conn, Bach, Getzen, Jupiter
Tuba: usually school owned for use. (Student will need to purchase their own mouthpiece/mp case and book to carry to/from school.)
Percussion: Xylophone- Please contact Mr. Fuller if you need/want more details on this.
For all other instruments: flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, trombone, french horn; this is customarily each family's responsibility to secure an instrument for your child. Rentals generally run from $20-50 per month.
Other details:
We have done business with Lincoln County Music for many years for beginning band rentals, etc. They visit the school each week to assist us with our instrumental repairs, supplies, etc.
If you'd like to visit with them, their number is 877-528-5267
They also have a website: beginbandnow.com
You could rent/purchase your instrument via the website if you so choose, or buy necessary supplies for your child throughout the year as needed. They do rent-to-own programs or you can purchase your instrument outright.
As always, you may purchase your instrument or supplies wherever you choose. Lincoln Co. Music is located in Troy, MO. Other area music stores are located in Columbia, MO, St. Louis, MO, etc. Sadly, there are no music stores in Hannibal or Quincy anymore.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Input=Output....if they are not practicing/studying, they are not learning!
(This is a LIFE skill, not just a band skill) :)
**Pictured below is the book your child will need when the time comes for instruments for Fall 2023 (there is a specific book for each instrument).
>Your child ALSO needs a 3-ring binder! Prefer Black, with the ID pocket in the front so that they can put their name in it! Page protectors are also great for music!
-minimum is a bigger folder that their book AND music can all live in! (the above binder is preferred!!!)
Other info!
>Please have a PENCIL EVERY DAY for band. PLEASE have a binder for class! Please keep all of your band papers, book, etc. together in that binder!!! Page protectors might also be helpful to keep you organized!
>To read about ways you can practice...you may visit the website www.makemusic.com Those students who are using Makemusic are finding the benefits of it....please visit the website!!!
***All bands!!!
The following are guidelines for Mrs. Higbee's classes:
>Practice sheets are DUE Monday and Tuesday (your first day of band for the week). Please remember to give your sheet to me when you come back from an absence!
>Practice sheets are DUE the first day your child has band for the week (Mon. or Tues.) Recommended practice is 20 minutes per day ...resulting in 100 minutes per week. (Note: a little practicing every day is better than long sessions of practice every now and then, however, you can break up the 'minutes' any way that works for your situation!) This is 'band homework' and will be part of the student's quarterly grade (just like daily homework is a portion of any other class). Please sign off on the practice sheet each week (I recommend signing on Sunday night)! Points will be assigned to the total number of minutes practiced (example: fewer minutes will result in fewer points earned). Please email this site if you have questions/ concerns about what is required of your child! This is a PERFORMANCE based class....therefore, a large number of the student's total points come from his/her playing test scores. Other quarterly scores include practice sheets, theory assignments when assigned, assertive discipline points, and concert grades.