Instruments

Recorders

Also known as "Flutophones," the recorder is a fantastic introductory woodwind instrument. Jackson School District now uses recorders for 3rd, 4th, 5th-grade students.

One recorder will be supplied to each student by West Lane Elementary. If you wish to purchase extra recorders, they will be available for purchase for $3 each, as well as the optional neck strap for $2 each.

Harmony by West Music 3 Pc Recorder

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to consider buying a second recorder; one to keep at school, and one to practice at home. At school, I have a tote for each teacher in the building, and students can label their recorder and keep it in their teacher's tote so they always have it weekly for Music.

Guitars & Ukuleles- String Club

During different quarters, students may choose to be in String Club for Choice Day on Fridays. Descriptions of each instrument are below:

Ukuleles

In my classroom, I have half a class-set of baritone ukuleles. Students who are new to string instruments find this to be easier than guitars, and they have a warm sound. Playing the ukulele helps them develop fine motor skills as well as recognizing and transferring chord to finger placement.

A few students let me know that they have ukuleles at home, but I do not ask or allow them to be brought into play at school because 90% of ukuleles at home are a different size and have a completely different fingering chart. Ukuleles tend to be fragile, and most do not come with cases, so students will only play on the ones provided while at school.

Guitars

In my classroom, I have half a class-set of guitars (two are 1/2 size, and the rest are 3/4 size). These instruments, although different sizes have exactly the same finger chart. Playing the guitar helps them develop fine motor skills as well as recognizing and transferring chord to finger placement.

Many students have let me know that they have guitars at home. If students are given parental permission AND have a case to transfer it to and from school safely, students are allowed to bring their acoustic guitars from home to play/practice. Acoustic guitars have hollow bodies, and some come with an electric output option, which is fine!

*Electric guitars are not hollow, and therefore need an amplifier in order to be heard, tuned, and played properly. These are not appropriate for this classroom setting.

**All students transferring instruments to and from school are required by the Bus Department to have their instruments in cases, and ukuleles and guitars are not an exception. Even if students do not ride the bus, a case is required to help protect it from damage at school.

West Lane Elementary is not responsible for damage incurred on instruments brought to and from school.

Bucket Drums

During a different quarter, students may choose to be in Bucket Drumming on Fridays.

Bucket drumming is exactly what it sounds like: using buckets as drums! A huge thank you for the generous donations from Chik-Fil-A (Cape Girardeau), and drumsticks from a grant received from SERTA (Southeast, MO).

Because of the nature of playing percussion, it is extremely important that your child come to music with hearing protection on those days. Hearing protection can be in the form of noise-canceling headphones or earplugs depending on your personal preference, but please do not send rolled paper or cotton balls. Research shows that one can develop tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or even permanent NIHL (noise-induced hearing loss) due to overexposure to loud noise if hearing is not protected.

To learn more about hearing protection, check out these links:

Ear Plugs for Drummers: https://goo.gl/2Avocf Drum Magazine: https://goo.gl/nbBJ1G

A letter will be sent home reminding these details, and I am happy to answer more questions if your child is signed up!