Beginning Band-6th Grade
A Parents Hand Book
Learning to play a band instrument can be a new and exciting adventure for anyone. With your help and ours, your child can decide to take part in the enriching study of music.
It is our sincere desire to do all that we can to make this a gratifying and worthwhile experience for him/her. We feel that you too will want to do all that you can to help your child achieve the most that is possible during this adventure.
Hopefully, this booklet will answer many of the questions you may have about our instrumental music program. Please consider the contents carefully and plan to keep it handy for future reference.
With the school and parents working together, and a solid understanding of the band program, we can assure a happy and rewarding experience for your child. But remember, most of your child’s progress will be made at home through daily practice. Beginning musicians need much help and encouragement at home to develop the discipline needed to succeed.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at:
Cassie Ruplinger, 269-4396 ext. 186, cruplinger@lomira.k12.wi.us
Kari Eggert, 269-4396 ext. 524, keggert@lomira.k12.wi.us
Band Instructors
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS OF BEGINNING BAND STUDENTS
The beginning band program includes beginning instruction on all of the band instruments: clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon, trombone, french horn, tuba and percussion. The smaller, less expensive instruments such as flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, alto saxophone, and percussion kits are usually rented ($40-$50 per month) from music stores and eventually purchased by the student’s family. A limited number of the larger and more expensive instruments – oboe, bassoon, french horn, baritone, and tuba, can be rented from the school for $45.00 per year. School instruments are distributed to students based on their interest and physical makeup.
Playing in a band is a group effort. A band needs a balanced number of players for each instrument in order to perform successfully. When students select the instrument that they will play, consideration will be given to the numbers of students signed up for each instrument. (Every position on a football team needs to be filled and only one player can be the quarterback). For this reason, certain instruments, (the saxophone and percussion, for example) will have limits on the number of students that can be started. Typical instrumentation for a beginning band would be about 7 flutes, 8 clarinets, 3 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 8 trumpets, 6 trombones, 2 french horns, 1 oboe, 1 bassoon, 2 baritones, 2 tubas, 3 percussion.
A note to potential percussion players: All students who will be started on percussion must have successfully completed a minimum of one full year of piano lessons from a qualified piano teacher. Each percussion student should be able to read notes and ryhthms in treble and bass clef before they begin lessons. If more than 4 students who have met the piano requirement are interested in playing percussion, there will be a trial period and the 4 most successful students will be selected to continue on percussion. The others will switch to a different instrument. Percussion students must rent or purchase a percussion kit which includes a set of bells and a snare drum with drum sticks.
The following instrument dealers are recommended because they currently provide quality service and repairs to the School District of Lomira on a weekly basis and because they sell the brands of instruments that we feel are the best quality for the money.
We do not recommend purchasing instruments from large internet retailers unless you purchase recommended brands. A quality instrument DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE in a child's success in band!
3218 West Washington St.
West Bend, WI 53095
(262)334-4426 or (800)321-3920
289 N. Main St.
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920)923-1925
The following is a list of instruments that students can study in the Lomira Band Program. Instruments with an asterisk (*) can be rented from the school for $45.00 per year.
Flute
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone (Limited Enrollment-3 maximum)
Tenor Saxophone (Limited Enrollment-2 maximum)
Oboe*
Bassoon*
French Horn*
Trumpet
Trombone
Baritone*
Tuba *
Percussion (Student must have had at least 1 year of piano lessons from a qualified piano teacher and be profiecient in reading notes and rhythms in treble and bass clefs before beginning on Percussion. Limited Enrollment - 4 maximum)
The Beginning Band Program in brief:
A. Lessons: Summer: Two 30 minute lessons per week during the weeks that Summer School is in session. Students will receive instruction in groups of 1-4 of the same instrument.
When school starts in the fall the lessons will continue with one 20 minute lesson per week and group band rehearsals every other day.
B. Practice: A minimum of 20 minutes per day is necessary for normal progress to occur. Beginning band students need much support and encouragement from parents. Parents will need to help their child establish regular practice habits. Students will make little or no progress without frequent practice at home!
C. Progress: A progress report will be sent home at the end of the summer and at the end of each quarter of school indicating the student’s progress and any areas that need improvement.
Lessons:
Summer lessons will be scheduled 2 times per week (Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday for 10 lessons total). We have found that summer is the best time to start learning an instrument because the lessons are more frequent. This concentrated study helps the students form consistent playing habits.
Students will be scheduled during a free period of summer school whenever possible. They may also be scheduled during the afternoon, or when necessary, during a summer school class. Please indicate your preference when you fill out the “Beginning Band Information Record” at the May meeting. Students do not need to be enrolled in the summer school program to participate in the band lessons.