Beginning Band Info

Greetings!  Lakewood students have the opportunity to join band at the beginning of their 5th grade school year.  Band is an optional activity open to all 5th graders and students are encouraged to participate for the entire school year.  

During the spring in 4th grade, students will get a chance to learn about band and have an opportunity to “test-drive” the different instruments with the help of Mrs. Menke & Mr. Polson.  Students will be given a recommendation sheet on which instruments are a better fit based on their physical characteristics and the sounds they produced when they played them.  ALL of these opportunities are during the school day.

Here is video showing an example of an instrument testing session:

** only mouthpieces are used for testing because they can be soaked in hot, soapy water and washed thoroughly

Norwalk Schools has a variety of fun and rewarding musical experiences to offer your child, grades 5 through 12. Research supports a multitude of positive ways that music impacts students of all ages. The band program also offers opportunities for your child to:

    * build life-long skills such as responsibility, time management,                

self-confidence, goal setting, and commitment

* form new friendships

                             * develop their own musical skills

Over the summer, families have time to get an instrument for their child to participate in 5th grade band starting next fall. Please use this as a guide to help in your search and answering any questions. Rieman Music will be available at Open House for renting/buying an instrument. If your family has financial concerns, please contact Mrs. Rodrigue/Mr. Larson/Mrs. Menke. 

Beginning Band Parent Checklist - download pdf file below

Preferred Instrument Brands list and Supply list - download pdf file below

Mrs. Menke & Mr. Polson will notify families when students will need instrument/supplies/book for their first lesson!! 

Please do not hesitate to e-mail me over the summer with any questions about participating in band or finding an instrument for your child  "elaine.menke@norwalkschools.org" "matthew.polson@norwalkschools.org"

Interested in more information about specific instruments??  Check out these Google Slides Mrs. Menke made with demonstrations of each instrument and how to make a sound on each!!