5th Grade Band

Incoming 5th grade parents and students - welcome to band!

We have some new band students signed up but we know we missed several of you. A reminder that in order to sign up for percussion, 2 years of piano lessons are required (students do not begin on drums).

I would suggest parents ask their child if they would like to participate in band and then visit the following site called "Be Part of the Band" (or Youtube) to watch some helpful videos and help select what instruments they would like to try. Due to time constraints, we will not be able to test every instrument so please have a choice of top 2, just in case!  Click here -->  Grundy Center 5th Grade Band  

West Music can also help answer questions and handles instrument rental or purchase.   Their website is www.westmusic.com and phone is 800-248-7004.

Thanks everyone!  Please email Mr. Van at avan@spartanpride.net if you have any questions.  See you soon!

What do we need?

Every band student needs an instrument and lesson book (Accent on Achievement book 1, blue).  These are available through me or West Music.

Accessories:

Flute: Cleaning rod and swab or small (6") square of cloth

Clarinet:  Mouthpiece cap, fabric swab, cork grease, reeds

Saxophone: Mouthpiece cap, end cap, neck strap, swab, cork grease, reeds

Trumpet: valve oil, polishing cloth, mouthpiece brush

Trombone: slide mix, polishing cloth, mouthpiece brush

Horn: valve oil, polishing cloth, mouthpiece brush

Percussion: 1 set rubber mallets, 1 set yarn mallets (hard), 1 pr. drum sticks 5A, practice pad

West Music (800) 248-7004 or westmusic.com delivers on Thursdays if you call or order on their website.

All Reed Players 5-12 (clarinets, saxophones)

Every clarinet and saxophone student should have a box of reeds:

5th graders: strength 2 (do not need expensive brands BUT reeds from Amazon/Temu/WISH are generally not worth the money as they are VERY cheaply made - they make the instrument more difficult and more frustrating to play.  Beginners need brands like Rico, Accent, Van Doren)

6th graders: 2.5

7th and 8th grade: 2.5 or 3

HS: 3 or 3.5

Please call West Music and purchase some reeds for your student(s).

5th Grade PARENTS - BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BUY

Many people borrow an instrument from a relative or look for used instruments that will need repair and sanitizing.  Summer break is a great time to do this since they will begin band right away in the Fall.  West Music Company in Cedar Falls serves our school district and is the company most people in the area go to for repairs, rentals or purchases.  West’s repair shop is extremely busy in the fall when many schools are starting their beginning bands, so I strongly encourage you to have used or borrowed instruments repaired and sanitized as soon as possible.  West Music is located at 6322 University Avenue, in the shopping plaza north of College Square mall.  

BUYERS BEWARE!  “Instrument Shaped Objects”  There are several impostors out there marketing “bargain” “professional” instruments on the internet (generally, do not buy instruments from TEMU, Amazon.com, Walmart and similar sites, although Walmart MIGHT have good brands now - see brand names below) - they are of questionable quality.  Also, parts to repair them are often unavailable. The reviews for these instruments are easily and usually faked.  Please contact Mr. Van if you are unsure about any instrument purchase.  These “bargains” cost more money in the long run than real instruments and make your child’s learning much more difficult.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

DO NOT BUY the following brands:  Mendini, Cecilio, Glory Brass, Eastar, Eastrock, EKing, Kaizer, Apelila, LJ Hutchen, Jean Paul, Glory, Yinfente, Hisonic, Lazarro, Herche, "Professional," Ammoon, LyxJam, Sky, or anything where they promise a brand new, professional instrument for under $500.  They are not worth it!

Instruments from Temu or other bargain sites:  You're gambling here.  Instruments I have seen from Temu and similar sites are not great and they actually are more difficult to play properly, whcih is the last thing a beginner needs.  If students get frustrated because the instrument doesn't produce a good tone, they won't enjoy their band experience.

On the other hand, we’ve had good name brand instruments purchased on EBay or Craigslist, even Facebook Marketplace and they have been fine beginner instruments if they are correct brands.  DO LOOK FOR these brand names:  Yamaha, Bundy, Conn, Gemeinhardt, (flutes) Accent, Bach, Jupiter, King and Selmer.  Mr. Van will be happy to help with this process.

If your child wants to be in band but your budget will not allow it at this time, please consider renting from West Music (newer instruments) or applying for a Band Bank Instrument.  We have a limited number of used instruments that have been donated to the school that may be used by students for a yearly maintenance fee.  If you would like more information, call or email Mr. Van avan@spartanpride.net or (319) 825-5449.  Band bank instruments are reserved for families in financial need.

Beginner Band List of Dos and Don’ts

Instrumental Music is more than “just band,” and encompasses many years of study.  Study of music includes music literacy, relationship to culture and several skills highly sought in today’s workplace. Sure, it can and will be fun but it will also be work to become the best musicians we can be!

PLEASE DO:

·        Shop around – often someone is selling an instrument near you

·        Ask your Director for input – some online deals are not deals and could cost you more.

·        Have patience – no one sits down and “plays in band” without the work in practice!

·        Discuss practice time – we practice for results, not minutes.

·        Listen to the student choices for instrument – enthusiasm means a LOT!

·        Listen to live performances – that is where real music is made

PLEASE DO NOT:

·        Say “We’ll try band for a year.”  That means the student will only participate for a year.

·        Compare band to sports.  Music is academic and musicians perform all their lives, up to and into their 90s!  Band does not interfere with sports.

·        Assume students are too busy. The most successful students are usually “in everything.”

·        Think you are “stuck” on one instrument.  You start with one and can add others in high school.   (example - many of the drumline started on other instruments)

·        Compare student performances to Youtube sensations or edited, professional performances – humans are NOT perfect like on Spotify