6th-Beginning Band

In Beginning Band, students learn how to put their instruments together, how to produce a sound properly, and understand the basics of their instruments. Students also develop introductory musical concepts learned in general music class and increase their knowledge of musical literacy, signs and symbols, and note reading.

Beyond the music, students learn all of the following:

  • An opportunity to learn many skills using an instrument as a medium to learn these life skills.

  • A way to understand that failure will happen and it is OKAY! Take a mistake or failure and turn it into an opportunity for success!

  • Find how good success feels and crave that feeling over and over again (your effort=successful feeling of reward!)

  • Hard work will always trump natural talent. For every ounce of effort you put in, you get so much MORE out of class than those who are "naturally good at their instrument." You learn more, retain more, and are more successful (within band class and in LIFE).

  • Everyone is important. NO ONE IS ON THE BENCH in band. You matter and are part of our band family and are very much needed/relied upon.

  • Gain independence and skills to help you conquer difficulties on your own.

When starting band for the first time, my biggest concern is that families know

INSTRUMENT QUALITY=SUCCESS OF YOUR STUDENT

More information on this is continued below.

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Pre-requisites: 5th Grade General Music (working hard in your recorder unit will only help you in band class!)

Drop/Add: This class is a year long commitment, and students are encouraged to work hard even when it gets tough! However, students who demonstrate a lack of effort will be removed from class.

Instruments: Students must either rent an instrument from Ward Brodt (done at our fall rental meeting), or get an instrument approved by Mrs. Stevens. Tubas/Euphoniums/Bassoons/French Horns are rented from the school for a fee.

Grading: Please click here for more information about grading.

Schedule: This rotates throughout the year.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How can I help my student be successful?

There are lots of things you can do! First, go to our Band Parents page and read all the helpful tips and ideas here. :)

Do I have to rent an instrument?

All families are asked to rent an instrument, if possible.

This is because your student is GUARANTEED a good quality student instrument. The costs may be daunting at first, but remember that the instrument quality=success for your student.

How can I rent an instrument?

1. Attend the fall rental meeting and get it all done in one day!

OR

2. Call Ward Brodt music at 608-661-8600 and tell them you're from Parkside School, your student's name/instrument and they will get you set up with a rental or just supplies depending on what you need!

3. Complete it online here (under construction).

Our family already has access to the instrument my student needs. Can he/she use it?

That's great! Yes, but there are a couple of things you need to know before jumping into class with it. The instrument must be a name brand instrument. If it is not on the list of recommended instrument brands, your student will not be able to play it in class. See this list at the bottom of the page here. This is because most repair places will not even touch these instruments if they break! This is for your own protection.

Secondarily, Mrs. Stevens will need to check it over and look at the condition of the instrument to see if it will play its best for your student. Know that cheap instruments or ones handed down from family to family may seem great, HOWEVER, they will probably need work done to make them play well (think of it like maintenance on a vehicle). Odds are that it may need to have some work done. The best way to get an estimate on this is to bring it to our rental meeting in the fall and have a Heid Repair Technician look at it on site and give you an idea of what work needs to be done. Remember, the shape your instrument in DOES affect your student's ability to play in class. A poor working instrument will be frustrating for your student.

What other costs are there for band class?

Even if you already have an instrument, there are items that are required for each student to purchase. Many are "1 time purchases" but reeds and oil will need to be purchased as needed.

See a list of these here.

What if my student wants to switch instruments after the year starts?

Students must try their instrument for at least a year. However, if Mrs. Stevens believes a particular student would have better success on a different instrument, the student may change at her discretion.

We would rather purchase an instrument and not rent through a music store. What are some things to look for when purchasing?

Although I STRONGLY recommend that you rent an instrument through Ward Brodt, I understand why some families feel they would rather purchase an instrument outright. The cheaper price seems tempting compared to the monthly payments that add up in the end.

Remember our Beginning Band Mantra:

INSTRUMENT QUALITY=SUCCESS OF YOUR STUDENT.

That being said, there are quality instruments out there for resale. You need to be on guard for "tempting Instrument-Shaped-Objects." These ISO's as we call them in the band world are not worth your money, although the price is right. The price may be right NOW but later, you will spend a lot of money making it work right for your student.

All that I ask is....

PLEASE: Do NOT purchase an instrument without consulting Mrs. Stevens.

Even if you don't officially "know" her or have her as a teacher yet.

Click here for what to look for, and show Mrs. Stevens what you find before purchasing. Email her the link to it, if applicable, or call her with what you have found.

stevensm@wautoma.k12.wi.us or 920-787-4577 x 3258

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At the beginning of the year (first 3 weeks of school until everyone gets instruments):

Large group time:

Discuss treble clef, Worksheet, understand how it works

games with just Treble Clef

Discuss bass clef, worksheet, understand how it works

Games with just bass clef

Games with both clefs

Instrument group lessons will begin once all students have instruments. We will have large group rehearsal once students have a basic understanding of their instrument and a couple notes.

While lessons are going on, students not in lessons will be in the cafeteria with a supervisor:

Acceptable websites during band study hall time:

www.musictechteacher.com You may need headphones.

www.musicracer.com Students: work on level A and B note names for your instrument and begin working on level A fingerings (first 5 notes).

https://quizlet.com/_1ft1s3 Practice musical terms/symbols that are important from class on Quizlet.