Most important Documents/ Links needed this time of year:      
          2023 Band Registration info is ready to go!

2023 Recruiting and registration materials!    

• All 5th graders will see SEE the BAND INSTRUMENTS played again right away in August

• Interested students will try out instruments to discover to open their mind to their strengths, and explore interests

• Registrations due early September 

• *2023 Band Handbook (all the band info & registration pages to sign/turn in)
  *2023 Online Registration (read handbook, then fill out this form to register)

• Recruiting, instrument trials, and instrument selection at the beginning of the year.  No prior knowledge is needed.   Band Registration forms (BAND HANDBOOK) will be sent home at the very beginning of the year, just after their JOIN BAND info/demo assembly at school. 

• Small group lessons (by instrument type) start late-September.  1 lesson per week for 30 minutes.  The times change each week to minimize interruption. 

HOW TO GET AN INSTRUMENT

• VIRTUAL MEETING - Monday September 11th  7pm

  • LINK ADDED SOON

  • Learn more about how the Instrument Rental Program works (and how band works in general), then either come to a live meeting (sign up HERE to sign/pay)  or  call (1-800-686-8737) to make the final arrangements for your instrument.

  • Log in just before 7:00pm.  It should not take more than 30 minutes.
    The band directors (Mrs. Schweihs and Mrs. Storer) will also be there to share information about the program and help answer questions.

• *2023 Live Instrument Rental Meetings with Breber Music -click and sign yourself up!

  • @Creekside MS Wednesday September 13 (4:30-7:15),

  • @Northwood MS Thursday Sept 14 (4:30-7:15)

  • and @Woodstock HS South Street entrance   Sat Sept 16th (9am-noon)

  • Remember that we are not as concerned with WHERE you get your instrument, but more concerned that your child starts on a QUALITY BRAND instrument in GOOD CONDITION.    We are always willing to look at an instrument for you to be sure it is in good working condition- please do not be afraid to ask!    

While your children are welcome to come, they do not need to be there at the meeting.  It is more of an adult conversation about rental program, money aspect.   

• Instruments delivered at the BEGINNING BAND BOOTCAMP- instrument/supply pickup PLUS a first lesson with a parent/guardian present (30-45 minutes) to better support from home)

  • 2 date choices

    • Wed September 20th at Creekside Middle School (times by instrument 3:30-7pm)

    • Thus September 21st  at Olson Elementary School (times by instrument 3:30-7pm)

    • info flier with "sign up" link  (page 2 is in Spanish)-  coming soon

• Band time is only during the school day only until October

• Afterschool Band begins October 18th (on your child's band day-check your school's schedule) 1:50-2:50 pm

  • TRANSPORTATION HOME IS PROVIDED BY FAMILIES (NOT THE SCHOOL)

  • This is the FULL GROUP together!  We are working on large music concepts, how to follow a conductor, how to play precisely at the same pace as the group, performance songs, and how to work together as a team.

• We perform 3 evening concerts 

  • • December, at our own elementary schools

    • April= D200 Band Festival (all district band students) at one of the high schools,

    • May=  Spring Concert at the Middle School (3 schools per middle school, plus one or more of the middle school bands), a concert for the school at the end of the year.   

• Our grade 5-12 band program teachers work hard to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere for our young musicians to thrive.  We are proud of our unified program with smooth and comfortable transitions between grade levels using a unified curriculum and great teamwork, and are excited for you to join us!  

COMMUNICATION TOOLS:  We will be using CLASS DOJO,  EMAIL, and REMIND (texting)

WAYS TO GET AN INSTRUMENT

5th grade- it's finally your opportunity to JOIN BAND!  

Band is a class where we explore music by playing our instruments.  It is very hands on, interactive, and FUN.  The individual sounds of our instruments are really cool, but it is AMAZING when you put them all together!  

This year the Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, and Percussion are offered.  There are NO PRIOR SKILLS required to join band.  If you come with prior experience- AWESOME!  If you come with NO experience, or no confidence in your experience, we will teach you everything you need to know! Band, of course, welcomes all music lovers, but EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT ENJOYED OTHER MUSICAL EXPERIENCES,  IT MIGHT BE THAT YOU JUST HAVE NOT FOUND THE RIGHT INSTRUMENT! 

 There are so many different instruments to explore in band! 

We work hard to make band a welcoming, safe environment, where students are encouraged to be supportive of each other, take risks, work through challenges, and develop into amazing well-rounded human beings.  While we are growing our musical abilities, we are also developing self-confidence, determination, concentration and focus, commitment to team goals, and a positive growth mindset- all such important life skills!

At the 5th grade level only, students CAN participate in all 3 music groups (band, orchestra, and chorus, or any combination of interest) if they wish. 

Registration information will be coming as the school year approaches!  There are so many new, interesting instruments to explore from the Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion families.  You will never know if it's for you unless you try, and 5th grade is the perfect year!  JUST DO IT- JOIN BAND!

What does my child need for band?

2023  Items you need for each instrument to get started 

in the D200’s Beginning Band Program

ALL BAND MEMBERS WILL NEED:      special edition for Fall of 2023       

1. **a Sound Innovations (book 1) for their instrument (please note which instrument you are ordering)   Since this is a newer series, if you don’t see Mrs. Schweihs’s handwritten order spot- write it on the side!  

all 5th band instruments but percussion,          percussion (“combined percussion)

              **Percussion students will also need to order the ALFRED DRUM METHOD bk 1

2. A QUALITY instrument.  Please consult the band handbook for recommended brands.  It does not matter where/how you get an instrument, as long as it is a quality brand and is in “good playing condition.”  Bring your instrument in for your band director to look at- we can give you advice as to its condition, and what might be needed to get ready for Band.  Please stick to standard instrument colors.  "Colored instruments" (orange, red, purple, green, blue, white, etc) are a distraction to the students, their peers, and the audience.  They are intended for specialized situations (college marching bands, novelty groups), and not for standard use.  They also tend to be made of non-standard metals that bend/dent/break more easily- and repair shops are not always able to help with repairs.

3. OPTIONAL, BUT HIGHLY ENCOURAGED: folding music stand for home practice, makes practice SO MUCH easier

4. REQUIRED ITEMS LISTED BY INSTRUMENT      * these items are included with a rental instrument

       ➜BREBER MUSIC has put together a “CARE KIT” that includes many of these required items.  Reeds are not included in this price

FLUTE:  book (listed above), *tuning/cleaning rod, thin cloth (a strip of a handkerchief /bandana cut to 8” x 4”  would be perfect!)

CLARINET + SAXOPHONE:  book (listed above),   swab (a cleaner),  cork grease, and reeds.  (Sax only= *neck strap)

We require 4 to start, but beginners can go through those first 4 quickly.  Recommended is a  box of 10 reeds (size 2 1/2)- I recommend Rico brand brand for beginners.  Rico Royal, Rico Reserve, and other “better brands” are nice, but are more expensive and may not make a large difference at the beginning. This box of 10 should last most of the year.  

TRUMPET/TROMBONE:  book (listed above),  polishing/cleaning cloth (a face cloth is perfect or you can purchase one), 

slide grease ,  and oil.  (there is “slide oil” for trombones, “valve oil” for trumpets, but truthfully- for beginning band purposes- they are interchangeable.)  

PERCUSSION: 2 books, *snare drum with snare stand, a set of bells,  *a pair of wooden sticks (size 2B or 5A),     

*a drum pad (that covers the top of the snare to reduce the volume level),  *carrying case for the drum related items

                And a drum key

special note:  the type of percussion kit we use is called a “PERCUSSION LEARNING CENTER” that comes with the above items in a rolling case.   There are lots of other “style” percussion kits that other districts use.  This style of percussion kit was NEW for the 2016-17 year for us.  If you have access to a “snare kit”, and a separate set of bells (we ordered a blue plastic set of separate bells in the past), that will be fine to use, if you wish. 

TEACHER CONTACT INFORMATION