Embedded Files
Check below for videos & information on many frequently asked questions or accessing different applications.
Looking to help get our classroom set up to start the year? Check out Mrs. Dickinson's Amazon wishlist! (Items for the new school year coming soon.)
Instrument Sizing
Instrument Sizing
Use information below to determine the best size string instrument for your child.
Music stores will measure your students if you wish. Please ask the store to ROUND UP one size if the child is in between. HOWEVER, it will be safer for students and reduce trips to the music store to wait for Mrs. Dickinson to measure students or follow these directions:
Watch the video below.
Please ROUND UP one size if your child is in between sizes explained here. They will grow quickly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=JAa4bf8XkRg
Cello players CAN be measured like the violins despite what the video says.
Bass players should just get a 1/2 size bass. If the child is very small for their age, a 1/4 bass will be suitable.
Be sure to mark the proper size down with the rest of your materials on your shopping list. (Mrs. Dickinson will provide this once registration is complete in August or use the Materials link above.)
COVID safety & Instrument Sanitation
COVID safety & Instrument Sanitation
Personal protective equipment (PPE) for WIND instruments does exist. If you have concerns about your child's safety while playing in Band classes, you can purchase bell covers and musician's masks from many music stores and online retailers. These reduce aerosols and help protect performers. Instrumental PPE is NOT required as of this writing. However, if a student must mask upon return to school from COVID illness, they will either have to participate in Band classes without playing or use instrumental PPE. Some PPE is available in school for this purpose. There are also lots of ways students can still participate without playing!
Students will learn standard cleaning practices for their instrument as part of their classes. ALL school instruments AND cases are cleaned & sanitized before being distributed to students at the start of the year.
If you have concerns about sanitization of an instrument, you can explore some recommendations for cleaning and quarantine at the websites below:
Holding & Assembling Instruments
Holding & Assembling Instruments
It is SO exciting to bring instruments home from the stores or school! The internet provides many venues for finding videos to help students get a head start. But how do you know internet videos are reliable? If your student absolutely can't wait for that first class with Mrs. Dickinson, please help them to access the videos in their Band/ Strings Brightspace classroom. These videos have been pre-screened to ensure validity of information and help students get off to a positive start.
Tuning
Tuning
All instruments can be tuned to ensure they are playing each true note. Mrs. Dickinson will tune instruments in school as long as classes are taking place in person. Tuning should happen periodically because it changes depending on temperature and humidity.
String instruments should be tuned by the music store before you leave with it. Ask before you leave to be sure. For this reason it is HIGHLY recommended that you obtain instruments from local stores instead of online. Music & Arts and Menchey Music stores are offering to tune instruments (or replace broken strings) at any time for free. Simply take your instrument in. (You will have to purchase replacement strings if one needs to be replaced.) If in doubt, check with Mrs. Dickinson via email, voice or text.
PARENTS can attempt to tune String instruments by watching the videos below. (Tuning can cause damage that can injure a person. Please do not let your students attempt this on their own.)
Violin - Click here
Viola - Click here
Cello - Click here
Bass - Click here
Band students will not need to worry about this because band instruments have a much higher margin for error that allow the students to still sound decent while playing together. Mrs. Dickinson will talk students through tuning in their virtual lessons when necessary.
Instrument repairs (minor) can often be taken care of in school. Please put a note in the case with the student’s name and the problem. Include the bridge, string, pad, or any other part that needs to be re-attached. Bring the instrument to the band room first thing in the morning on a lesson day. This way it can hopefully be fixed by lesson time. Some minor repairs include: Fallen bridge (not broken), broken strings (but you bought a replacement), pads that have fallen off (but you saved the pad), stuck valves, stuck mouthpiece.
Instrument repairs (minor) can often be taken care of in school. Please put a note in the case with the student’s name and the problem. Include the bridge, string, pad, or any other part that needs to be re-attached. Bring the instrument to the band room first thing in the morning on a lesson day. This way it can hopefully be fixed by lesson time. Some minor repairs include: Fallen bridge (not broken), broken strings (but you bought a replacement), pads that have fallen off (but you saved the pad), stuck valves, stuck mouthpiece.
Chinrest slipping?
Chinrest slipping?
Use this video to help position and fix in place the chinrest on any violin or viola.
Brightspace
Brightspace
is the digital learning platform for AACPS. It is accessible from the AACPS classlinks page. Once a student is registered for the Instrumental program, the class for which they signed up will appear in their list of classes at the top of Brightspace. This virtual classroom can be used to access homework assignments, materials, videos, assessments, and even class should the need arise to engage virtual learning.
Nearpod
Nearpod
Click here to watch a video on how to access Nearpod! We will sometimes use this as part of our class activities.
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