Newsletter

Did you know? "Research shows last-minute cramming rarely improves [test] results, and that making music together can actually lower stress levels, boost focus, and prepare students to perform at their best [on tests]. -Dr Anita Collins, Bigger Better Brains.org

Upcoming Events: Please join us!

MCAP & Instruments: Instrumental lessons WILL be held during the weeks of MCAP testing. These classes WILL NOT take place during testing times. Please help your children remember their instruments for school on their regular lesson days. Schedules for the remainder of the year can be found at the schedule link above.

Lake Shore BAND students will have a final concert rehearsal during school on TUESDAY, May 19. Please help your BAND students remember their instruments for school on this unusual day!

LAKE SHORE'S Spring Concert will take place on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. 

Performer commitment forms with additional information for those individuals have been sent home and are also available in Canvas.

SEVERN Elementary's Spring Concert will take place on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Please read the information sent home carefully! The Orchestra concert is separate from Band/ Chorus. Performer commitment forms with additional information for those individuals have been sent home and are also available in Canvas and at the links above.

Band/ String lessons will continue throughout the months of May and June. Please DO NOT return rented instruments until after May 29!  Students should bring their instruments to school on their regular lesson days until that cutoff date. June lessons will use some special activities on the chromebooks so instruments will not be needed.

School-owned instruments will need to be returned no later than May 29th.  They may be kept in the school's Band Room after our concert.

Sign-ups for next year’s Instrumental Music program will begin soon! All second through fourth grade students are eligible to sign up for String Orchestra. All third & fourth grade students are eligible to sign up for BAND. More information and registration scan codes will be sent home closer to the end of the year. They are also available on this website. (Sign-up link in menu)

Chorus sign-ups will be taking place soon as well. Stay tuned for additional announcements through newsletters and email.

The fifth grade Instrumental students will be creating and printing their very own special musical compositions. A program similar to what will be used is available for download at home at the following web address: https://my.avid.com/get/sibelius-first 

Extra Credit: Students, are you looking for some practice time extra credit? Try attending some free band or string concerts and bringing back the program. Be able to tell Mrs. Dickinson what your favorite song was and why to get a free practice point!

Looking for a concert to attend? There are many opportunities at the local community college. The Middle and High School concerts are also acceptable performances. 

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra offers FREE tickets for children ages 7-17 with the purchase of an adult ticket.

CHS/ CBMS Instrumental/ Choir on May 4, 6, 7, 27, & 28.  All held in CHS auditorium @ 7PM.

Severn Run feeder Concerts: May 12 @ 6:30, May 27 & 28 @ 7PM all held in the Severn Run HS Auditorium.

Bay Winds Community Band is holding several public performances. The next public event is on May 9 at the Busch Library in Annapolis @ 2PM. 

Summer Practice: Click here for a short video on the benefits of keeping instruments over the summer. If you intend to have your child keep their instrument over the summer, please check with their teacher for some fun exercises that will help maintain their playing skills. There are also many music day camp opportunities for elementary students. Check with your local communities, music stores, and colleges. UMD summer camp info here.

Need a musical activity (without instrument) for those rainy summer days? There are several websites that offer a chance to practice note reading and fingerings for instruments. Check our website for further details or your Canvas classroom under Modules --> Fun & Games..

Instrument Storage: Exposure to extreme temperatures or constant changes in temperature can damage instruments. When instruments are being stored they should be kept away from cooling/ heating vents, outside doors, windows, & anywhere that moisture collects. Please try to avoid leaving it in cars for long periods of time as well. Proper storage will help ensure that your child’s instrument remains in good working order.  ALL student instruments will be cleaned and prepared for Summer storage during one of our final classes.

Did you know? High School Music students have better grades than non-musicians in the same school. -National Educational Longitudinal Study, 1988

Upcoming Events: Please join us!

MCAP & Instruments: Instrumental lessons WILL be held during the weeks of MCAP testing. These classes WILL NOT take place during testing times. Please help your children remember their instruments for school on their regular lesson days. Schedules can be found at link in the menu above.

Severn Elementary Spring Concert will take place on Thursday, May 21. Commitment forms for performers and additional details will be sent home toward the end of April. This is our opportunity to show off all of the hard work we have put in to our instruments and voices all year long!

Lake Shore Spring Concert is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 @ 7PM in LAKE SHORE Cafeteria. This is our opportunity to show off all of the hard work we have put in to our instruments and voices all year long! Commitment forms for performers and additional details will be sent home toward the end of April.

PRACTICE: Please encourage your instrumental students to maintain regular practice habits at home. With a little bit of work now, we will have a spectacular performance later.

• Band/ Strings Karate will continue periodically during our concert rehearsal season. Students can still practice to earn belts. Check your child's progress here!

• Practice videos are available to help with skills addressed in Karate songs. ALL videos are less than 15 minutes, and the majority are less than 7 minutes. These can be found in your student's Instrumental Brightspace account.

Summer Practice: School instruments will have to remain in the school Band Room after May 30. There are summer practice options that do not require an instrument. Check with Mrs. Dickinson if interested.

If you intend to have your child keep their rental instrument over the summer, please check with Mrs. Dickinson for some fun exercises that will help maintain their playing skills. There are also many music day camp opportunities for elementary students. Check with your local communities, music stores, and colleges.

EXTRA CREDIT: Students, are you looking for some practice time extra credit? Try attending some free band or string concerts and bringing back the program. Be able to tell Mrs. Dickinson what your favorite song was and why to get a free practice sticker/ point!

Looking for a concert to attend? There are many opportunities at the local community college or the Middle and High Schools.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra offers FREE tickets for children ages 7-17 with the purchase of an adult ticket.

CHS/ CBMS Instrumental/ Choir on April 21, May 4, 6, 7, 27, & 28.  All held in CHS auditorium @ 7PM.

Severn Run feeder Concerts: May 12 @ 6:30, May 27 & 28 @ 7PM all held in the Severn Run HS Auditorium.

Bay Winds Community Band is holding several public performances. The next public event is on April 12 @ St Martin's Lutheran Church in Annapolis at 3PM. Another closer concert will also be held on 4/28 at St John's Lutheran Church in Linthicum at 7:30PM.

INSTRUMENT STORAGE: Exposure to extreme temperatures or constant changes in temperature can damage instruments. When instruments are being stored, they should be kept away from heating/ cooling vents, outside doors, windows, & anywhere that moisture collects. Please try to avoid leaving it in cars for long periods of time as well. Proper storage will help ensure that your child’s instrument remains in good working order.

Did you know? “The things I learned from my experience in music in school are discipline, perseverance, dependability, composure, courage and pride in results... Not a bad preparation for the workforce!”     -Gregory Anrig, President, Educational Testing Service

SAVE THE DATES:

Lake Shore’s Spring Concert is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, 2026 @ LSES. This is our opportunity to show off all of the hard work we have put into our music all year. Commitment forms will be sent home at the end of April.

Severn ES Spring Concert is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026. This is our opportunity to show off all of the hard work we have put into our instruments and voices all year long. Commitment forms will be sent home at the end of April.

Bingo Bake Sale fundraiser is taking place during Lake Shore PTA's BINGO event on Friday, March 6. Please consider contributing time via this sign-up link. Alternatively, you can donate packaged-to-sell baked goods here. All proceeds will benefit the whole Music Department of Lake Shore ES.

Support Severn's 5th grade fundraiser here.

March 18 is Lake Shore's Out of This World field trip to see the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra! Remember if your child is attending the trip, they will need to bring a bagged lunch to school that day. Additional details can be found on the permission slip. If possible, students should wear nice clothes for this event.

Music In Our Schools Month The month of March is a nationally recognized time to acknowledge how important music is to our schools and communities. How often does your family hear music? What would certain parts of your life be like without music? Why does each member of the family prefer the songs or styles of music that they do? Select groups of musicians will get to have a brief performance on morning announcements too! 

Visitors to Severn ES should keep an eye on the display case next to our main office for some exciting facts about our SES musicians' adademic successes.

Lake Shore musicians will also make a note of how much music is in our school by wearing our Music t-shirts each Friday of the Month. Please help your Chorus, Band, or Orchestra student remember to wear their Musicians’ Pride T-shirts each Friday.

Instrumental Music Scheduling: 5th grade students doing course selections for Middle School should choose Music classes as their 1st & 2nd choice electives to ensure they get those classes. Special slideshow from CBMS/ Mrs. Brimhall about enrolling here.

AACPS uses pull-out schedules for all elementary Instrumental Music classes. This means students are pulled from a fraction of traditional subjects each week. The schedule then rotates so that students miss different content areas the following week. Data gathered from within AACPS shows that students enrolled in music outperform their peers on various standardized tests. Music pull-out participants also earned more A's, fewer D/E grades than their peers, scored more proficiently on state testing and scored higher on quarterly assessments. In addition to the positive affects of music study, pull-out scheduling helps teach the students to be independently responsible for themselves and their lesson times. It can be a challenge, but it IS working! Please continue to encourage your musicians with little family performances at home and reminding them to take Instrumental supplies to school & attend classes.

Band & Strings classes WILL TAKE PLACE during MISA & MCAP testing days. Students will have their lessons outside of testing times. Please still have musicians bring Instrumental materials to school on their regular lesson days.

Band & Strings Karate is a new practice incentive program that started in February for 4th and 5th grade students ONLY. Karate students will earn practice points toward their report card grade based on how many “belts” they are able to achieve. You can always check your child’s Band/ Strings Karate progress on this special website. A list of required songs for each belt are stapled into each child’s Band/ Strings book.

Fun Fingering Practice! There are several websites that offer instrumental students a way to practice fingerings for their notes and get immediate feedback through a "game" type of interface.

Check out the computer games page of this site or "Fun & Games" in your child's Canvas Instrumental class.

Instrument Storage: We still have some cold weather in store. Please keep in mind that exposure to cold or damp air can damage any instrument. Proper storage will help ensure that your child’s instrument remains in good working order.

Extra Credit: Students, are you looking for some practice time extra credit? Try attending some free band or string concerts and bringing back the program. Be able to tell Mrs. Dickinson what your favorite song was and why to get a free practice sticker/ point!

Looking for a concert to attend? There are many opportunities at the local community college. Supporting our High School and Middle School ensembles by attending their events is also great concert experience and can be used for extra credit!

Community groups also have free events that count!

Category 5 Wind Ensemble is performing with the US Naval Academy Band at North County High on February 27 at 8PM. Their independent performance is also on Sunday, March 1 at The Lutheran Church of St. Andrew (15300 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring). This Sunday performance begins at 4PM.

Did You Know? “Music is an essential part of everything we do. Like puppetry, music has an abstract quality which speaks to a worldwide audience in a wonderful way that nourishes the soul.”     – Jim Henson, television producer and puppeteer

Band/ Strings Karate: Our new home practice incentive program has begun! This program is for 4th and 5th grade students ONLY. Karate students will earn practice points toward their report card grade based on how many “belts” they are able to achieve. Students will be given time at the end of certain Instrumental class periods to demonstrate their capability to correctly play all notes and rhythms from select book exercises. These exercises are the ones children should practice in order at home to develop independent success to earn each belt in class. Students have a list of Karate songs stapled into their books. A digital copy can be found in Canvas. You can always check your child’s Karate progress on this special website. 

Is practice time difficult? The more often musicians practice independently, the easier and more fun making music becomes. There are videos posted in Canvas Instrumental classes to give the students something to practice along with and walk them through the most effective steps for success. Please encourage your student to check these out, especially if they are having a hard time achieving success. 

Band & Strings Karate is a new practice incentive program beginning in February for 4th and 5th grade students ONLY. See the information above for more details.

Beginning Strings students write their homework assignment in the front of their book during the first class of each week. These students can also earn extra points toward the report card by putting a checkmark each time they practice that assignment at home. Three practices for one assignment earns a point! Please help your musician with this if they are practicing at home. I would love to be able to give out many more extra credit points and incentive prizes! 

15 minutes of practice on homework assignments 3 times per week is usually enough to guarantee exponential success!

Other music tools: 

Many optional resources for online music games can be found on the Instrumental Music website or Canvas in the Computer Games tab.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Beginning Strings students are learning how to use the bow! Be sure to ask them to share a brief performance of this skill to help them feel good about their accomplishment.

4th & 5th grade students will be working on some songs from the book for short spur-of-the-moment performances. Feel free to ask them to perform at home!

Fifth grade course selections will take place soon where students choose their 6th grade music courses. Students CAN do an instrumental ensemble AND chorus although this can be confusing on the registrations. Read and make selections carefully. Here are some additional informative slides from Chesapeake Bay MS regarding middle school music courses.

Severn's 5th grade Band students have the opportunity to perform in our fun feeder concert at Severn Run HS on February 11. Permission slips are DUE NOW. Students must have a bag lunch on the day of the event. A recording of the ensemble playing will be shared with families. Any inclement weather impacts on the day of the trip will result in a cancelled event.

Lake Shore's Instrumental & Choral students are all invited on a field trip planned for March 18. Permission slips are due by February 18th!

Spring Concert date is set for  May 20, 2026 (LS) & May 21, 2026 (SES). More details will be sent home with performers in April.

Music In Our Schools Month: The month of March is a time throughout the country to acknowledge how important Music is in our school programs, communities and lives. Stay tuned for information during March about some Music spirit days for the students to wear their music shirts(LSES). Small groups will also have opportunities to perform on morning announcements!

Inclement weather: If school is still in session, lessons will still take place. Even if we have a late start to the school day, please have your child bring their instrument if it is their usual day to do so.

Virtual learning days that are synchronous (online with teacher) will include virtual instrument lessons. The schedule will be posted on your child’s Canvas module for Instrumental and is also available at the schedule tab above. Some activities can still be completed without an instrument, so even if your child does not have and instrument they can participate. Any student who misses a virtual learning Instrumental class should see the missed class policy below.

Want to help AACPS Music grow? Check out: https://SharetheMusic.givesmart.com

Instrument donations can also be made at any time in your school's main office. Be sure to include the name of person/ family donating along with an email or mailing address to receive a receipt for tax purposes!

Missed Instrument classes: If a child is absent from school, they are excused from their Instrumental lessons that day. If your student is quarantined or otherwise misses an entire week of lessons, Mrs. Dickinson asks that they complete a at least one of the following activities to maintain their skills.

• Practice your homework assignment for 15 minutes if you have your instrument. Try to do this 3 times a week.

• No Instrument? Watch Canvas Unit 3 videos for 15 minutes and/or try the Fun & Games module for 15 minutes.

Instrument Storage: Please keep in mind that exposure to colder air can damage any instrument, as can constant changes in temperature. When instruments are being stored, they should be kept inside cases AND away from heat/ cooling vents, outside doors, windows, & anywhere that moisture collects. Cases will not protect instruments from temperature or humidity changes. Please try to avoid leaving it in cars for long periods of time as well. Proper storage will help ensure that your child’s instrument remains in good working order.

Music Notes

Did You Know? The combined results of 30 studies indicate that music instruction has a significant positive effect on reading. –Research in Music Education, 2008

Upcoming events: 

Inclement weather: If school is still in session, lessons will still take place. Even if we have a late start to the school day, please have your child bring their instrument if it is their typical day to do so.

Virtual learning days that are synchronous (online with teacher) will include virtual lessons. The schedule is available at the schedule link above and will be included in an announcement in your child's Canvas Instrumental class.

On Asynchronous (independent) learning days students should complete one of the two below options:

• No Instrument? Watch Canvas Unit 2 or 3 videos for 15 minutes and/or try the Fun & Games page for 15 minutes.

• Practice your homework assignment for 15 minutes if you have your instrument & book.

Feeder Festivals! Our 5th grade students have several exciting opportunities in January!

Lake Shore 5th graders have the opportunity to perform in our fun feeder concert and field trip to CHS on January 7. Please see the permission slip that was sent home for additional details. EVERYONE is welcome to attend the evening performance at 7PM.

Severn's 5th graders have the opportunity to perform in our fun feeder concert at Severn Run HS on February 11. Permission slips will be sent home after the winter concert. EVERYONE is welcome to attend the evening performance in Severn Run HS Auditorium at 6:30PM on 2/11/26.

Severn Elementary's Winter Concert is set for January 15. The Strings portion of the event will begin at 6PM. Band and Chorus students do not need to report to the school until 6:30 PM for a separate concert.

Summer Sleep Away Camp Auditions are open to all students entering 6th grade. This is a fun & exciting opportunity for your students. Registration and audition is online and will be available at this link. Students must submit an audition virtually BY January 14, 2026. More details can be found here.

IN CLASS EVENTS: Beginning Strings students will be starting to learn how to use the bow after the Winter break. Please have them keep the bows in cases until they learn how to properly care for them. 

4th & 5th grade students will be working on some songs from the book for short spur-of-the-moment performances. Feel free to ask them to perform at home!

Band & Strings Karate is a new practice incentive program beginning in February for 4th and 5th grade students ONLY. Karate students will earn practice points toward their report card grade based on how many “belts” they are able to achieve. Students will be given time at the end of certain Instrumental class periods to demonstrate their capability to correctly play all notes and rhythms from select book exercises. They can prepare for this by practicing at home on the exercises from their book specific to whichever belt they are currently working on. Details for each belt will be posted on the Instrumental Music website. You can always check your child’s Karate standings on this special website.

Other music tools:  Just before the Winter break, many instrumental classes were working with a special software program for music writing. A similar program is available as a free download at:Sibelius First. Another web subscription-based app is also available at Noteflight.com.

Computer games are great way to reinforce our class skills in a different setting when we are tired of playing. There are many suggestions in your child’s Instrumental Canvas. Go to MODULES -- Fun & Games. More and different examples are also available on our website.

Is practice time difficult? The more often musicians practice independently, the easier and more fun making music becomes. There are videos posted in the Instrumental Brightspace Classrooms each month to give the students something to practice with and walk them through the most effective steps for success. Please encourage your student to check these out, especially if they are having a hard time reaching success. Recommended practice time is for 15-20 minutes for 3 days each week. This also gives students an indoor activity that is away from screens.

Don’t forget to ask for a little solo performance at home to help encourage your musician. 

Instrument Storage: During the colder months, please keep in mind that exposure to the much colder air can damage any instrument, as can constant changes in temperature. Cases do not protect against temperature change. Transporting the instrument to and from school should not present any problems, but when instruments are being stored they should be kept away from heat/ cooling vents, outside doors, windows, & anywhere that moisture collects. Please try to avoid leaving it in cars for long periods of time as well. Proper storage will help ensure that your child’s instrument remains in good working order for continued success.

   Music Notes  

Did you know? "Research shows last-minute cramming rarely improves [test] results, and that making music together can actually lower stress levels, boost focus, and prepare students to perform at their best [on tests]. -Dr Anita Collins, Bigger Better Brains.org

Instrument Storage: As we enter the colder months, please keep in mind that exposure to the much colder air can damage any instrument, as can constant changes in temperature. Transporting the instrument to and from school should not present any problems, but when instruments are being stored at home they should be kept away from heat/ cooling vents, outside doors, windows, & anywhere that moisture collects. Please try to avoid leaving it in cars for long periods of time as well. Proper storage will help ensure that your child’s instrument remains in good working order.

Upcoming events: 

WINTER CONCERTS:

Lake Shore ES will be hold their Winter Concert on December 10 @ 7PM in the Chesapeake High Auditorim. All parents and family are welcome to attend. Please see the commitment form that was sent home previously for concert attire and report times. 

Severn Elementary will hold separate Winter concerts on January 15, 2026. String Orchestra concert will start at 6PM. Band & Chorus concert will start at 7PM.

All parents and family are welcome to attend. Commitment forms will be sent home the week of December 1 with concert attire and report times. 

If your student is unable to attend for some reason, please send a note to school for their music teacher stating that fact.

Our 5th grade students have an exciting event in January

The Chesapeake Instrumental Feeder Festival is for 5th grade students in the band or orchestra who attend Chesapeake feeder schools (like LSES). This event will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 for both Band & Strings. Weather date January 23. This is a very fun daytime event that culminates in a wonderful evening concert (7pm) performed by a combined ensemble of 5th-6th & 9th -12th grade students. Permission slips will be sent very soon. They are due BEFORE the winter break.

The Severn Run Instrumental Feeder Festival is for 5th grade students in Band who attend Severn Run feeder schools (like SES). This event will be held on Wednesday, February 11 during the school day. It is a very fun event that culminates in a wonderful concert (6PM) performed by a combined ensemble of 5th -12th grade students. Permission slips will be sent home after Winter Break.

Summer Camp Auditions: 5th grade students are eligible to audition for an overnight music camp sponsored by AACPS. Details can be found in an email from Mrs. Dickinson and on this flyer. Video auditions are due January 14.

Practice: Please remember to encourage your instrumental students to maintain regular practice habits at home. This can be a very busy and hectic time of year. Students may need more gentle reminders than usual to practice and maintain their skills.

We will be working on different types of short songs in instrumental music over the coming weeks. Many of them will be perfect pieces for your young musician to perform for family over the Winter break. Don’t forget to ask for a little solo performance at home to help encourage your musician.

Canvas resources: There are videos in the students' Instrumental Canvas classes for students to practice along with on concepts they struggle with or to play along with the backing track on concert songs. Use headphones while playing along so you can hear over your own instrument! Videos are usually 5-10 minutes each.

Does your musician need practice extra credit points? Are you looking for another festive event for your family? A free practice sticker will be given to any musician who brings Mrs. Dickinson a program from another group’s show and can identify what their favorite song was and why. Looking for some events?

• Annapolis Symphony Orchestra hosts a Holiday Pops concert at Severna Park HS on December 20 @ 3PM. $10 tickets for AACPS students & staff. (Use code Student10 at checkout. Call box office for multiple tickets.) 

• The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra offers FREE tickets for children ages 7-17 with the purchase of an adult ticket.

• The Bay Winds community band is hosting their two FREE public holiday concerts. One at St Martin’s Lutheran Church on December 7 at 3:00 PM. Another is at Unity by the Bay on December 16 at 7:30 PM.

• Category 5 Wind Ensemble is holding their FREE public concert on Saturday, December 6 @ St Andrew by the Bay, Annapolis. Performance begins at 7 PM. (This is a non-holiday concert)

• AACC has many holiday performances. Check out their website for options!

• CHS & CBMS Instrumental concerts each night @ 7PM in CHS Auditorium December  3 , 4,  17 & 18. 

• CBMS Choir 12/8 @ 7PM in CHS Auditorium & CHS Choir 12/15 @ 7PM 

• Severn Run High combined concert on 12/10 @ 6:30PM in SRHS Auditorium.

HAVE A GREAT WINTER BREAK!! 

Did you know?

The cognitive structures developed through music instruction help to expose and illuminate more general organizing structures relevant for other disciplines. –Research in Music Education, 2009

 Upcoming Events:

November Conferences are scheduled to take place November 24 & 25. Mrs. Dickinson will be available for conferences and will also be offering virtual lessons for struggling students. If Mrs. Dickinson has concerns about your child's success in Instrumental Music, you will   receive an email directly from her with the lesson/ conference link.

 Our Winter Concert is coming soon! We are very excited to share our hard work and musical skills!

  Lake Shore ES Winter Concert will be held on December 10 at 7PM in Chesapeake High school auditorium.

 Severn Elementary will hold a Winter concert on January 15. Concert start times will be posted as soon as they are finalized. The Orchesra concert will be independent of the Band/ Chorus concert with separate start times but on the same day.

 Commitment forms with report times and further information for both schools will be sent home very soon. Check back here for more details as they become available. 

 Instrumental Feeder concert: Our vertical feeder systems sponsor a field trip & concert event each year for second/ third year 5th graders. It is a day for the elementary students to spend at the high school performing with other advanced elementary musicians, secondary musicians, and get to know the middle school directors. There is an evening concert for families to attend.  

Chesapeake schools will participate on January 7 2026 @ CHS. Please keep an eye out for a permission slip and information flyer coming home after Thanksgiving break. 

The Severn ES event is scheduled to take place on February 11th, 2026 for Severn Run schools @ SRHS. 

Other Events: Check the Practice section below on how to earn extra credit in Instrumental Music for attending outside performances!

Check the CHS website for more info on their events.

The CBMS website has their comings and goings.

ICE HOCKEY!? Have fun watching a Maryland Black Bears Ice Hockey game on November 8th while supporting the CBMS Music Department. Click HERE for tickets and information! 

Severn Run families (SES) should check out the SRHS Music Calendar for events that you can attend to show your support and check out what your musicians can do in the future!

Practice: All students have at least one page of concert music to practice a section of. Practice assignments can be found in the chart stapled into student books or on this page. 

Please encourage your instrumental students to maintain regular practice habits at home. This can be a very busy and hectic time of year. Students may need more gentle reminders than usual to practice and maintain their skills.

Ask for a little solo performance at home to help encourage your musician! We will be working on different types of short songs in Instrumental Music over the coming weeks. Many of them will be perfect pieces for your young musician to perform for family over the Thanksgiving/Winter breaks. 

Does your musician need extra practice points? Are you looking for another festive event for your family? A free practice sticker will be given to any musician who brings Mrs. Dickinson a program from another group’s show and can identify what their favorite song was and why. Looking for some events?

• The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra offers FREE tickets for children ages 7-17 with the purchase of an adult ticket.

• The Bay Winds community band is hosting their two FREE public holiday concerts. One at St Martin’s Lutheran Church on December 7 at 3:00 PM. Another at Unity by the Bay on December 16 at 7:30 PM.

• AACC has many holiday performances. Check out their website for options!

• CHS & CBMS Instrumental concerts each night @ 7PM in CHS Auditorium December 3, 4, 17 & 18.

• CHS Choir 12/15 @ 7PM in Auditorium

• Severn Run High school Music Department concert on Wednesday, December 10 @ 6:30PM in the Severn Run Auditorium.

5th grade parents: Do you have a talented and very interested musician? AACPS offers special middle school magnet programs just for these students. They still receive all regular middle school course instruction but benefit from extra time in the arts area for which they apply. Arts magnets do require auditions which take place in December. Further information can be found at: APEXARTS or contact your child’s music teacher.  Interested families must submit the application by November 6.

Instrument Storage: As we enter the colder months, please keep in mind that exposure to the much colder air can damage any instrument, as can constant changes in temperature. Transporting the instrument to and from school should not present any problems, but when instruments are being stored they should be kept away from heat/ cooling vents, outside doors, windows, & anywhere that moisture collects. Please try to avoid leaving it in cars for long periods of time as well. Proper storage will help ensure that your child’s instrument remains in good working order.

Grades: Band and Strings grades will be included on the 1st quarter report cards as well as General Music and Chorus.

CD = Consistently Demonstrating (your student is doing exceptionally well!);

PR = Average (Students are performing their skills right where they should be);

EM = Emerging Development of Skills (Students are demonstrating growth but probably need extra practice time to develop skills to their best. Remember to do your best in class!);

ND = Needs Development (Try for more practice time at home to help develop your skills and earn more practice points. Increased lesson attendance and/ or participation is also necessary.)