Why does orchestra start kids in 4th grade, and band in 5th grade?

Orchestra instruments can be sized to the student- that is, there are smaller versions of the instruments to fit smaller bodies. Band instruments only have one size, and kids have more success by waiting until their bodies have grown a bit.

Should we take into account my students body size/teeth/facial structure into account when choosing an instrument?

For orchestra, the instruments come in several different sizes to accomodate smaller or larger students. You will enter whether your student is average, tall, or short when registering.

For band, the number one ingredient for success is student motivation because a student who wants to play an instrument is likely to succeed no matter what their body, facial structure, or teeth are like. However, if you are interested in more information on this, click here. But please take it with a BIG grain of salt - we have seen again and again, if a student WANTS to play an instrument, the motivation is there, and it will work regardless of facial structure/body size.

How much will my student have to practice?

Basically, kids who practice improve. The more a student practice, the more they improve,and the more rewarding it is to play the instrument. We recommend daily practice, especially at the beginning, since part of learning an instrument is muscle memory - repeating something again and again until it becomes second nature and muscles develop. This is true both for forming the mouth to play an instrument, learning how to hold the bow, and for reading notes on a page and knowing how to play the note. Getting a student to practice is rarely an issue at first, because it's all fun and exciting, but as time goes on, your student may need reminders to practice. Individual improvement is always directly related to individual practice.

I'm going into Middle School - Will I be behind?

Students going into middle school will be a year or two behind their fellow students, which can create some initial frustration. However, a good work ethic and a positive attitude will go a long way towards closing this gap. Be prepared to practice a lot that first year to try to catch up, and before you know it, you will be right with the other students. We have found that any student who starts late but is willing to work hard eventually is successful.

Why isn't drums a choice?

We start students on percussion, not drums, after a year of instruction on another instrument. Percussion is much more than the drums - it includes xylophone, cymbals, timpani, and a lot of other instruments. It is absolutely crucial in a school band that the percussionists can keep a steady tempo -otherwise the entire band falls apart! The first year on another instrument gives students a chance to learn to read music and to show us their rhythm skills. We select a limited number of interested students (with exceptional rhythm skills) at the end of 5th grade to switch to percussion.

What if my student starts on one instrument at Summer Band and Orchestra and realizes he/she doesn't like it?

Normally we have students actually try to make a sound on the instruments at a special registration day, but of course this didn't happen in 2020. Sometimes, a student just does not take to an instrument - usually because of their body size or facial structure. We recognize that there may be some students who struggle on their instrument choice, and we may recommend a switch during Summer Band and Orchestra if we see a serious mismatch. This is easy to do with rented instruments - the store will simply switch out the instruments for your student.

My student wants to be in band or orchestra, but we just can't afford to rent an instrument at this time.

All 4th graders starting in orchestra can use a school instrument. For older students, we have a limited number and selection of instruments, which we try to reserve for families in need. Please contact one of the teachers for more information if money issues are keeping your student from being involved. We want every child who wants to be involved to get that opportunity.

My student will be spending the summer in another city/state and cannot attend the summer camp.

Make a note on the registration when it asks for questions or comments. You can also contact one of the teachers who will take you through some options. The best option in this case is to take private lessons that will teach your student the same basics we learn in summer music camp.

Instrument Name Confusion - Trumpet/Cornet, Baritone/Euphonium, Stand Up Bass/String Bass

Trumpet and cornet are different instruments, but are interchangeable. We usually start students on trumpets, but a cornet would be acceptable.

Baritone and euphonium are technically different instruments, but function the same, and we often use the name interchangeably. Our school has both to lend out and we usually call them baritones.

String bass, upright bass, acoustic bass, and double bass all refer to the same instrument.

What about COVID-19 - will Summer Band and Orchestra be affected?

At this time, plans are going forward for Summer Band and Orchestra in a modified 2-hour format so that we can have small classes. Of course things could change at any time, based on the virus, any rules from the state, or our school district. We will be in touch with families that have signed up through email if there are any changes.