5th Grade Band

Elementary Band Meeting Times

When will my child have band during the school year?

• Students will have band twice per week—one morning per week at their home school and once as a full band at Beaver Dam High School.

  • Our home school classes will begin at 8:10. Students should arrive between 8 and 8:10

    • Prairie View-- Monday at PV and Wednesday at BDHS (full band)

    • Wilson-- Monday at Wilson and Wednesday at BDHS (full band)

    • Lincoln-- Thursday at Lincoln and Wednesday at BDHS (full band)

    • Washington-- Friday at Washington and Wed. at BDHS (full band)

    • Jefferson-- Friday at Jefferson and Wed. at BDHS (full band)

• For our full band class on Wednesdays, students should be dropped off at the high school between 7:30-7:40-- there will be signs and guides to show them where to go. After band, they will be bussed to their respective schools for the start of the school day.

• Lessons will begin the week of September 13th. Students will not need to bring their instruments to school before this time.

What can I do to help my child?

• Encourage your child to practice. Practice should never be used as a punishment, but children often need reminders and encouragement to practice

• Ask your child to play for you. Your interest in what they are doing is exciting for them. Ask them to teach you how to play their instrument.

• The internet is a valuable tool to listen to professionals play. Help your child find some YouTube videos of musicians playing their instrument. We have attached a sheet listing great musicians on each instrument as a guide.

• Be sure that they have the supplies that they need and that they have an instrument in good playing condition.

How often should my child practice?

• Practice is the most important aspect of your child’s progress. Students should be practicing between 4-5 days per week, about 15-20 minutes each time. Breaking up practice time is better than practicing in large blocks of time. After 20-30 minutes, their attention spans tend to wane. Please see the attached sheet on practicing. Practice recordings that accompany your child’s lesson book can be found on our 5th grade band website (see below).

Concerts

• We do have three concerts during the school year. This is our opportunity to demonstrate the improvement that our band students are making. All concerts are at Beaver Dam High School and the dates are listed below.

Thursday, November 18^th—Elementary Band and Orchestra Fall Concert (6:30 pm)

Tuesday, January 25th—Parade of Bands Concert (7 pm)

Tuesday, May 10^th—Elementary Band and Orchestra Spring Concert (6:30 pm)

• Please feel free to contact us at any time. Email is often the best way to get in touch, but a phone call is fine as well.

Russell Diggins Kyle Henrickson

digginsr@bdusd.org henricksonk@bdusd.org

885-7313 ext. 2909 885-7313 ext. 2905

5th Grade Band Supplies

If you are in need of supplies (reeds, valve oil, etc.), please click on the supply information below. Each music store visits Beaver Dam once per week. Ward-Brodt Music visits on Tuesdays and Heid Music visits on Wednesdays. Both stores are in Madison. The easiest way to order supplies is to call the number on the form and order what you need. Tell them that it needs to be delivered to Mr. Diggins or Mr. Henrickson at Beaver Dam High School and they will be sure that it gets to us.

Click here for the 5th Grade Band Supply form.