5th/6th Grade Band

5th/6th Grade Band students get to hone their musical craft and elevate their skills to the next level!

Instruments Recommended for 5th/6/th Grade

The following instruments are what I recommend for 4th Graders to begin on. Many students will want to carry over into Advanced Band playing these instruments so they can continue their progress and I fully encourage them to do so!

• Flute

• Clarinet

• Alto Saxophone

• Trumpet (or Cornet!)

• Trombone

• Percussion (Bell Kit)*

If your child is curious about learning a new instrument after a year or two of music studies, I am very open to students switching instruments! However, the best time for this is when it's done at the beginning or middle of the year and they have already proven to have a solid grasp of music foundations on their first instrument (can read their notes, show rhythmic clarity, etc.). Below are some instruments that students can consider in addition to the above list.

• Tenor Saxophone

• French Horn

• Baritone/Euphonium

• Percussion (Snare Drum)*

*NOTE: In 4th Grade, students learning Percussion will begin 4th Grade on Bell Kits (a small version of a Xylophone). This is a mandatory percussor to students wanting to work their way up to Snare Drum and other Percussion instruments. Once in 5th/6th Grade Advanced Band, there will occasionally be times for Percussion students to experience playing on Drum Kit but please note it is not a "day 1" experience and will take commitment to develop the foundational skills for.

Students wanting to switch to playing Percussion during 5th/6th Grade will be considered on a case-by-case basis and dependent upon current size of Percussion roster, space available (a lot of Percussion makes for a LOUD Band room!), and the student's ability to show note recognition and rhythmic stability.

Tri-Campus Band Festival - Wed. April 28th @6pm

The Tri-Campus Band Festival is an event only for our 5th/6th Grade Advanced Band! After a year of building up their skills, these students get the opportunity to visit Benjamin Franklin High School and have a collaborative performance with the HS Band. Students will get to rehearse with the HS Band Director, Mr. Mendoza, while playing side-by-side with HS musicians throughout the day. This fun filled day gives students a peak into what Band is like at the HS level while getting to learn from the experiences of students who have kept music a part of their lives as they continued to grow. The event culminates in an evening concert featuring performances of the BFCS HS Band, BFCS Elementary Bands, and the combined Tri-Campus + HS Band!

Email : preid@bfcsaz.com Phone: (480) 632-0722