Who can sign up for band or orchestra?
4th & 5th grade students may sign up for band or orchestra.
How do they sign up?
Through the google Registration Form. Click here to register.
How do students get an instrument to play?
We recommend renting online from Zeswitz. BSD has partnered with them because they offer great prices and value for our students. They also visit the school every week. Orchestra stringed instruments come in different sizes, and students will need to be sized periodically and instruments will need to be exchanged to the next size up. Because of this, we do not recommend buying a stringed instrument until your child has reached full size. If renting, the music store will assist with sizing. If borrowing from the school, your teacher will provide your child with the correct size. If there is a student that is interested in playing an instrument but cannot afford one, we may be able get them a loaner. (Note: We may not have your child’s first choice. There is a spot on the form to give us a second and third choice.)
When are the forms due? Some instruments are limited and may fill up. Priority on popular instruments typically goes to the first students signed up. Band and Orchestra Directors need to make the lesson schedule and prepare instruments for children with a financial need for loaners. The
forms are due back by Monday, September 15th.
When will students begin lessons?
Beginning band and orchestra students start in early October. Make sure you have rented your child’s instrument (or completed the loan contract) and purchased their book and accessories by their first lesson. Advanced band and orchestra (2nd year 5th graders) will start earlier, and your child's band or orchestra director will let you and your child know when their first lesson will be.
How do lessons work?
Band and orchestra lessons rotate throughout the school day to avoid situations in which students miss the same subject multiple weeks in a row. Your child will have one small group lesson a week. We will provide you with a weekly or monthly lesson schedule. We will communicate details about the schedule once registration closes and we can begin to make lesson groups. Your child will also have one large group rehearsal per week. All rehearsals and lessons are during the school day.
What do students need for their lesson?
Students will need their instrument and lesson book and any music that the teacher has given your child. They also need any specific instrument extras such as reeds, valve oil, shoulder rest, and rosin. Please check your school’s music website for required accessories.
What should a student do if they miss their lesson? Your teacher will post on Schoology the weekly assignment so that your child knows what to practice on their own.
What if something is wrong with their instrument?
Do not attempt to repair the instrument yourself. Please let your band or orchestra teacher know ASAP. Then together we will figure out a plan to get it fixed.
What kind of a time commitment does this involve?
Students are expected to practice 4-5 times each week for at least TWENTY minutes each time. Playing an instrument asks students to use muscles in ways that they may not be used to using them. As with any other physical activity, this takes time to develop. Practicing consistently will help students develop their playing skills at a steady rate.
What should I do if my child begins to lose interest?
Please speak to your child’s band or orchestra teacher if your child begins to lose interest or is having trouble. Very often, a little extra help from the teacher can get them back on the right track.
How can I help my child at home?
The best thing that any family member can do is encourage/remind your child to play. Having a specific time each week to practice and a designated space is very beneficial. You can also make a habit of asking them to play for you. Some parents even have a mini-concert weekly (or especially for relatives when they visit). If a student knows that you care how they are doing with their instrument, they will be more apt to practice it on a regular basis.