Summer Band Lessons provided a great opportunity for all band students to keep playing their instruments and improve their music abilities. Summer lessons are open to all band students at all grade levels.
Summer School band lessons are a fun, laid back way to keep playing our instruments. Besides learning more about our instrument, we often play more “fun” music. For older students, we could also start to learn a secondary instrument, or start exploring how to play jazz and pep band music. Current 8th graders will spend most of the time learning our pep band and marching band music. Most importantly, Summer Band Lessons Are FUN!!!
Summer School Band Lessons run concurrently with the Summer School program, however they are NOT a Summer School class. Students do not have to be enrolled in Summer School to take Lessons – in fact about more than half of the students who participate in Summer Band Lessons just come to school for their lesson. Students can sign up for lessons during all or only part of Summer School: Come for lessons during one session, both sessions, one week, or just a few weeks – whatever works in your family’s schedule!
Summer Lessons will take place from June 12 through July 3rd and will be divided into 2 sessions: Session A (June 9-June 20 – 10 days), and Session B (June 23 – July 3 – 9 days). Summer school is now from 8:00am to 12:00noon – so starting one hour earlier than previous years. Lessons will take place during the same morning hours.
The format of the lessons will be similar to what goes on during the rest of the school year. Students will be assigned a time and we will meet with me once or twice a week for about 15-20 minutes at a time. These will be “pull-out lessons” from the student’s regular summer school classes like they are during the year. If students are not participating in summer school classes, they would only come to school during their lesson time. Again, Summer School lessons are not a “class” that needs to be registered for through the Summer School application process. Students in summer school should sign up for all of their classes – they will just miss 15-20 minutes of a class once or twice a week.
I highly encourage every band student enrolled in summer school, especially every current 5th and 6th graders sign-up for these lessons. Again, you do not have to be enrolled in Summer School to participate!!
ALSO: Summer School JAZZ BAND IS BACK!! This class will take place during the 11:00-12:00 period during Session B only. Come have fun with us and learn how to play in a new style of music. This is open to all current 6th,7th, and 8th grade band members (sorry, no 5th graders). You can come for just this class if you want! More information will follow from Mr. Petersen soon!
Please fill out the registration online (CLICK HERE) indicate if you would like summer lessons by May 23. I will then create a lesson schedule and have it to you the following week. As always, please contact me if you have any questions.
Summer School Jazz Band is open to any band member who has just completed 6th, 7th, or 8th Grade. This class will be part of the summer school program and will meet daily from 11:00am-12:00noon during the 9 days of Session 2 of summer school (June 23 -July 3). Students do not have to be enrolled in the rest of summer school to participate – they can just come to Jazz Band.
This is a great, short (only 9 days!) opportunity to explore a new style of music! Jazz band gives students the opportunity to learn how to play their instrument in a different style than concert band. While learning about different jazz style, students will also learn the basic techniques of improvisation and creating their own music! Jazz Band also allows students to learn how to play another instrument, be it the saxophone, guitar, bass, or drum set. Students with piano background are also encouraged to join because piano is a “jazz instrument” as well.
Why Join Jazz Band? Jazz has been an important part of American culture for the past hundred years, and is America's only true musical art form. Jazz's influence is taken from an array of musical genres-notably African rhythms, but also New Orleans ragtime marching bands, up-beat brass bands, slave songs, spirituals, gospel, blues and European marches and melodies. Jazz itself went on to influence Rock ‘n Roll. Although not easily defined, jazz incorporates the elements of improvisation and swing-the drive that makes you want to tap your feet or get up and dance.
Registration – If you are NOT doing any other summer school classes and would like to just come for jazz band, just sign-up using THIS LINK. If your student IS participating in other Summer School classes, please use the online registration process to register for jazz band (Again, it is during Session 2 at 4th Period). AND, I would still like you to complete the linked form for my own records and also to give me more information for planning purposes.