5th Grade
previous newsletters
previous newsletters
9/3/25
Good morning,
All students in 5th grade Band are currently trying out instruments during Band class and workshop time this week, and I believe this process should be completed by Friday. If your Band student already knows what they want to play great, otherwise they will all have the opportunity to explore how an instrument sounds, how it feels on their lips/mouth, and be guided to what would be most successful for them. You can watch Instrument Choice for Beginners videos on the Foxview Band web site at home to discuss their choice as well. Once a student decides what instrument they want to play they are instructed to tell you at home, and you can then work on obtaining their instrument of choice. You can go to the Rental link page to order an instrument, which will be thru Instrumental Music Co.. The music store knows what brands of instruments we use at Foxview and which supplies are needed, and will deliver your Band student's instrument and supplies to Foxview after you place your order online (you may also do it in person at the store if you'd prefer). If you already have an instrument, and you want me to take a look at it to be sure its working properly, please feel free to send the instrument to school with your Band student. If you are getting supplies on your own here is what is on the school supply list:
- An instrument in good working order
- "Tradition of Excellence" lesson book (red cover), DO NOT get the Standard of Excellence lesson book.
- Pencil
IF A STUDENT CHANGES THEIR MIND on what they want to play simply have them talk to me. The music store can easily change out an instrument rental no problem.
It is important that the students have an instrument as soon as possible. We will aim for a Sept 15th start time to begin showing Band students how to put their instruments together correctly, how to care for them, how to hold them, play their first sounds, how to use their lesson book for when they practice at home and in Band rehearsals and workshop lessons.
If you are having difficulty obtaining an instrument for whatever reason PLEASE email me, I can help!!
If you are new to the district or student just switched to Band, as an FYI, past messages are listed below :)
As an FYI, for your planning, our first 5th Band Concert will be on Monday, Dec. 15th, at 5:00, and will be live streamed for families and friends living out of town that can't make it.
Any questions you may have please email me -----> candersen@depere.k12.wi.us
Thank you!
Mr. Andersen
DePere Bands
------------------------------------------PREVIOUS MESSAGES----------------------------------------
8/29/25
Hello 5th Grade Band Families!
We are beginning to try instruments during Band class and workshop next week! It is very important the students try instruments out with their band director(s) to find the right fit. This week we demonstrated instruments they can start on at the Foxview, and next week we try out the instruments to see if they can:
- produce the correct vibration/sound
- see if the vibration feels ok in their mouth, next to their teeth, etc...
- see if they like the way the instrument sounds when they play it personally
- and test students to play in the percussion section (more info on this is coming)...
You can go to the Foxview Band web site and click on Instrument Choices for Beginners page to watch more videos, and there is a section with most frequently asked questions you can read as well.
**As soon as your Band student comes home and says "I tried out some instruments, I want to play the..." you can go ahead and rent an instrument.
As an FYI, most families rent an instrument before purchasing. If a student accidentally damages the instrument the music store will fix or replace at no extra cost if it's damaged during the student's first year.
When you go to the music store or use the link above to rent an instrument the store will give you the proper supplies needed, as well the lesson book we use specific to the student's instrument of choice (Tradition of Excellence).
Once you rent an instrument the music store will prep the instrument and supplies and deliver them to Foxview where we will show your Band student how to properly put it together.
If you already own an instrument, students may bring it to school next and we will assign them a locker in the Band room :)
We should be done trying out instruments by next Friday, and aiming for all students to have an instrument asap!
If you have questions or need clarification please email me -----> candersen@depere.k12.wi.us
Thank you and have a great Labor Day weekend,
Mr. Andersen and Mrs. Manning
------------------------------------------PREVIOUS MESSAGES----------------------------------------
8/26/25
Hello 5th Grade Band Families!
The following message contains general information about how the Foxview Band schedule works, and what supplies your Band student will need to participate. Also, we have new students joining us, and there are class roster changes and additions almost daily, so, for your convenience, all previous messages are copied and pasted if you are just joining us here in my informative novels :) Please read thru the following:
BAND CLASS...
-Large group Band class meets every other day
-Your Band student is in either Day 1 Band or Day 2 Band
-Day 1 Band starts Thursday
-Day 2 Band first meets on Friday
-Here is the Foxview web site with Day 1 or 2 dates half way down the page, remember to skip holidays and days off of school when thinking Day 1 or 2.
No supplies needed for Band the first week of school, just a desire to pick out an instrument!
PLEASE DO NOT rent an instrument until your child has tried out instruments with us in the first few days of school.
CHOOSING AN INSTRUMENT...
-- Students will be given the opportunity to try out instruments in Band class immediately at the start of school.
-- If your future Band student doesn't know what instrument they want to play yet, no worries, we will help them find the right choice!
-- We highly suggest that your Band student tries instruments with us AT school rather than going to a music store to try them out. We have 300+ students in Band, and we have the experience and the ability to help fit them correctly. For example, one visit to the music store doesn't always work, and a student is not always sure what they want to play after trying them out there, whereas we will see them daily at school either in class or during workshop and work with them to really be sure what works best for their muscles and abilities. Choosing the right instrument from the start is huge!!
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING RENTING AN INSTRUMENT...
Instrumental Music Company in Green Bay that has streamlined the rental process by simply clicking on their rental link page. I will send out an email when you can begin the rental process, and let you know when instruments will be delivered to school. And as an FYI, it is much better to have your Band student's instrument delivered to school rather than taking it home from the store as we can show them how to put it together properly, give them tips on responsibility for its care, and form good warm up habits for success right from the start.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND RENTING AN INSTRUMENT...
-- You can always go to the music store, and a representative will assist you rather than ordering online.
-- Instruments and supplies will be delivered to Foxview with your child's name on it.
-- It is best to have the instrument delivered to school where the Band directors will show the students how to properly assemble, clean and maintain your investment, AND produce the correct sound without developing a bad habit from the start.
-- If your Band students wants to change what they want to play the music store will simply switch out instruments, there is no loss in rental money or additional charges, and will exchange the instrument through me here at Foxview for no downtime.
-- If there are any damages or repairs needed, local music stores will support a rented instrument no question, at no extra cost.
IF YOU ALREADY OWN AN INSTRUMENT...
then all you need is a pencil, and the "Tradition of Excellence" lesson book 1 (DO NOT get the Standard of Excellence).
IF YOU ARE BUYING A USED INSTRUMENT, OR BORROWING FROM A RELATIVE OR PRIVATE PARTY...
Feel free to send it to school with your child and Mr. Andersen will be happy to assess its playing condition. If a seller, say for example, off marketplace won't let you take the instrument to be checked by me that's understandable, but then be very cautious about purchasing as you don't want to wind up with possible costly repairs to a used instrument.
ALL BAND STUDENTS WILL EVENTUALLY NEED...
- pencil
- the "Tradition of Excellence" lesson book 1 (DO NOT get the Standard of Excellence)
- instrument in good working order.
Please email me if you have any questions, otherwise, watch for upcoming informational messages in the next couple of days as your child begins their musical journey in Band!
Mr. Andersen
candersen@depere.k12.wi.us
------------------------------------------PREVIOUS MESSAGES----------------------------------------
8/8/2025
Hello from the Foxview Band program!
I am Mr. Andersen, and Mrs. Manning and I will be your child's Band directors for the 25-26 school year, and we are so looking forward to working with your child in Band! This message is to just pass along some general information to get things started. In our first week of school we will be demonstrating instrument choices and helping your Band student find the right choice. We highly encourage you to have your Band student wait to try instruments out with their director at Foxview rather than going to a music store before school starts. If a student already knows what they want to play that is great, if not, no worries, we will get to know your Band student and do some one-on-one mouthpiece testing, and help them choose the instrument they want to play in the Foxview Band program. We can't wait to get started!
Please share the following with your child before school starts:
-- The Band directors will demonstrate the instruments during Band class.
-- All students will get the opportunity to try out instruments.
-- The Band directors will help you decide what you want to play and help you find the right fit.
-- If you change your mind on an instrument choice at anytime, either tell the Band directors, or a parent(s) can send an email (if they are shy).
-- The follow is a list of instruments you can choose from in Band: Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, and Percussion. Students that want to play percussion will play 8 to 12 instruments in their first year, therefore to start in the percussion section it is required that a student has taken private music lessons learning how to read notes and rhythms, say on piano or guitar for example. If a student has not had private music lessons, they may audition to play in the percussion section after the Winter concert. Focusing on a wind instrument will help a student learn how to read notes and rhythms, and give them tools they need to switch to the percussion section if still desired.
-- While the above mentioned instruments are what beginners usually start on at Foxview, there are many others available for students to play, these will be introduced during class time and made available to try as the year progresses :)
-- If a student is interested in saxophone they should start on clarinet first as it is lighter to hold, has similar fingerings, plays in the same clef, develops the large group muscles quicker, etc... Once a student shows studious progress on the clarinet they may try out the alto sax at school with the Band directors, and if a Band director thinks a student is ready to switch to saxophone, they will contact a parent/guardian to help make arrangements to switch to saxophone after the Winter Concert.
Basic Info For Parents:
* Students do not need an instrument for the start of school.
* Information on how to obtain an instrument is coming soon!
* It is not necessary for a child to make a decision on instrument choice before school starts, and highly encouraged to wait to do so with the Band directors.
* Even if a student thinks they know what they want to play, they should still try it out when school starts with a director to be sure it is the right fit.
* Information on obtaining an instrument, and/or renting one, will be sent out soon.
* Already have an instrument passed down in the family? I will be glad to take a look at it once school starts to give you an idea on its playing condition.
If some of what you read so far seems foreign, or confusing, please be patient, after I'm done tearing out the bushes, fixing my motorcycle, cutting the grass, and and and... I will send more information very soon on how the Band program works at Foxview!
Thank you,
Chris Andersen
candersen@depere.k12.wi.us