Greetings Parents, Guardians, and Students,
The Evergreen Elementary School District is pleased to offer weekly instrumental music lessons to all 5Th and 6Th grade students with no previous experience required. Weekly 45 minute lessons run from September through May and conclude with the Spring Concert in late May. Second year students will also perform in the Winter Concert before the Winter break. Band in elementary school is a great way to try something new and take pride in the progress being made. It is also a great way to prepare students to continue in band through middle school and beyond, while starting with small class sizes and a real focus on the basics of reading music. Lessons will be provided for the following instruments:
Flute Clarinet Alto Saxophone Trumpet
Trombone Baritone Horn Percussion(Drums) /Bell Kit
The instruments above are a basic set of ensembles known as "Symphonic Band". A common question is whether violin, guitar, or piano lessons are offered, however those instruments are not part of a Symphonic Band (it would be like bringing a basketball to a football game). That being said, previous experience on any instrument can make learning a band instrument much easier. Students who have experience reading music can focus more on the physical aspects of playing a new instrument and piano students often find the bell kit familiar since it is a keyboard percussion instrument. Learning any instrument requires regular and consistent effort and in that way is much more like exercise than artistic inspiration.
Students will have a short presentation during the first two weeks of school explaining a little about each instrument and how the lessons will work. It is important to keep in mind that lessons are part of the regular school day and students are still responsible for whatever work they will miss during their lesson time.
Please email me if you have any questions,
Matthew Powell
EESD Music Teacher
mpowell@eesd.org