We strongly recommend renting an instrument through one of our instrument vendors, Coles Music or Music and Arts. Both companies are fantastic, and we are fortunate to have them both to offer our families more options and flexibility. Renting an instrument is safe, reliable, and convenient. Your child will have an instrument in great condition, with access to expert repairs/replacements. We highly recommend not purchasing an instrument through Amazon. Oftentimes, instruments from there are not the highest quality and can be difficult to repair. If you have questions or concerns about obtaining an instrument, please email me.
In band, we have in-school lessons and before-school rehearsals. In-school lessons occur once a cycle during the school day. Unless there is an alternate schedule due to a half-day, your child's lesson time will always be the same. For example, your child may have lessons at 9:00 on Day 4 of the cycle. These lessons occur during general instruction, so students are responsible for making up schoolwork. Through organization and communication with our understanding teachers, our band students often do a fantastic job staying up to date with their work. The evening before or morning of your child's lesson, I will send a ParentSquare reminder.
Students also have before-school rehearsals. Students must attend rehearsals to participate in the concert. Rehearsals occur once a cycle, and before school. This is due to a lack of available space to rehearse after school and time to do so during the school day. Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:45 AM. I will open the doors to let students in no later than 7:30 AM. Because we start rehearsing at 7:45, students should arrive at school with ample time to set up their instruments. Of course, I understand we all have some slow mornings, and I encourage your child to still attend rehearsal even if they end up being a little late.
Rehearsals do not occur all year round. I will send a schedule with each date that has a scheduled before-school rehearsal. However, each rehearsal will always take place on a specific day of the cycle:
Tatem - Day 1
Lizzy - Day 3
Central - Day 5
Finally, I will send out reminders through ParentSquare the evening before all rehearsals.
Each elementary school has two concerts, the Winter Concert and the Spring Concert. For the Winter Concert, fifth graders are normally the only band participants. For the Spring Concert, all band students participate.
Winter Concert Location: Haddonfield Memorial High School
Winter Concert Time: 7:00 PM (students will be asked to report for band at 6:30 PM)
Winter Concert Attire: any "dressy" combination of black and white (e.g., white top, black bottoms, white dress, black dress)
Central Winter Concert: Monday, January 26th, 2026
Tatem Winter Concert: Tuesday, January 27th, 2026
Lizzy Winter Concert: Wednesday, January 28th, 2026
Spring Concert Location: Haddonfield Middle School (assuming construction has finished)
Spring Concert Time: 7:00 PM (students will be asked to report for band at 6:30 PM)
Spring Concert Attire: "dressy" and colorful (e.g., polo shirt, colorful dress, khakis)
Central Spring Concert: Thursday, May 28th, 2026
Tatem Spring Concert: Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026
Lizzy Spring Concert: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026
Unfortunately, no. Our elementary schools lack the space to store student instruments. In the past, instruments have been left in hallways, creating hazards and lost instruments. In addition, nothing is more frustrating than wanting to play your instrument at home, but you cannot because it's at school!
We do offer some exceptions for leaving instruments at school. For example, if a student has their in-school lesson on Day 2, then a before-school rehearsal on Day 3, we understand it makes the most sense for your child to keep the instrument at school overnight (especially if it's a big instrument like a trombone). After that Day 3, however, we would ask the student to bring their instrument home until the next Day 2.
Another possible exception would be leaving a large/heavy instrument at school for a day or two if a student has a long walk from school and cannot get a car ride home until a later date.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email me.
Yes, there are often extra performances. Performances outside of our concerts tend to be voluntary, but are great experiences! Throughout history, performances have included holiday celebrations and community meetings. When an extra performance opportunity arises, I will contact you through ParentSquare.
I will always allow a student to attend a test or presentation that is scheduled during their lesson time. If you foresee the conflict ahead of time, please let me know so I can reschedule the lesson. Even if your child comes down first thing in the morning to let me know there is a conflict, I will reschedule their lesson for the day.
Most fourth graders do not participate in the Winter Concert for band. Fourth graders are often unprepared to perform in a concert after playing their instrument for just three months. However, if a fourth grader passes "Jingle Bells" in their lesson book before winter break, they are given the option to participate in the concert. Most fourth graders do not reach the "Jingle Bells" benchmark, which is 100% okay. The opportunity to perform in the Winter Concert serves as an incentive for some students, while not having the stress of performing in a concert so soon allows students to progress at their own pace.