frequently asked questions

During the late Spring of the 4th Grade year, the Auten Road instrumental teachers work with all students to provide the opportunity to select and experience instruments offered in the Intermediate instrumental program. When our staff works with the 4th graders, students’ physical characteristics, abilities, and general interests are identified and evaluated, with potential problems noted.  The instrumental staff will then recommend an instrument for your child that they believe offers the best chance for success.  If you have any questions concerning the recommendation, feel free to call the instrumental music staff.  (Final instrument choice is up to the parents; however, we do hope you will give the recommended instrument the utmost consideration).

After discussing the instrument choice with their families, parents/guardians will complete step 2 on our homepage to indicate whether or not they will be participating next year. If you indicate the student is participating, you will make an instrument choice at that time. 

We have provided other resources on this website that provide information about the band and orchestra instruments. In addition to these materials, you may use online videos of "____ solos" to allow your child the opportunity to hear more examples of what the instruments sound like. Whatever instrument they enjoy the sound of the most is more than likely the one they will enjoy playing.

Band: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Percussion.   Orchestra: Violin, Viola, and Cello.

We do have to limit how many students may play each instrument to make sure that we have enough staff and space to fit everyone in the schedule and classrooms. Please click here to see our enrollment maximums. 

Instruments are rented.  The Hillsborough Performing Arts Department has established a list of requirements and services that some local vendors have agreed to provide our students.  The intent is to better ensure you with a quality instrument and service.  Our rental program is a rent to own program and all supplies needed to get started come with your instrument.  Click here to see our rental vendors.

Some of our larger instruments do not fit on the bus so students will have their rented instrument at home to practice while we provide a school instrument for them to use for lessons/rehearsals.  Special situations will be handled individually so if you have any concerns, please contact our staff. Rentals are generally affordable, but if you qualify for government assistance such as free/reduced lunch, you may qualify for an Access Scholarship.

Yes. Our goal is to partner with our families and support the student so they may perform in the spring concert in 5th grade. This fosters a sense of accomplishment because they can say "I made it to my first concert" instead of "I just quit." With that said, if participating is distressing your child, please contact their director so they can help find the best solution because we understand playing an instrument is not for everyone.

In Sixth Grade, with the teacher’s approval and depending upon availability, students may begin the following instruments: Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, French Horn, or Tuba.

The 5th Grade instrumental program is not mandatory. However, 5th Grade is the time to begin playing so if the student has any interest in trying the instrument, we recommend that they try it for the school year and see if they like it. Starting an instrument in future grades can be complicated.

There are two main components of the instrumental music program:

1.  Small Group Lessons: You will practice with other instruments like yours (e.g. a group of all flutes) to learn how to read the notes, move your fingers, blow properly, and take care of your instrument. At ARIS, your child will have Physical Education/Health classes scheduled five days per week.  One day per week (the same day each week to make it easier to remember) your child will attend their small group lesson instead of their Physical Education/Health class. Lessons are a graded class.

2. Large Group Rehearsals: You will attend a full ensemble practice during one class period each Monday to practice with all of the different instruments to help you get ready to play music in a concert.  This class period will rotate among all subjects to minimize the impact on their instruction (typically, any one period is impacted 5% of the time or less during the year). Fifth grade teachers are aware of Monday being a day on which students attend full ensemble practices and they are supportive of students developing responsibility in balancing their learning in both academics and instrumental music. 

Students must participate in both small group lessons and their full ensemble.

The 5th Grade instrumental program begins in September once our staff checks all of the instruments and creates a schedule for rehearsals and lessons.

Instrumental music educators in the school system give the lessons.  There is no charge for these lessons.

Students in 5th grade will learn how to perform as an ensemble and have a nighttime concert at the end of the school year. This is a graded performance and attendance is required. In 6th grade, this expands to one winter and one spring concert each year. Our directors will let you know the dates of the concerts at the start of each school year.

Students may participate in the band or orchestra. Students may also choose to participate in the choir club at ARIS if they enjoy singing (the choir rehearses before school and sign-ups will occur in the fall). All students receive a general music class regardless of whether they play an instrument or sing while at Auten Road.

• Review the terms and conditions of the rental agreement. 

• Show your child that you are interested in his/her musical studies. 

• Encourage your child to practice. Making it part of their daily routines shows that you value their musical experience.

• Help him/her to set a consistent practice time and place. 

• Contact the music teacher if there are any problems or questions.

• Set up a daily practice time. 

• Take care of the instrument. 

• Attend all lessons and rehearsals. 

• Do not leave the instrument in school. 

• Practice proper discipline and behavior.

The parent purchases the lesson workbook included in their initial rental fee, which is then used and kept by the student. The teachers will let you know when the students are ready to move into the next book and then that will need to be purchased.

Individual instruments require various supplies.  A complete list will be posted on our teachers' websites.  Costs are minimal.

Your child will participate in one spring evening concert in 5th grade. Staring in 6th grade, students will have a winter and spring evening concert each year. Other opportunities, based on teacher recommendation, may include the Central Jersey Music Educator Association's honors ensemble or region band auditions.

We want your child to be a success.  If problems arise, please call the instrumental music teacher immediately.  Working together, the teacher, parent and child can solve almost any problem.  As a final step, a student may drop from the program with written notification from the parent to the instrumental music teacher. However, our goal is for your child to try and complete the year because they are part of a team so please work with our staff to avoid leaving the program during the year.

The Band and Orchestra programs continue and expand in the Middle School with the Seventh and Eighth Grade Bands and Orchestras.  In addition, students may be selected to participate in the Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, or Chamber Ensembles.  Group lessons will continue as an essential part of your child’s musical development.

Curriculum offerings at the High School include the Freshman Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.  In addition to these instrumental ensembles, exciting musical opportunities exist for students in the Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pit Orchestra, and the Tri-M Music Honors Society.  Group instrumental lessons and small ensemble opportunities continue to be a central part of your child’s musical maturing.

Middle and High School students may be eligible for the Central Jersey Regional Band and Orchestra, the County and State Teen Arts Festivals and the NJ Youth Symphony.  In addition, high school students may be eligible to audition for the Governor’s School of the Arts, All-State/All-Eastern Ensembles, and the other selective or competitive programs.

In addition to numerous awards for our bands, choruses, and orchestras, hundreds of individual Hillsborough students have successfully auditioned for highly competitive, honors groups.  These include: the All-Central Jersey Intermediate Band and Orchestra; the All-Central Jersey High School Band, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Chorus; the All-State Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and Chorus; the All-Eastern and ACDA Choruses; the New Jersey Youth Symphony.  Our high school marching band has also been named The Pride of Hillsborough by mayoral proclamation!