Important band information for the 25/26 school year:
All students receive a band lesson in a small group of like instruments.
Students can do BOTH band and chorus - 5th graders will have full band rehearsal every day during a dedicated band/chorus block of time. If students want to sing in chorus, they alternate days.
Two local music stores, Ellis music (located in Bethel) and Music and Arts (located in Burlington) will be servicing our school next year every week, bringing rentals, returns, repairs, loaner instruments and needed accessories.
Band and chorus are optional and not required for any student. While students all attend a general music class, band and chorus are by choice.
General band info:
All students receive a band lesson in a small group of like instruments. Most band lesson groups are 4-6 students in size.
Lessons are offered in a pull out style - students come with the same group of like instruments OUT of their regularly scheduled class for their band lesson. We work in conjunction with teachers to allow this to happen.
The band lesson schedule has rotated throughout the school year, so the students aren't missing the same class year round.
Starting instruments offered:
flute
clarinet
trumpet
trombone
euphonium
AFTER ONE YEAR OF CLARINET, STUDENTS MAY SWITCH TO SAXOPHONE THROUGH A SELECTION PROCESS.
AFTER ONE YEAR OF ANY INSTRUMENTS STUDENTS MAY SWITCH TO PERCUSSION/DRUMS THROUGH A DRUM TEST PROCESS
We ask families to rent instruments through Ellis music or Music and Arts - they offer the highest quality instruments at affordable prices. Included are a rent to own plan, all repairs during the rental, sanitized loaner instruments and school service visits.
We have a small fleet of instruments available at school for families to use where cost is a barrier to participation. We will work with families to ensure all students who want to participate, can. Please only request a school instrument if you are unable to rent one due to cost. We want every student to play an instrument who wants to, but do have a VERY limted supply of instruments.
Rent/vs buy:
When you rent an instrument, you get a few things added into the mix. First and foremost, you get a very high quality instrument for your child to play. They do a rent to own option, and they handle all repairs in house with very quick turn around.
If you purchase a used instrument, 9 times out of 10 they need repair work right from the start to be in top playing condition. I notice that most instruments go in for a quick repair 1-2 times per year across the board (this depends on the child of course), and the average cost of each repair is around $100.
I am more than happy to check out an instrument you are planning on purchasing prior to doing so!!!
Beware of the Amazon and EBAY $80 instruments. These are not repairable by most repair technicians, as the parts aren't available. Contact me if you are looking to purchase something.