Welcome to the Regina Elementary Band website!
My name is Mrs. Glass, and I have been teaching music for 23 years. My main instruments are clarinet and piano, but I also play flute, saxophone, trumpet, horn, euphonium, trombone, tuba, percussion, and I'm learning violin.
In 5th and 6th grade, students may choose to enroll in band class at Regina. Students have a 20 minute lesson once a week and a 40 minute full band class one or two times each week. To learn more about how to join the Regina Elementary Band, please go to the How to Join the Band tab on this website.
Important Dates for 2023-2024
Parent and Student Information Meeting: for 5th grade students interested in band (and 6th grade students who were not in band at Regina in 5th grade) and their families on Monday, August 28 from 7-8PM in the High School Band Room. Enter the building through Door 10. A representative from West Music will attend virtually to answer questions about renting an instrument from West Music. This meeting will be recorded and a link will be shared with all 5th grade families, to help those who cannot attend.
Families have two options to get an instrument. You can rent or buy (at a 30% discount) an instrument from West Music, either online at rent.westmusic.com or stop in at their Coralville store on 5th Street and 12th Avenue. Instruments will be delivered to school. Or you can acquire a used instrument through family, friends, school connections, or places like Facebook Marketplace. There are many good quality, name-brand used instruments available for 50%-75% off the price of a new instrument. There are also instruments that are junk being sold on those sites. Mrs. Glass can help with finding a quality used instrument. Please do not buy an inexpensive instrument from a major online retailer - they are essentially disposable decorative items. A few school-owned instruments (flutes, clarinets, trombones, euphoniums) are available at a reduced rate rental fee for families with financial need.
Deadline for renting/buying from West Music - Thursday, September 7, 2023: Complete your rental or purchase order for instruments through West Music by this date to ensure your student's instrument arrives in time for the Super Lesson.
- Super Lessons: Group lesson for each instrument group to learn how to assemble the instrument, how to make a sound, and how to care for the instrument. Parents and students should attend together.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
High School Band Room, enter the building through Door 10
Flutes: 6:00-6:45 PM
Clarinets: 7:00-7:45 PM
Alto Saxophones: 8:00-8:45 PM
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
High School Band Room, enter the building through Door 10
Trumpets and Euphoniums: 6:00-6:45 PM
Trombones: 7:00-7:45 PM
Percussion 8:00-8:30 PM
If you cannot attend an evening Superlesson, additional Superlessons are available September 19, 20, 21, & 22 at 7:15-8:00AM. Contact Mrs. Glass to sign up for a morning Superlesson.
5th Grade Band First Inform-ance - Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 7PM OR 8PM, in the High School Band Room. (Access via Door 10). 5th Grade Band students will inform and perform for their parents/guardians in this opportunity to show what students have learned in the first six weeks of band. Then, students will teach their parents/guardians how to assemble, hold, and play the instrument. Families can choose either Session 1 at 7:00-7:45PM or Session 2 at 8:00-8:45PM to accommodate everyone in the high school band room.
Regina Band Field Trip to University of Iowa Band Extravaganza: Sunday, November 5 at Xtreme Arena in Coralville - Regina band students are invited to a pizza party at school, then bus to XTREAM Arena in Coralville to see the University of Iowa Band Extravaganza, featuring Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Hawkeye Marching Band. Parent chaperone volunteers are needed. Students are required to wear their Regina band T-shirt (provided by the school). This field trip is optional for students. This is a ticketed event, so advance sign-up from students and parents is required. The cost of tickets, pizza, and busing will be covered by funds donated to Regina Elementary Band.
Christmas Concert, Elementary Music Performance Ensembles: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 7:00PM, HS Gym. This concert will also feature 5th/6th grade orchestra and 6th grade choir. 4th Grade Orchestra will not perform at this concert. Teachers will communicate with students and families about what time students should arrive.
Spring Concert, Band Showcase: Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 7:00PM, HS Gym. This concert will also feature the Junior High Band. Teachers will communicate with students and families about what time students should arrive.
Important Links
First Year Band
In First Year Band, students learn both music literacy and music performance skills. Students learn the basics of playing their instrument and music skills such as instrument assembly, proper instrument care, tone production, articulation, and music reading/literacy. Students use Habits of a Successful Beginning Band Musician in their lessons and in band class throughout the year. By the end of the year, 1st year band students will be proficient in reading and playing the music in this method book. In addition to the lessons books, students also will work on full band music. Through full ensemble activities, students learn basic ear training, improvisation, music theory, and composition skills. By playing in band, students learn the basic elements of ensemble playing, rehearsal strategies and concert etiquette.
Regina Elementary Band FAQs: Click here for more information.
Choosing an instrument: Click here for more information.
Band Skills and Concepts: Click here for more information.
First Year Band supply list: Click here for more information.
How much should my student practice? Click here for more information.
How do you practice an instrument? Click here for more information.
Elementary band Amazon wish list - click here.
Second Year Band
Second Year Band builds upon the music literacy and music performance skills learned in beginning band. In lessons, students continue to use Habits of a Successful Beginning Band Musician. New music literacy skills are introduced, such as cut time, compound meter, and major/minor mode, and rhythms that include sixteenth notes. Students also refine their music performance skills, focusing on tone quality, intonation, breath support, and new articulation patterns. Students continue to work on ear training, improvisation, music theory, and composition skills through class activities.
PISA (Parents in Support of the Arts)
PISA is a Regina parent organization that raises funds to support ALL the arts programs at Regina, grades K-12. PISA supports art, music, band, choir, orchestra, speech, drama (plays and musicals) for both elementary and junior high/high school. If you are interested in joining PISA, finding out more about PISA, or helping with one of PISA's fundraisers or arts support efforts, please see the PISA section of Regina's website at https://regina.org/pisa/
15 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Music Lessons
from The Suzuki Triangle Blog by Christine E. Goodner
Make a long term commitment. Studies show this is more important than any other factor in music students long term success.
Believe they CAN do it. Suzuki teacher Alice Joy Lewis says that families she sees be successful are the ones that believe their child absolutely CAN learn to play well.
Find the best teacher you can. A good teacher will help coach you through the rough patches and has the tools to help you turn things around when it’s feeling hard.
Buy or rent a quality instrument. Playing on a bad instrument is like trying to run in bad shoes. If it’s really hard to make a beautiful sound, playing the instrument is not that motivating!
Find out what motivates your child and do that thing. When your child gains more skills on the instrument the music they learn will be their motivation. At first they need help to want to practice. Figure out what motivates them and do that thing a lot
Be encouraging. Don’t point out the 10 things your child is doing wrong. They likely know they are not a professional musician yet, encourage them with something they are doing well. Even if that thing is simply how hard they are working or concentrating. Children do more of what we praise – use that to your advantage.
Help build ownership. If practice = an adult tells me what to do, children tend to dislike it. Coach them through practice while also letting them feel like they are making some decisions. Ask questions. Give them two acceptable choices of what to practice next. Let practice become something that is for them.
Find time in each day’s schedule for your child to practice. Children are not good at time management. They will need your help to find time to practice.
Don’t give up! Sometimes it’s really hard. Sometimes our kids fight us on practice. Don’t give up. This is really normal. Your child can do it (see #2)
Go to live concerts. Seeing performers play music live is so motivating! Many communities have free or inexpensive events to attend if you seek them out. Ask your teacher for recommendations.
Connect your child to a social outlet for their music. Working on something hard, alone in a practice room is not the point of music. Play with and for other students. Join an orchestra or band. Attend a group class or simply invite a friend over who plays an instrument for a musical play date.
Be your child’s biggest fan. We cheer when toddlers learn to walk (even though they hobble around and fall all the time). Cheer on any and all progress. Make sure your child knows you are their biggest fan no matter what.
Make listening to music part of your family culture. When children are surrounded by music in their lives they are much more successful. Just like when we are learning a language, immersion is the best way to pick it up quickly.
Connect to other parents. Whether it’s in online groups, other parents in your studio or a friend whose child also studies music – connecting with other parents on the same journey can make us feel less alone and we can learn from each other what works best.
Do something every day. Literally everyday. Play something, listen to music. What we do daily becomes part of who we are. What we do once in a while can be hard to follow through on. A daily habit makes a huge difference.