Embedded Files
Criteria to Use Instruments
Criteria to Use Instruments
New 2024: Families can pay their instrument maintenance fee on Infinite Campus.
New 2024: Families can pay their instrument maintenance fee on Infinite Campus.
They can select "optional fees" or building lead clericals can add the fee to a student's account for the family to access.
They can select "optional fees" or building lead clericals can add the fee to a student's account for the family to access.
Band Instruments
Elementary
It is the responsibility of the Director to assist the student and parent in selecting the instrument best suited for the student as determined by physical adaptability, musical aptitude, and interest.
Fulfillment of balanced instrumentation specified by standards. When possible, the District will provide instruments which are not available for rental from area music stores: oboe, French horn, baritone and tuba. An annual maintenance fee of $70 will be assessed for the use of school instruments.
Based on workable like-instrument group lesson combinations.
Students who are identified as needing the assistance of free and reduced lunch will have first priority for school owned instruments. This identification shall be made by the parent granting permission for the Director to verify the student's status for free and reduced lunch in order to waive the annual maintenance fee.
Middle School
Directors will notify grade parents/guardians of the opportunity to use the following school instruments: oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, French horn, baritone, tenor saxophone, trombone and tuba.
A student who received a school instrument in fifth grade will be offered use of the same instrument during his/her middle school years.
Directors will guide families to instruments which show the most potential for that child's musical success.
Students who are identified as needing the assistance of free and reduced lunch will have first priority for school owned instruments. If the students did receive a school instrument in fifth grade, the parent must provide a copy of the letter that identifies them as eligible for free or reduced lunch in order to waive the annual maintenance fee.
High School
A student who received a school instrument in eighth grade will be offered use of the same instrument during his/her high school years.
When students are asking to switch instruments to provide more balanced instrumentation, school instruments should be provided rather than asking students to purchase a second instrument.
If students "double" on another instrument to help fill balanced instrumentation needs, school maintenance fee may be waived.
During marching season, specialized percussion instruments are provided by the school to those students selected through auditions. General percussion instruments used in the "pit" area can be shared with concert band.
Concert instruments not adaptable to marching instrumentation include: oboe, bassoon, French horn, euphoniums, and tubas. Students playing these instruments in concert band need a second instrument provided by the school. (see #3 for "doubling")
Jazz bands are separate ensembles with some specialized instrument needs. These include a higher percentage of tenor and bari saxophones and bass trombones, a drum set, bass, amplifiers, and piano, and should be augmented with District Inventory.
Orchestra Instruments
Elementary & Middle School
Students who are identified as needing the assistance of free and reduced lunch will have first priority for school owned instruments. This identification shall be made by the parent granting permission for the Director to verify the students' status for free or reduced lunch in order to waive the annual maintenance fee.
A student who received a school instrument in fifth grade will be offered use of the same instrument during his/her middle school years.
Fulfillment of balanced instrumentation specified by standards. When possible, the District will provide instruments which are not available for rental from area music stores: cello, bass and some violas.
Students who show great interest with parent support.
Appropriate size of instrument shall be assigned.
Instrument shall be distributed to achieve a balanced instrumentation.
High School
Students who are identified as needing the assistance of free and reduced lunch will have first priority for school owned instruments. This identification shall be made by the parent granting permission for the Director to verify the student's status for free or reduced lunch in order to waive the annual maintenance fee.
A student who received a school instrument in eighth grade will be offered use of the same instrument during his/her high school years.
Students who show great interest with parent support.
Appropriate size of instrumentation shall be assigned.
Instrument shall be distributed to achieve a balanced instrumentation.
End of the Year Checklist for Music Advisors
End of the Year Checklist for Music Advisors
Inventory lists of all instruments with serial numbers and District inventory tag numbers is provided to the Building Principal/Designee, Performing Arts Supervisor, and Comptroller.
Band, orchestra and choral music inventories are updated annually.
All borrowed instruments have been returned to the original building.
All District instruments are secured in locked storage at their home repair location.
All electronic equipment is stored in a secured area in the building.
Pianos are locked and covered.
Arrangements have been made to fill humidifiers during the summer break.
A list of instruments that need repair are to be bid by at least two vendors, and the updated inventory list and repair bids need to be sent to the Performing Arts Supervisor.
All new equipment/cases are marked, numbered and serial numbers recorded on the inventory list.
Instrumental Check Off for End of Year
4 weeks before end of school year
Collect all school "Stringing Along" and "Concert Tunes" books that were checked out to students.
Keep teaching curriculum, do some composing and/or give out some fun music for summer practice
Make sure that you have an accurate school instrument inventory and school book inventory ready for the next few weeks.
Consider keeping all school instruments at school so that students do not forget to bring them for check-in next week.
Check with your band colleague and/or office to see if your school does certificates or other recognition at the end of the year.
If you have not turned in contest money, turn it in to your school secretary. The secretary can deposit it into the school T&A account and write one check to "SFPS" earmarked "orchestra solo/ensemble contest" and send it to Krista DeVries at IPC.
3 weeks before end of school year
Collect ALL school instruments and ALL school books - check them off on inventory lists
Call/email/Remind parents of students who have not returned school owned items. Also notify classroom teachers as they seem to have more contact with the parents and can be a good resource to help get everything returned.
If you feel comfortable, teach the students to clean instruments during one of the last lessons.
As time permits, go through every school instrument and mark it with masking tape either "good summer 23" or write on the tape the repairs that are needed.
Repairs to look for:
Open seams
Cracks
Broken or poorly carved bridges
Loose or disconnected fingerboards
Sound posts down
Pegs not working right
Loose or disconnected necks
Case repairs
Anything else you may notice that needs repairs
Bow rehairs and/or repairs
Last two weeks to the end of year
Attend the elementary scheduling meeting at IPC – watch for announced time
Some middle schools want elementary teachers to complete the repair bid form. Other middle school teachers would prefer to do it themself. Watch for upcoming emails from each middle school.
Make sure that ALL school instruments have been thoroughly checked and marked for repairs. Bring all repairs to the correct feeder middle schools ON TIME for repair bids.
Mark all instruments that do not need repairs as "good", make sure they are cleaned and that the bow hair is loosened. Return them to their home school. (The case should be marked with each school's name.) If not, check your inventory list.
Mark/notate all repairs non-repairs on your inventory.
Summer school instrument check-out:
Any students wanting to check out a school instrument for the summer MUST complete a new check-out form.
Students who have signed up for Summer Orchestra Camp or private lessons may check out a summer instrument.
Any other requests should be checked out thoroughly before checking out an instrument. Use the following criteria:
Is this student responsible (brings instrument home & back, practices, takes care of the instrument)
Is this student likely to move over the summer? (Check with office and classroom teacher.)
Talk to parent/guardian
Any summer checkouts must be DOCUMENTED CLEARLY with the inventory and a hard copy left at the school.
Do not check out any instruments from another school's inventory without checking first with the teacher at that school.
Make sure that all school books are returned and put away neatly.
Check with the middle school teachers to see if they need help with repair bids, cleaning instruments or other tasks. (They have middle school kids in the classroom through the last day with limited time to complete tasks.)
Complete quarter 4 and final grades.
Make notes for next year.
Complete informal recruiting of lower grades
Organize your classroom.
Put everything away for the summer as much as possible.
If you are changing schools for next year, check with the current teacher and schedule a visit.
Loosen all bass strings about ½ - 1 step to prevent repair issues over the summer.
Follow your school's teacher check-out plan for the last day(s) of school.
Summer Repair bids are due by the last week of school. ^_^
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