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Our mission as music educators is for our students to develop a life-long appreciation of the arts through playing and performing on a musical instrument. We consider band to be a process that continues through high school. The most important factor in a student continuing in band all the way through high school is whether or not they feel successful. That is why placing a student on the correct instrument is so important. We look at physical characteristics and student interest first. We also consider instrumentation needs. That means we need a balanced number of all the band instruments. The Beckendorff Band Staff is well trained in helping you choose the best instrument for you.
Percussion Class
Beginning Band has many instruments to choose from. If your child is interested in learning drum set or playing the drums as you would in a rock band, this class may not be what you are expecting. Percussion includes snare drum, keyboards (i.e. xylophone), timpani, and accessories (i.e. cymbals, bass drum, triangle, etc.) Drum set is not offered in the percussion class. Prior experience on drum set is not a consideration in selection for the percussion class.
Class Size Limitations
The class size for percussion is limited because of the number of percussion parts in band music and the availability of instruments. Unlike the brass and woodwind instruments in the band, percussion calls for one person on a part. If the class size in beginner band is not limited, down the road there would be many students who do not get to perform and that is not educationally sound.
The same is true for some of the brass and woodwind instruments. Due to the nature of some instruments (alto saxophone, oboe, bassoon, french horn, euphonium, and tuba), there can only be a limited number in each performing band which means we must limit the number of students started in beginning band.
Screening / “Lottery”
Because of the large number of students interested in these instruments and the limited class sizes, there is a possibility that students who are approved could be placed in a “lottery” for placement. All students will be screened for a second choice instrument in case a lottery is needed. If they are not selected in an instrument lottery, they will get to play the other instrument they chose. All students will be notified in May with confirmation of their instrument.
Due to the unique nature and typical high demand for percussion class, all students who choose percussion must also choose a brass or woodwind instrument they would be happy with at their first meeting. That way, if a student is not selected for percussion they will have a good backup already in place. Prospective percussion students will come back for a second percussion evaluation. Invitations to the percussion evaluation may be given to students who seem well suited for it at their first instrument selection meeting. Students will not be evaluated for percussion without first attending a brass/woodwind selection meeting.
Piano Background
While not a requirement for selection into percussion class, a piano background is helpful for students because of the keyboard and music theory experience received. (If you state that you have piano background, be prepared to play the piano for us.) Having had piano lessons does not guarantee you a spot in the percussion class, but the experience of formal piano lessons helps students with the skills needed in percussion.
We have found that students who audition well and possess many of the necessary traits for which we test end up being successful in the class and continue in band. Students who have a difficult time demonstrating these skills struggle in the class even if they work really hard and tend to drop out over time. We want your child to be successful in band and enjoy their experience. We will do our very best to place them on an instrument that will help them do just that!
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