Q: Can you sing in chorus AND play an instrument?
A: Yes! Rehearsals and lessons will never overlap!
Q: Can you play a band instrument AND an orchestra instrument?
A: Unfortunately, no. You may only choose one instrument to play.
Q: Can I stop playing part-way through the year or after the year is done?
A: We really encourage anyone who starts an instrument to play all the way through LIS, LMS, and LHS! Learning an instrument is a skill that takes years- you are investing time to learn, and we are investing time to teach you! However, if you decide that playing an instrument is not for you, at the end of the year you may inform your music teacher that you would like to quit.
Q: Do 4th grade instrumentalists have a concert?
A: No, only 5th and 6th graders have a concert. 4th Grade focuses on learning how to play your instrument. 5th and 6th grade, you are enhancing your individual skills and learning how to play as an ensemble in band or orchestra!
Q: Can I participate in more than one advanced ensemble in 5th and 6th grade?
A: Unfortunately, no. Musicians may audition for multiple ensembles, but they may only participate in one (Pitch Black, Jazz Band, or String Ensemble).
Q: Do you teach guitar or piano lessons?
A: No, we do not teach lessons on those instruments.
Q: If I play guitar or piano outside of school, do I have any opportunities to play at LIS?
A: Yes! If you are in chorus, we are always looking for students to play 'transition music' on the keyboards! If you are in 5th or 6th grade band or orchestra, you can audition to be part of Jazz Band (piano or guitar) or String Ensemble (piano).
Q: How often do instrumentalists have lessons?
A: Once every six-school days. 5th and 6th graders also have band or orchestra once every six school days.
Q: Do lessons pull-out from academic classes?
A: We do our best to only schedule lessons during OWL Time, and most students have their lesson during OWL time once every six days. However, some exceptions are possible, as the LIS schedule is very tight! A music teacher will communicate with you if this is the case.
Q: Are concerts mandatory to attend?
A: YES! Ensembles are only successful if every musician is present! A choir without singers means Mrs. Ploener waving her arms around; a band or orchestra without players means that the sound is not balanced and you are letting your team down. Every musician and every voice matters for our concerts!!!
Q: How often are musicians supposed to practice?
A: Just like anything in life, your progress and growth depend on how much time you invest. A minimum of 3 times a week for 15 minutes a session is suggested for consistent growth. However, we encourage our students to practice 5 times a week for 30-45 minutes. Practicing is a wonderful cycle: the more you practice, the better you get; the better you get, the more confident you feel; the more confident you feel, the more you want to practice!
It is also much more effective to practice 3-5 times a week for 15-20 minutes (a total of between 45 and 100 minutes) than it would be to put that 45-100 minutes into 1 day; multiple smaller steps will advance you more quickly than one huge standing long jump.
Q: What Method Book do we use at LIS?
A: We use the Sound Innovations method book. All instrumental music students are required to have their own copy of this book for use in lessons. Although all Book 1 (Blue Wave) and Book 2 (Red Wave) method books look the same from the outside cover, it is important to look at the top right corner of the book to see if your instrument matches that book. 4th graders use Book 1. 5th graders who started in 4th grade will continue using Book 1, but may transition to Book 2 during the year. 6th graders who began lessons as 4th graders will use Book 2. Your instrumental teacher will let you or your child know when it is time to acquire Book 2.
Q: What happens if I miss a lesson?
A: As the instrumental teaching schedule is so tight, it is hard to reschedule lessons. Your teacher will be in touch with you if there is a possibility to reschedule. Otherwise, please come to your next regularly scheduled lesson. If missing lessons due to excessive school absences or consistently forgetting or choosing to stay in class occurs, your guardian will be contacted by the instrumental teacher.
Q: How do I get an instrument?
A: To get an instrument, you must rent from a music store. Please click the Beginner Instrument Information page tab for info about renting.
Q: When do I need to bring my instrument to school?
A: Please bring your instrument to school every lesson day. If you are in 5th or 6th grade, you must also bring your instrument on the day you have your ensemble rehearsal. Please take home your instrument everyday that you bring it. DO NOT leave it in your classroom overnight.
If you have a question that is not covered here, please reach out to:
Mr. Taglairino (band-related question) at rtaglairino@ltps.org
Mrs. Clark (orchestra-related question) at mclark@ltps.info
*Mr. Krywinski is in for Mrs. Clark until mid-October- bkrywinski@ltps.org
Mrs. Ploener (chorus/general music-related question) at bploener@ltps.org