Dear incoming 6th grade band parents,

Welcome to Columbine Middle School and the CMS Band website!  If you are reading this, you are probably thinking about enrolling your child in the band program at Columbine.  Learning to play a musical instrument is one of the most challenging, fun, and rewarding experiences your child will have in middle school.  Band will probably be their favorite class, because we laugh and learn together everyday, and everybody participates every day!  There are a lot of days when I tell my class to pack up and lots of kids say, "Is class over already?!"  This is the the beauty of playing an instrument and making music.  I can't wait to meet next year's 6th graders and start learning together with them! Below you find information that I hope will be helpful to you.  If you still have questions that are not answered here, please email me at: john.white@mcsd.org

The weekly band schedule is on the 'Band Schedule' page.  

Instrument choices for 6th grade band:

flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion. To play percussion, you must have at least one year of piano lessons!

After you think you've picked an instrument, watch the videos below to help you decide!

Remember, percussion requires at least one year of piano lessons!

PERCUSSION: your child should not try out for percussion unless they have had at least one year of piano lessons.  Percussion is 80% xylophone, vibraphone, and bells.  Without a basic knowledge of the piano keyboard, percussion students would not be successful.  During the percussion test, I will determine who is qualified to play percussion with a series of very easy rhythm and keyboard tests.  

EQUIPMENT LIST FOR 6TH GRADE BAND 

Check the INSTRUMENT EQUIPMENT LIST PAGE for all of your equipment needs

Instruments available to 6th graders:  flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion (to play percussion you must have one year of piano lessons). See EQUIPMENT page for the required materials that your child will need.

Questions and Answers About Sixth Grade Beginning Band

The following are some of the most commonly asked questions about sixth grade beginning band:

1.  What instruments are available for beginners?

Students entering sixth grade are eligible to start flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, and percussion (percussion is by audition only and students must have completed at least one year of private piano instruction).  Toward the end of the first year, I will select a few flute and clarinet students who would like to switch to saxophone.  We will also switch some students to tuba, french horn, and baritone towards the end of the first year.

2.  How much does it cost to rent an instrument?

Renting an instrument is the best option, rather than buying. The average fee is between $25 and $35 per month.  At most but not all music stores, all of this fee minus the finance charge will be applied to ownership of the instrument.  Some stores only allow the first six months or the first year to be applied toward ownership so be careful when you shop.

Please rent an instrument from a music store that specializes in school band instruments!

Your options to rent are: Roper Music 242-3272 (Grand Junction) or Precedence Music Academy (Montrose) 964-4707

3. How do know if I have a quality instrument?

Quality Brands of instruments:

Here are brands I recommend if you are planning on buying an instrument.  If you don't see the brand here, please contact me before making a purchase:

Flute: Armstrong, Gemeinhardt, Selmer, Yamaha, Emerson, Jupiter, Artley

Clarinet: Buffet, Eastman, Selmer, Vito, Yamaha, Noblet

Trumpet/Cornet: Bach, Conn, Eastman, Getzen, Holton, King, Yamaha

Trombone: Bach, Conn, Eastman, Getzen, Holton, King, Yamaha

Please rent an instrument from a music store that specializes in school band instruments! Cheap instruments on the internet are low-quality and can't be repaired when they break.  Buyer beware!

Your options to rent are:

Roper Music 242-3272 (Grand Junction),

Precedence Music Academy (Montrose) 964-4707 

4.  After sixth grade, what opportunities do students have in the school band program? 

Seventh and eighth grade concert bands are offered, and jazz band (by audition) is available to 7th and 8th graders.  Students in the high school band can participate in marching band, symphonic band, out-of-town honor bands and have opportunities to take trips with the band.

5.  How do we pick the right instrument? 

At instrument try-out night we will look at your student’s preference, body structure, natural talent, and the needs of the band and help your student pick an instrument on which they will be most successful. If your child misses tryout night in the spring, we will try them out in the fall, during or after school.

 6.  How will being in band help my child? 

Your student will develop musical skill they can use for the rest of their life.  Music helps students grow intellectually and emotionally.  Students learn about teamwork, self discipline, excellence, and have opportunities to excel individually.  Students in music also have higher grades and SAT scores than students who are not in music. 

 7.  Can my child still play an instrument if we can’t afford to buy or rent one? 

Yes. We have a limited number of school instruments available.  Most of our school instruments are large expensive instruments that students will be moving to in their second year of band such as tuba, french horn, and baritone.  For sixth graders we have some baritones, a few trombones, and a couple of clarinets, flutes and trumpets.  They are fair in quality but not nearly as good as those you can rent.  Renting is the best way to go!

I look forward to a great year in sixth grade band.  Please don’t hesitate to email me at john.white@mcsd.org with any questions you may have.