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Overview
Overview
Students begin learning to play instruments in 5th grade at Minden Public Schools. The students are introduced to brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments and then they are given the opportunity to try to make a sound on the various instruments. Classes are taught in like instrument groups.
Students are introduced to the essential fundamentals of beginning band including posture, correct embouchure/playing position, tone production, technique, balance, and blend. In addition, the students will learn about basic care and maintenance of their instruments.
The 5th Grade Band will be using Tradition of Excellence as the primary method book. They will also perform a variety of core repertoire for beginning band.
BE SURE THAT YOU GET THE CORRECT BOOK FOR YOUR INSTRUMENT AND THAT IT IS BOOK #1
Required Items for 5th Grade Band
Required Items for 5th Grade Band
Instrument in working condition with correct supplies for your instrument
Tradition of Excellence Book 1
Minden Whippet Band shirt. Sayler Screenprinting will be doing the shirts and we will put in an order at the start of the year
Pencil
Book
Book
This book is available from Yandas Music in Kearney or online at Amazon and music store websites.
Instrument Testing
Instrument Testing
Students will have the chance to play one of the following instruments in 5th grade band:
Flute
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone (opportunity to move to Tenor or Baritone Saxophone in the future)
Trumpet
Horn
Trombone
Baritone/Euphonium (opportunity to move to Tuba in the future)
Percussion (auditioned group that typically accepts up to 5 students a year. You will learn Snare Drum and Mallets)
Check out this great video for a demonstration on band instruments!
Recommended Brands and Supplies
Recommended Brands and Supplies
Below you will find the recommended supplies and instrument brands. I provide this list so that parents and students can find quality instruments. There are certain brands that repair stores may not touch because of the quality of the instrument materials. Typically avoid the colorful and cheap instruments you would find on some websites. A quality instrument isn't going to come cheap but it will greatly help your student succeed!
Weekly Practice and Practicing Tips
Weekly Practice and Practicing Tips
Students are asked to spend 60 minutes a week, or more, practicing on their own. They will be given a sheet to help them keep track every week and I will be checking that sheet each week in class. It will be put in the gradebook as a collected or not collected assignment so not turning it in will not make the grade drop. Students will be graded on their ability to play the various exercises in their books. The more time they spend on their instrument practicing those exercises, the easier those exercises will be to play. As long as they spend time practicing they shouldn't have to worry about their grade for band class!
Practice tips:
Have shorter and more consistent practices instead of doing a long practice one day a week. 15 minutes a day helps a lot!
Designate a quiet spot in the house to practice where they will have a chair to sit in.
Set a timer to help keep track of time
Practice the hard items first, and then find something fun to play!
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