Put concert dates on your calendar
Buy sticks, mallets, and a band book (see below)
Put your name on your stick bag & band book
Start bringing your stick bag and book to school on Thursday 9/9/2026
I'm VERY proud and excited to announce the beginning of our Totem Percussion Ensemble! All percussionist from beginning through advanced level will meet together for 1st semester. During 2nd semester, 1st year players will join beginning band, 2nd year players will join intermediate band and 3rd year students will join advanced band.
In percussion enemble we will still learn our concert band songs but we will be able to focus on percussion fundamentals, percussion enesemble music and drumline. We will develop musicianship by learning to perform music while building teamwork, responsibility, confidence, and collaboration. 2nd & 3rd year students will have the opportunity to travel to Stanwood Middle School to perform at our regional band festival where we will be evaluated by highly respected judges. 3rd year students will also represent our music program and Totem on our annual Elemenaty tour where we will play at all 5 feeder schools all in one day. Finally, everyone will have the opportunity to march in the Strawberry festival parade.
Because band is a performance-based class, concerts are an essential part of the course and are a required, graded component. Please mark the dates below in your calendar. I look forward to making music with you this year! -Ms. Schumacher
Students should arrive 30 minutes early in nice performance clothing (such as what you'd wear to a wedding or a funeral.) Concerts are free and open to the public. Please put these dates in your calendar today.
Fall Band Concert - Nov 18, 7pm TMS
Solo & Ensemble Night - Jan 20, 6-8pm TMS
Winter Band Concert - Feb 24, 7pm TMS
6-12 MSD Band Concert - Apr 20 6:30pm MPHS Gym
Spring Band Concert - May 26, 7pm TMS
Students are expected to practice at home a minimum of 25 minutes a week.
That’s only 5 minutes each school day!
In our agenda each Friday students will write how much they practiced that week and what to practice next.
The keys to good practicing are:
Chunk it
Slow it down
Repeat, repeat, repeat
Email Ms. Schumacher at: sasha_schumacher@msd25.org
Beat Machine (Martin Wecke)
Vic Firth Video Guides to basically everything percussion
In band, I expect us to RISE like phoenix: Respect Integrity Safety & Excellence. That means I'm looking for:
“Academic Dishonesty/plagiarism refers to behavioral violations involving knowingly submitting the work of others as one’s own or assisting another student in doing so or using unauthorized sources”
Phones are “Off and Away”
Wired headphones only (no bluetooth)
Water Only Classrooms (+no gum in band)
First 3-10 minutes of class
Listening journal
Be ready for class - agenda, pencil, instrument & music
Last 8 minutes of class
Record what we learned that day
3 minutes to pack up, then wait by their dot for the bell
Exceeds standard 100%
Meets standard 95%
Approaching standard 80%
Below Standard 65%
Not enough work shown 50%
**Late work is accepted until end of each quarter
Student can...
interpret rhythms, notes, dynamics, articulations, and musical terms
Assignments include:
Fingering tests
Note/Rhythm reading tests
Playing tests
Labeled as “Skills/Content” in Skyward and is 30% of student’s overall grade
Student can...
interpret rhythms, notes, dynamics, articulations, and musical terms
Assignments include:
Fingering tests
Note/Rhythm reading tests
Playing tests
Labeled as “Skills/Content” in Skyward and is 30% of student’s overall grade
Student can...
demonstrate ensemble awareness and teamwork
Assignments include:
Concerts, assemblies & fieldtrips
Daily rehearsal
Playing tests
Labeled as “Performance Skills” in Skyward and is 20% of student’s overall grade
Student can...
develop self-reflection and interpret meaning in music
Assignments include:
Concert reflections
Self-reflections
Listening assignments
Playing test reflections
Program Notes
Labeled as “Reflection” in Skyward and is 20% of student’s overall grade
Materials can be bought online if you know what you're getting but these are my go-to stores for band instruments:
Bigfoot Music (Arlington)
Kennelly Keys (Everett/Lynnwood)
Ted Brown Music (Online)
**We have a limited number of school instruments that are reserved for students with financial needs - guardians need to let Ms. Schumacher know if you can’t afford to buy your own instrument/materials**
Purchase these band books online or at a local music store like Bigfoot Music (Arlington) or Kennelly Keys (Lynnwood/Everett.) We have a limited number of school copies and students will need to take one home. Write your name on your band book and stick bag. I even suggest putting a strip of special colored electrical tape around each stick so you can identify which ones are yours.
1st year players should buy the red "Standard of Excellence Book 1, Drums & Mallets"
2nd year players should buy the blue "Standard of Excellence Book 2, Drums & Mallets"
3rd year players should buy “Foundations for Superior Performance, Percussion"
Stick bag (with your name on it)
Snare sticks (I recommend Vic Firth SD 1 or wood tip 7A)
Hard plastic bells/xylophone mallets (Innovative Percussion F12 or similar, NOT rubber)
Medium yarn mallets (I recommend Vic Firth M182 or M183)
It’s recommended but not required to keep a drum practice pad (like Evans ReelFeel) and a bell set at home to practice
Vic Firth, Innovative Percussion, CB700 drums, Ludwig, and Pearl