Q. Can my child join band and how?
A. Of course. Because band at NCMS is a scheduled class students are only allowed to join band at the change of the quarters or semesters.
Q. Does band take a lot of time?
A. Absolutely not, at least not more than any other class or activity. All band practices are limited to school hours. Students are required and should take time on their own to practice at home, but there are no band rehearsals outside of the school day.
Q. What if my child needs a study hall?
A. No. The short version is that NCMS has a designated study hall time for all students across the entire school. Additionally, you need to know that students in band actually do better in other classes because of the cognitive affect of music and it's practice.
Q. What if we need and instrument?
A. There are basically three ways to get an instrument: First, and best, is renting or buying an instrument through a reputable music dealer such as Dietze, Schmitt, or Palmers music. Second, a good used instrument can often be obtained from family and friends. A good used instrument might need a bit of repair first but is often a very viable option. Third, the school band directors might be able to help you through instruments owned by the district, the NCPS Foundation, or a local non-profit called "Keys for Kids." With all options make sure you communicate with a band director. Getting a poor quality instrument bluntly sets a child up for a poor experience.
Q. How do I know what instrument to get?
A. Talk to your band director. Please do not buy an instrument without consulting.
Q. Is my student required to practice outside of school?
A. Yes. I will not tell you how much in minutes. I take a lot of time to give specific goals which should be treated as homework. Practice until the objectives are reached. Just as a math teacher would not say do "20 minutes of math a day" but rather gives you a specific assignment which you must complete. At NCMS our practice assignments are given weekly (almost always on Wednesdays) and can be found on this website also.
Q. What if my child wants to switch instruments or isn't happy?
A. Talk to your band director. These situations are best handled individually.