Elementary band lessons are taught in small groups which put students of the same instrument and performance ability together. Lessons are pull-out lessons meaning students leave their classes to come to lessons with their band teacher, and band teachers rotate the lesson schedule to avoid students missing the same classes week after week when possible.

Sign your child up for lessons over the summer by completing the yellow registration button at the top of our music department website. .. that's it!

"I registered my child for lessons. What happens next?"

OVER THE SUMMER... Once you sign your child up for lessons in the upcoming school year, it's very important that you begin looking for your child's music instrument, lesson book, and folding music stand. To help you compare prices, visit our STORES AND SUPPLIES page on this site and scroll to the bottom to find phone numbers of music stores you can contact for pricing information. 

AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR... Once the school year begins, the elementary band (and orchestra) teachers will make their rounds to each homeroom 

• to confirm any CONTINUING students who were playing the year before

• to confirm the NEW students who signed up using our registration form over the summer

• to ask if there are any last-minute sign-ups for students whose families have yet to sign them up with our form.

While students and families make final arrangements to get their music lesson materials, the music teachers collaborate with the homeroom teachers and building principals to create a music lesson schedule. Once the schedule is approved, the students and families are informed when their first lesson will be and how to keep track of when the next lesson is going to be, too.  This is typically done by sharing an online lesson calendar. 

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS... Just visit our CONTACT page to email your child's music teacher with any questions that you have. 

Students are required to perform in the spring concert together. Typically held in May, our elementary spring concerts are an important way for our young musicians to give back to their family and friends and serve their community by sharing their music in a concert performance. Enter to Learn. Leave to Serve. 

In the spring, the elementary instrumental music teacher team present a musical instrument assembly at each elementary school. Each band and string instrument is played by the music teachers for the students to hear, sing and clap along with, and answer questions about the instruments at this fun, interactive assembly.

Information about signing up for music lessons is then distributed to the students to take home when they return to their homerooms after the assembly.

Parents of students who are looking to join the band or orchestra are invited to attend the "Meet The Instruments" and Parent Meeting night. The Instrument Meeting portion informs parents about the instrumental music program, and the “petting zoo” portion gives students a hands-on experience with music instruments. At this meeting families new to the instrumental music program will

• learn more about the band and orchestra programs offered at QCSD,

• meet and talk with QCSD music teachers,

• listen to and ask questions about rental options for their child, and

• have the opportunity to let their child play up to 3 music instruments at the music instrument petting zoo before committing to learning the instrument the following school year.

 Using the directions on the handout, families should register to attend with their child by the registration deadline so we know how many instruments and cleaning supplies to prepare for the evening. Families who cannot attend the event should reach out to their child’s instrumental music teacher in order to

The Summer Music Academy (SMA) is one of the many QCSD Summer Camp programs offered by the Office for Teaching and Learning. SMA runs from the last week in June to the first week in August at the Strayer School and offers group band and orchestra music lessons for students. Additionally, beginning piano lessons are taught for students in grades 3 or higher looking for an introduction to this instrument.

Group lessons are 45 minutes long and are taught by members of the QCSD Music Department. Although subject to change, SMA tuition is typically around $100 for QCSD students ($120 for non-QCSD students). Over 6 weeks of lessons brings the weekly lesson cost to less than $17 per 50-minute weekly lesson for a QCSD student ($20 per 50-minute weekly lesson for a non-QCSD student).

Lessons are available for all band and orchestra instruments. Students of all levels of experience are welcome. 

More information about SMA is available at the bottom of our GET INVOLVED page.