Mr. W's Elementary Band Website

Welcome to Mr. Wenzek's Elementary School Band webpage. This was made especially for you and your parents. I will update information as the school year progresses. Be sure to click on your school for items specific to you and your band.

Remember: Although band is an elective course, it is considered to be a course, complete with letter grades, effort grades, and comments for report cards. Students are encouraged to keep on top of their preparation and homework(practice) for band in order to achieve the best grade possible.

September 19, 2018

Thanks for a great start to our school year.

Click here for a link to the accompaniments for Essential Elements exercises.

Don't forget that band homework consists of daily practice of 15 minutes. No, you can not "makeup" time by doing a long practice, so be sure to do it every day. I suggest trying to do it at the same time every day!

Finally, a reminder that all band students will also require an "Essential Elements for Band (Book 1) for their particular instrument and a band folder for their book and sheet music. These are being handed out by Mr. Wenzek for a cost of $15 (including shipping and taxes). Payment can be made starting in the near future (details coming on this webpage!) Thanks!

September 19, 2018

Regular band classes begin TODAY!! Hopefully everyone went to First Lesson yesterday. Please bring your instrument with you. Band books and folders will be distributed at your first regular band class.

September 15, 2018

All instrument assignments are now completed. Check your school's link on the left to find out who's playing what. Once you have your instrument, KEEP THE CASE CLOSED UNTIL YOUR FIRST LESSON STARTS. If you have issues getting an instrument, and have already read the September 5 entry below, please email me for assistance.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at Byrne Creek on Tuesday after school for their First Lesson!

September 13, 2018

Instrument assignments are slowly being loaded to each school's respective page on this website. Be sure to check this list to confirm what instrument each child has been assigned. All lists will be posted by late tomorrow night.

Percussion students: Be sure to obtain a Bell Kit (either with or without a snare drum). I would recommend getting it with a rolling bag to ease transportation.

September 5, 2018

A reminder to students & parents of the District Instrument Rental & First Lesson Night at Byrne Creek Secondary School on Tuesday, September 18th. Further details can be found here. Students not attending the First Lesson could end up falling up to 6 weeks behind the rest of the class. DO NOT GET AN INSTRUMENT UNTIL INSTRUMENT ASSIGNMENTS ARE MADE (see below).

Instrument assignments will be posted through the link to the left corresponding to your school as they are completed. (I am not going to bed on Friday, Sept. 14th until all schools' band rosters are completed, meaning they will be posted when you get up on Saturday the 15th in the morning!) I will try to give students their first instrument choice. However, trying to maintain a balanced band to benefit all students, not everyone will be assigned their first choice. I will do my best to assign an instrument as close as I can to requests.

After instrument assignment has been made, most band students are encouraged to purchase or rent an instrument from one of the approved stores directly or at the District Instrument Rental & First Lesson Night on Tuesday. Also, be sure to pick up a wire music stand for home practice. DO NOT BUY FROM CRAIGSLIST OR A WEBSITE (other than from the district approved stores), as most have inferior quality and cannot be repaired by local service personnel. Should you choose to buy privately, be sure that the instrument comes with a written clean bill of health from one of our local instrument repair stores. Repair shops are extremely busy at this time of year, with wait times up to a month long. I would encourage you to strongly consider purchasing an instrument from a music store with a "buy-back" plan: after purchasing the instrument, the instrument may be returned back to the store in the future for a full refund MINUS the amount that would have been charged had the instrument been rented, thereby minimizing the purchasers risk.

Baritone, bass clarinet, oboe, and french horn players will be provided with School District instruments at prevailing rates. Other students requiring District instruments should let me know as soon as possible by email, as quantities are limited. Subsidies may be available upon request. Parents with children using District instruments are to ensure that the Instrument Loan Form is completed and turned in to me. Preference is given for those families with financial needs.

**NOTE** p-trumpets and p-bones are only available at select music stores directly, not the District event. They will do for trumpet and trombone players in elementary school band. Use of them in high school is at the discretion of the high school teacher.

All band students will also require an "Essential Elements for Band (Book 1) for their particular instrument and a band folder for their book and sheet music. These will be handed out by Mr. Wenzek for a cost of $15 (including shipping and taxes). This can be made by the District's Cash Online (link to come).

Finally, all forms and documents issued to students are available on the "Forms & Docs" link to the left.

WHY TAKE BAND?

Your rising 7th grade child has the opportunity to make a very important decision about one of the classes they can choose to take this year, as well as through High School and College.

He/she has the opportunity to register for the outstanding band program at their Elementary School. Band is an exploratory course and not an extra-curricular activity. The band program is a year-long class students may attend. Students should enroll in this class at the beginning of the school year. Students starting this program do not yet have to read music and do not have to know what instrument they wish to play. Students will have a chance to explore the differences in band instruments during the first part of the school year.

Why should a student join the band?

Many studies have shown that music education increases early brain development and improves students’ overall academic performance.

Current research shows that music:

•Enhances higher brain function

•Teaches the habit of excellence

•Improves reading and math performance

•Builds teamwork skills and enhances cooperation

•Raises IQ and SAT scores

•Provides self-paced learning and mental concentration

•Develops higher critical thinking skills

•Prepares children for the future

•Helps develop better physical fitness and breathing

•Can help reduce asthma problems

Therefore, students that participate in formal music training generally have higher test scores due to the nature of their musical studies. Students in band must strive for success by achieving their personal best on a daily basis. As a result, students are learning the value of hard work and the pursuit of excellence in all of their endeavors. Many band students receive honours and awards, therefore validating the strong work ethic they develop while striving to perfect their many fundamentals and performance tasks.