Come join us at our instrument try out event! At this event, our teachers will be available for you to drop by and ask questions and try instruments on site.
Thursday, August 28th -- Try-it event at SMWest from 6-8pm in the cafeteria
Most of our students rent an instrument from one of our local music stores. There is a list of local stores available on the resources page of this website. These programs are rent-to-own programs with NO interest charged. There are several benefits to renting including free maintenance, low initial cost, and flexibility should your student decide they want to try a different instrument. DO NOT buy anything made of plastic or that has a price that seems too good to be true...we assure you, it is!
When looking to purchase an instrument, please contact your teacher for assistance if you have any questions. You can find many different things that look like instruments you would want, but many of the cheapest options WILL stop working within the first year of band or strings.
**The school district has a small amount of instruments available for rent for students in financial need. If that is something that you would like to know more about, contact your teacher. We can't provide instruments for everyone, but we do our best to make playing an instrument possible for everyone regardless of financial issues. If you feel you would qualify for a school instrument, talk to your band/strings teacher.
See the 'Resources' tab for specific recommendations on where to get an instrument and/or what instrument brands are best.
In short, yes! You can do both, but keep in mind that you will have two instruments to learn at the same time which means twice the practice! Eventually you will get to a point where you will probably have to make a choice in either middle or high school. If you'd like to give this a try, contact both the band and strings directors so they are aware.
This is not recommended. On sites like Ebay, people used to sell gently used instruments and you could find some good deals, but nowadays many unscrupulous people have learned to put the right search words in descriptions of very poor instruments thus ripping off the unsuspecting buyer. If you really want to do this, please send a link of what you are looking at to your teacher so we can help you!
An instrument, of course, but on top of that you will need a book and a care kit for your instrument. Your local music stores can assist you with this and know which books we use and what you will need to care for your instrument. When renting from a local store, they usually include all the materials needed for class in one bundled price so you will have everything you need. You can check the 'Resources' tab for information on how to find our local music stores. Again, if you are in financial need talk to the band/strings teacher and we will do what we can to help!
Classes will begin the week after Labor Day.
You can find your school below to see which days of the week your class will meet. We will alternate Fridays between band and strings. In general that means that your class will meet every other Friday.
Find your school below:
Apache -- M/W Band, T/Th Strings, Alternating Fridays
Comanche -- M/W Band, T/Th Strings, Alternating Fridays
McAuliffe -- M/W Strings, T/Th Band, Alternating Fridays
Pawnee -- M/W Band, T/Th Strings, Alternating Fridays
Rising Star -- M/W Band, T/Th Strings, Alternating Fridays
Overland Park -- M/W Strings, T/Th Band, Alternating Fridays
Sunflower -- M/W Band, T/Th Strings, Alternating Fridays