Welcome to Cub Band! (Updated 9/3/25) The Cub Band is made up of 4th and 5th graders in their first year of playing. Approximately 60% of students participate in the Cub Band. All Cub Band members receive 30 minutes of instruction each week in a small group lesson of similar instruments. Students are responsible for any class work that they miss due to a lesson. Full band rehearsal do not begin until January, at which time students will meet once a week on Friday mornings every week until the concert in May. Rehearsals take place in the DES band room from 7:50--8:40AM.
Band lessons will begin on the week of September 15th. Everyone will receive a hard copy of the lesson schedule from their classroom teacher and I will also email all families. Please make sure you have everything in order for September. If you haven’t made arrangements for the instrument and supplies, I would encourage you to do so right away! Also, if you already contacted me about using a school instrument, I will have the instrument waiting for your student at their first lesson. You will, however, be responsible for the lesson book and any other supplies such as reeds or valve oil unless you have contacted me about that. A list of supplies can be found on the supply page.
Wednesday, May 13th
MS/HS auditorium
Students will meet in the MS/HS band room at 6:00 p.m. and the concert will start at 6:30 p.m. in the MS/HS auditorium and be done by 7:15 p.m.
Our last morning band will be on Friday May 15th at 7:50. All Cub Band members should report to the DES upstairs gym. No instruments are needed on this morning. We will play games and have a dance party in the upstairs gym.
There are no lessons next week due to band recruitment screenings. Small group lessons resume on Tuesday, 6/1.
Concert Dress
A uniform look is essential to a uniform sound! Concerts are special events and dressing appropriately adds to that special feeling and presence. Please do your best to wear: white dress shirt, black dress pants or dress, nice shoes.
Instrument Rental:
If you are renting an instrument during the school year it would be a great idea to continue renting that instrument over the summer. If you are a 4th grader borrowing a school instrument and you plan on returning to DES next fall, you may keep it for the summer after I check it for maintenance needs.
Looking ahead to next year:
Students who continue in band in 5th grade will be enrolled in the Lion Band. Lion Band members will continue to receive lessons during the school day once per week and they will have morning band rehearsals on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Yes! This is twice a week instead of once. We will have 3 concerts next year in December, March and May.
Morning Cub Band rehearsals will begin in January and will take place one day a week on Fridays from 7:50--8:40.
Students can be dropped off at the DES main entrance at 7:45 or take the bus. If students ride the bus they would need to contact the bus garage to determine when and where the MS bus comes to their neighborhood. They would ride this bus to the MS and then transfer to a shuttle bus which would bring them to DES by 7:45.
Morning band rehearsals will take place in the band room.
Lessons will take place in the band room.
Lessons will rotate throughout the day. For example, if a student has a lesson at 9:05 on Monday their lesson the following week would be Monday at 9:40. This ensures that students aren’t missing the same subject each week to attend lessons. The starting date is to be determined and I will notify all students in the Google Classroom and with a hard copy delivered to their classroom.
A uniform look is essential to a uniform sound! Concerts are special events and dressing appropriately adds to that special feeling and presence. Please do your best to wear a black and white outfit such as a white shirt, black pants or dress and nice shoes.
Students may leave for lessons at the time listed NOT BEFORE. There is travel time built into the schedule. The lesson is 30 minutes. If your lesson is from 10:00—10:40 students may leave class at 10:00 and you will return before or by 10:40.
A student may miss a lesson for:
Test, Quiz, Review or Important Presentation
Students can sign up for a make-up lesson
Please call the band room if you know you will be missing your lesson or talk to Mr. P. ☺
Students must make up all of the class-work that was missed during a band lesson.
Instruments must be stored in the classroom, in a locker or in the band storage closet. NO INSTRUMENTS SHOULD BE IN THE HALLWAY!
Students MAY NOT go to their lockers or classroom before school to get their instruments before morning band. They must come directly to the upstairs gym with their supplies brought from home.
Please bring your instrument home at night so that you can practice 10—15 minutes. Play for your family!
Find a quiet place to practice
Practice at the same time every day (15 minutes before dinner or in between your math and ELA homework)
Schedule your practice sessions ahead of time (for example, 5:00 every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Have your child play a piece for you each week. Let them teach you about the instrument!
Use a music stand
Set a timer
Use the recordings to when you practice. Click here! You can also find them on Youtube here:
Students in the Cub Band use the Standard of Excellence Book 1. Progress is tracked throughout the year on the "Cub Band Karate Chart." This chart consists of select songs from the lesson book that students will perform in their small group lesson. After performing the song at a proficient level they are awarded a sticker for that song. Songs are grouped into belts of various colors. As students progress they earn different colored band karate belts.
White Belt
Songs 7, 12, 17, 19
Yellow Belt
Songs: 23, 30, 34, 38
Orange Belt
Songs: 41, 48, 51 (and a band piece)
Green Belt
Songs 58, 61, 62, 63
Blue Belt
Songs: 67, 71, 78, 81, 84