1. When can my child start playing in band? When they enter 4th or 5th grade. Registration will occur in May prior to entering 4th or 5th grade. For the 2020-21 school year registration will occur between September and October.
2. Can my child play in band in 6th grade if they have never played an instrument before? Yes, but they must take private lessons outside of school in order to catch up to the other students and get special permission from the middle school director.
3. Where can we get private lessons? Ask your school music teachers for recommendations. Local music stores also have lists of private teachers in the area.
4. How much should my child practice? In the beginning 10--15 minutes 4-5 days a week is a good start. As they advance their practice time should increase to at least 20 minutes 5 days a week for optimal progress. The amount of time in one sitting isn't as important as consistent practice each day. We are creatures of habit and consistent practice yields better results than one long practice session.
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)
Set a timer
Schedule your practice sessions ahead of time (for example, 5:00 every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Play one piece for your parents every week
Use a music stand
Use the recordings to practice with (downloaded from the web or on the Google Classroom)
Consider purchasing a subscription to SmartMusic
Have your child play for you and teach you what they have learned