FAQs
Does my child need to know how to play an instrument before I enroll him/her in band?
Are there limits to how many students can play each instrument?
Are there any school owned instruments that my student can use?
My son/daughter is frustrated with band. Are they allowed to drop the class during the school year?
Can band students also play sports and participate in other activities?
Where can we rent or buy instruments, books, and supplies?
DJHS uses Nottlemann Music as our main supplier of instruments, books, and equipment. They come to the school at the beginning of every school year to hold instrument fittings and fill out rental paperwork. You can also rent or purchase instruments and instrument supplies from other retailers. Please keep in mind, however, that price with instruments is almost always tied to their quality. If you would not buy a car at WalMart, it is probably not wise to purchase an instrument there, either. Low quality instruments will require more repairs, do not usually come with a warranty, and often produce an unpleasant sound.
Always be wary with purchasing used instruments, as well. You cannot tell anything useful about an instrument through pictures alone. If you have any questions at all, please contact either Mr. Howard or Mr. Boyer and they will be happy to help you.
When does band meet and how do I enroll my child?
Band is a year-long class that meets every day for 50 minutes. We will perform two concerts throughout the year. Once your child is enrolled, he/she will be in band the entire year. Enrollment is renewed at the end of each year. Your child will report to band on the first day of school next year. During the first week of school, your child will try out several instruments to see which instrument is the best fit for him/her.
Does my child need to know how to play an instrument before I enroll him/her in band?
No, that’s what we are here for.
What instruments are offered in beginning band?
Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone. These instruments are some of the most common and are easy to learn on.
As students go through the program, more instrument options will be open to them. In 8th Grade, students are able to try out for the bass clarinet, saxophone, french horn, and tuba.
Do I need to get an instrument during the summer?
No. We will find the right instrument for your child at the start of the school year. Beginning Band Rental night will be held after school starts in the JH Band Room. It will occur in the evening and there will be sales associates from Nottlemann present to help with instrument rentals.
If you decide to rent from a company other than Nottlemann, please be aware that students will be required to have instruments beginning the last week of August. All students must have instruments by that time. If there is a delay in receiving an instrument, other arrangements might be worked out, but Mr. Boyer must be notified as soon as any issues are discovered. We are very happy to work with families, but must be alerted of any issues immediately.
How will we choose the right instrument for my child?
In the first week of school, your child will try out every instrument that he/she is interested in. I will document each ‘mini-audition’ looking for finger dexterity, lip shape, lip size, hand size, and teeth. My goal is to match your child’s natural physical attributes with the right instrument to ensure success, limiting frustration as much as possible.
Are there limits to how many students can play each instrument?
Yes. In order to ensure a good experience for all students, a certain number of each instrument must be present in the band. A band works as a team and we need players at every position to be successful. In order to make sure that the band is balanced, there will be a limit placed on several of the most popular instruments. The spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
We do try to accommodate student interest as much as possible. We believe that a student that is interested in their instrument will be happier, more motivated, and keep involved longer than a student that does not like their instrument. Keep in mind, however, that students often are set on playing instruments that are not as well suited to their personality or interests as they might think. Please be open minded during instrument fittings and during instrument descriptions/demonstrations.
Are there any school owned instruments that my student can use?
There are a limited number of school instruments available for use. They are available to families with financial need.
Should my student be taking private lessons?
We encourage all students to take private lessons whenever possible. Lessons are the best way for students to obtain individual instruction and improve solo playing skills. They are especially helpful during the summer months when students might not practice or perform as much as they should.
Students will be provided with a list of area private lesson instructors at the beginning of the school year. If you are interested in lessons, please contact the lesson instructor directly to set up times and find out prices.
Are evening concerts required as part of the class?
Yes. Concerts are a required part of the class and all students must attend for a significant portion of their grade. Performances are a core part of a well-rounded music education and help students build self-esteem, overcome fears, and excel under pressure. Each and every student is important and essential to the performance of the band. When one student is absent, their whole section could be negatively affected during the concert.
There are extreme circumstances when concert attendance is excused. These include severe illness/injury or death in the family. Any other excuse must be approved at least 4 weeks ahead of time by the band teacher. Students who have an excused absence can write a concert make-up essay in order to earn the points that they missed.
Unacceptable excuses for missing a concert include (but are not limited to): family vacation, forgetting about the concert, getting caught in traffic, going to a birthday party, not wanting to come, or losing your instrument or music.
Can my student join band as a new member after 7th grade?
Absolutely! We encourage any student interested in joining band in Junior High to sign up for beginning band as part of their course schedule. While we encourage you to join band as soon as early as possible, you can join during your 7th or 8th-grade years.
If you are a high school student that has some experience playing an instrument, please contact Mr. Boyer to work out whether high school band is a good choice for you or not. It may take some extra effort to catch up, but we encourage anyone interested in joining to contact us as soon as possible.
My son/daughter is frustrated with band. Are they allowed to drop the class during the school year?
No. Once a student signs up for band and begins classes, they may not drop band during that school year. If your student is frustrated, please contact their teacher as soon as possible for help resolving any issues.
Often, the frustrating parts of playing an instrument can be easily worked out with some additional help in class or after school. The sooner we know about any issues, the easier it will be to resolve them. Working through frustration is a key learning process that all musicians must go through at some point in their life. Helping students with their challenges is a part of teaching we enjoy and we will gladly do anything we can to improve your situation.
Can band students also play sports and participate in other activities?
Absolutely, YES! It is the philosophy of the band program that every child deserves a well-rounded, education that includes curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities. The positive relationship between the fine arts programs and the athletic department is something that we value greatly. There has never been a situation that we have not been able to work out between programs. Our philosophy in the band program is to provide as many opportunities as possible for students. We currently have numerous students that participate in marching band and varsity athletic teams.