News & Info
DISTRICT WIDE 5th GRADE BAND & STRINGS CONCERT!
A very special concert takes place Tue. June 2, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. at Parkland High School. All Parkland 5th grade band students come together to cap off the year with a combined performance in PHS's beautiful auditorium! Click the link below for information about this event, including dates/times for six special after school band rehearsals.
The week of the concert, 5th grade band students will attend two in-school rehearsals at Parkland High School, one on Mon. June 1 and one on Tue. June 2 (2020). The night of the concert (Tue., June 2, 2020), band students should report to the cafeteria at 6:45 p.m. A form will be sent home for those interested in acquiring a professional recording of the concert! If you'd like to order the live recording, fill out the order form and bring it with you the evening of the concert. There will be a table/booth in the lobby where you can drop it off. The recording will be sent to students' home buildings about 4 weeks after the concert.
*CONCERT ATTIRE*
Dress for ALL Parkland Elementary Band concerts (4th and 5th Grade Bands) is the same:
BOYS: Dress pants, shirt, tie, & shoes.
GIRLS: Dress, or skirt/blouse, or dress pants/blouse & shoes.
Use this guideline - dress as you would for a nice occasion (please, no jeans, t-shirts, sneakers.), and send a note in to Dr. Watson for any exceptions/questions.
4th GRADE BAND/STRINGS CONCERT
4th grade instrumentalists share their talents in a special demonstration concert, as follows:
- Kratzer 4th Grade Band: Mon., May 18, 2020, 2:00 p.m. in the gym
- KRATZER 4th GRADE BAND SPRING REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
- Cetronia 4th Grade Band: Fri., May 15, 2020, 2:00 p.m. in the gym
- CETRONIA 4th GRADE BAND SPRING REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
5th GRADE WINTER CONCERTS
Kratzer's Winter Concert featuring 5th Grade Band, Strings and Chorus will take place on Fri., Dec. 6, 2019. Both programs begin at 7:00 p.m. and last about an hour.
KRATZER Winter Rehearsal Schedule (click here)
Cetronia's Winter Concert featuring 5th Grade Band, Strings and Chorus will take place on Wed., Dec. 11, 2019.
CETRONIA Winter Rehearsal Schedule (click here)
FYI: Parkland School District Statement on Performing Religious Music
4th Grade Band Parents Open House Video - Info shared at the Open House for new elementary band parents. This is an Open House style meeting, during which parents can drop in anytime to pick up their child's instrument and ask questions of the band instructors. If you can't make the meeting, we hope you'll take 12 minutes to view this informative video about our program. THANKS!
Get SmartMusic for FREE! - Click to find out how Parkland band parents can download this wonderful program to make home practice more fun and effective.
PRIVATE LESSONS
I encourage parents to consider PRIVATE INSTRUMENT LESSONS for your son/daughter this summer. CLICK HERE for an informative letter and listing of qualified area instructors. Summer lessons can really help 1st or 2nd year players grow exponentially as musicians, whether they're doing well or experiencing challenges on their instruments. Private lessons help kids "take it to the next level."
Elementary Band & Strings Summer Camp
Interested in a fun, one-week, enriching band experience for 1st- or 2nd-year players this summer? Consider coming out for the PSD Elementary Summer Band & Strings Camp the first week of August. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.
Students are eligible to attend this fun, half-day camp (8:30-11:30 a.m. daily), which takes place in Parkland High School's "arts wing" (auditorium, band room, orchestra room, chorus room, computer music lab, etc.), after completing band or string instrument study in 4th or 5th grade. Band campers enjoy the following each day:
- Fun, music-themed game to start each day
- Sectional rehearsals with out instrumental staff specializing in various instruments
- Exploratory music elective: composing/arranging, jazz band, solos/small ensembles
- Full band rehearsal
On the final day of camp, students will present a demonstration concert in the PHS auditorium for parents and other guests.
THINKING ABOUT QUITTING BAND - Please call Dr. Watson to chat and discuss the options. I STRONGLY encourage parents to listen to this brief audio podcast before making any decisions (click here). In it I explain some important considerations. You've invested hard-earned money and your child has expressed a commitment to you; please don't decide in haste to "throw in the towel" without careful consideration. If a child is discontinuing band due to financial considerations, please contact me - there may be ways the Parkland School District can help. We never want a child to miss out on the benefits of instrumental music due to finances.
Finally, watch this video in which the perspective of some young and older adults who stayed in band is shared - very enlightening!
PROGRESS REPORTS GO HOME 2nd HALF OF JANUARY
Band students throughout the Parkland School District, including students of Dr. Watson, should be receiving Progress Reports in mid-to-late January. They are to bring these home, have the "tear-off" slip signed, and return it to the band teacher by the next in-school lesson (or earlier). These Progress Reports give the parents the band teacher's impression of how things are going. If parents have any questions/concerns, they are encouraged to call or email the instructor. Dr. Watson can be reached at watsons@parklandsd.org, or by phoning 610-351-5820 (Kratzer) or 610-351-5860 (Cetronia).
PRACTICE INCENTIVE - PRACTICE LOG (click to download)
- Students have a practice log in the back of their lesson books. Students should record the number of days/minutes they practice using this log thoughout the week. Parents should initial the log just before each in-school lesson to verify it is correct.
- I'll check the practice logs at each small group lesson. The WEEKLY goal, as always, is 120 minutes in any 7-day period (or 20-minutes per day, with one day off). Students who meet this goal, and have parent initials, will get a tasty treat from me at the conclusion of each lesson!
- As a parkland parent who has had his own kids in band and other activities, I am realistic about what is reasonable. My goal is to get the most from each student and to see them improve as best they can. I hope students will practice as they have opportunity throughout the week.
ZESWITZ MUSIC - RENTAL INSTRUMENTS
Customer Service Phone: 877-480-8224, or 610-406-4300 (always identify yourself as a Parkland SD parent)
Call or Email Andy Mohler, Parkland School District Rep: andy@zeswitzmusic.com, 610-442-3153.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
The Parkland School District, in accordance with state laws, requires parent volunteers in certain situations to procure PARENT VOLUNTEER clearances. There is no cost to the parents (PSD pays all fees) but it does take a little time. The process is explained here.