Beginning Band

Dear Beginning Band Families,

Thank you so much to everyone who attended our instrument fitting event on Saturday! It was a tremendous success. We were able to fit almost 100 of our 150 beginners to an instrument and get uniform measurements started in less than three hours! Thank you for your patience and for making this such a smooth and successful event.

If you were unable to attend on Saturday, no worries! We will find a time to get your student's instrument and uniform fit during class, or you are welcome to come by before or after school. I will be here until 5:00 PM all this week to assist you.

Important Information & Next Steps:

Now that we have selected instruments, the next step is to acquire your supplies. On Monday, August 25th, I will be assigning lockers and cubbies for students to store their band items throughout the school day. We would like all students to have their supplies and instruments in the band room by Tuesday, August 26th. On Tuesday, we will begin our classroom procedures, which include learning how to care for your new instrument and making our first sounds, just as we discussed at Thursday's new parent information night.

If you missed that meeting, you can find a link to the presentation materials here.

A Note on Instruments and Supplies:

As discussed in the presentation, it is crucial to have the right tools for the job. Just as you wouldn't send a student to a big test with a pencil that's constantly breaking, we don't want to start them on a musical journey with an instrument that will hold them back. Instrument brands not listed on my recommended list or that fall into the "Low Quality" category can make it extremely difficult for a musician to be successful due to issues with poor construction, intonation, and a limited lifespan.

For this reason, I highly recommend renting before buying, as it's the safest way to ensure your student is on a quality instrument. If you do choose to buy, please stick to the brands I've suggested.

https://musicshackcfl.com/

https://www.musicarts.com/

Click here for instrument specific items

Reeds, Ligatures, and Care Kits

While care kit items like oils, creams, and greases are important, instrument-specific items like reeds and ligatures can have a substantial impact on student performance. Please pay close attention to the recommended brands for these accessories as well.

Finally, please remember that financial constraints will never be a barrier to participation. If you are having difficulty acquiring the necessary supplies, please send me a confidential, handwritten note or an email, and we will work out a solution.

I am looking forward to getting our musical journey started on the right foot!

Mr. Powell

Director of Bands

Silver Sands Middle School

Band 2/3 & Jazz