Find information about our beginner band program, available to all 5th grade students in WPS!
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WPS BEGINNER BAND
Hello 5th Grade Families!
We are extremely excited to offer beginner instrumental music lessons to all 5th grade students! Recently, your child saw a band instrument demonstration at school and had an opportunity to meet with our band director, and see each of the available instruments in action. We hope this experience has led your child to an interest in learning to play!
We offer...
We offer...
FLUTE
FLUTE
CLARINET
CLARINET
SAXOPHONE
SAXOPHONE
TRUMPET
TRUMPET
TROMBONE
TROMBONE
PERCUSSION
PERCUSSION
Lessons on these instruments are during school and free of charge! The lessons occur once a week for 30 minutes. Students will be responsible for making up any classwork they miss while attending their lessons. The only cost associated with the program is to get an instrument, book, and music stand (see "Getting an Instrument").
Why learn to play an instrument?
Band allows students a chance to practice emotions, fine motor skills, discipline, rigor, and persistence.
Band is a safe place where all students can develop discipline, teamwork and the love of making music together.
Band is collaborative! It teaches patience, persistence, and responsibility.
In a world of instant gratification, it teaches students how to handle failure and keep on going.
Students get to learn skills needed in today’s workplace: critical thinking, teamwork, leadership and social skills.
Band is an activity that involves all students at all levels of interest and ability.
Band is the biggest group project, with results and process to take pride in.
Music helps educate the whole child, and improves brain function.
Band gives kids a chance to work with students they don’t see in their other classes, helps them develop confidence, and can be the reason certain children come to school.
Most of all, band is FUN!
Band gives students a place to belong.
CHOOSING AN INSTRUMENT
CHOOSING AN INSTRUMENT
To help determine which instrument your child may enjoy most, ask them these questions or try these cool experiments:
Ask your child if they can buzz their lips together to make an elephant sound or to make it sound like a motor boat. If they can do this easily, maybe the TROMBONE or TRUMPET would be a great choice for them!
(With adult supervision)--Ask your child to blow gently at a lit candle flame. If they can blow at it and NOT make it go out, maybe the FLUTE would be a great choice for them! If you don’t have a candle, you can place a sheet of paper on the wall, holding the upper corners gently, blow onto the center of the paper. If you can hold it there for 1 second (or longer), that is AMAZING! FLUTE would be a fantastic choice!
Ask your child if their ears tend to gravitate towards LOW sounds or HIGH sounds. TROMBONE or CLARINET are wonderful choices for LOW sounds. TRUMPET or FLUTE for HIGH sounds.
Does your child enjoy jazzy/bright/loud sounds? Maybe the SAXOPHONE is for them!
Does your child tend to tap their foot or nod their head to music they’re listening to? Do they bang on everything nearby? Maybe PERCUSSION is a good choice for them!
Maybe you have an instrument at home from a sibling or other family member or neighbor that isn’t being used? That’s another choice to be in band!
You could simply ASK your child what instrument they want to play and why!
GETTING AN INSTRUMENT
GETTING AN INSTRUMENT
We recommend using the Goulet & Co. Rental Program. Our students have found that having a quality, well-serviced instrument is a major factor in a student’s enjoyment and success. Pricing and other information on how to rent can be found on our enrollment form.
Goulet & Company is a band instrument specialist – NOT a general music store.
They are able to rent the highest quality student instruments because of licensing/franchise agreements with the finest manufacturers.
An expert technician visits Weymouth Schools weekly for service, repairs, and supplies. Repairs are included in your contract and a loaner instrument will be provided if yours cannot be repaired at school.
You will need to attend Instrument Rental Night on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th, 2024 at Maria Weston Chapman Middle School between 6:30-8:30pm. You will be given a loan agreement form to fill out, and will be able to leave that evening with your brand new instrument!
** NOTE: Goulet requires a social security number to rent an instrument**
OTHER SOURCES:
You may already have an instrument, or know someone willing to sell or loan you one. Please have a technician inspect it to make sure it is in good playing condition. Department stores and retail chains cannot provide the same quality instruments and service as a music instrument dealer, so be careful if a non-music related store has an instrument at a price that seems too good to be true.
There are a limited number of instruments available through the school. For any student who may have financial difficulty, please contact us and we will work together to make things happen!
HOW TO JOIN THE BAND
HOW TO JOIN THE BAND
Complete the online form below. You will also be asked how you will get your instrument, and more information on renting through our partners at Goulet is on the form. A schedule for weekly lessons will be provided after students have enrolled and received their instruments. This form also has all the information you need if you choose to rent an instrument, including cost and where and when to pick up your instrument!
You'll be asked to let us know your first, second, and third choices for instruments. We do our best to honor all students' first choice requests, but also need to balance that with instrument and lesson availability, and other factors. Please let us know if you have any concerns!
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
Any questions, comments, or concerns? Reach out to either Ms. Gilbert or Mrs. Saracino!!
Ms. Jeannie Gilbert
Ms. Jeannie Gilbert
Gr. 5 Band Director
jean.gilbert@weymouthschools.org
MRS. LAUREN SARACINO
MRS. LAUREN SARACINO
Assistant Curriculum Director for Fine and Performing Arts
lauren.saracino@weymouthschools.org
THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING MUSIC WITH YOU SOON!
THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING MUSIC WITH YOU SOON!
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