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The first few weeks of learning to play an instrument are especially important. Good practice habits need to be established at home from the beginning, and you can HELP.
Help to set-up the best possible practice area. This area should be well-lit and free from other distractions, and should have a straight chair and a place to put any music books so that your child is sitting up straight in the chair.
Establish a regular time and routine for practice sessions. Students should begin with warm-up exercises and then move into the week's assignment. Trouble-some parts should be isolated and worked out before the entire song is repeated. Students should end the practice session with a few favorites just for fun!
Listen enthusiastically to your child's practicing. Recognize his or her efforts with a comment such as,"I really liked the sound of the tones on that piece." You are the audience your child will most appreciate.
Participate in our three-way partnership: parent(s)/guardian(s), student, and teacher working together to make band an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Start by reinforcing your child's practice routine and completing their practice log each week. Next have your child demonstrate what he or she has learned and discuss the comments they have written in their band portfolio.
Enjoyment in playing a band instrument and a desire to practice come with success; success is the result of dedicated practice. Together we can guide your child on the road to those rewards.
Participation in a band program will provide students with a wide variety of learning opportunities. The novice or beginning band program is designed for students with little or no experience who wish to learn how to play an instrument. While learning how to play an instrument, students also will develop better listening, problem-solving, critical-thinking, leadership and cooperative skills. In addition students have an avenue for creativity and self-expression.
When students enter Grade 6 at
Students choosing the novice band program will be contacted by the band director and asked to set up an appointment for instrument selection.
Your child may choose from the following instruments:
* These are the only instruments available through the school. There are a limited number of these instruments available.
An instrument selection meeting provides your child with an opportunity to select one of the above instruments. With the assistance of local professional musicians, students are able to try the instruments and choose the one that is best suited for them. Every attempt will be made to insure that your child has a successful beginning to novice band. This meeting will take approximately 20 minutes.
At the end of the instrument selection meeting, you will be provided with information regarding the rental of your child's instrument and any additional supplies he/she will need to begin the program. Mr. Isaak, the band director, will be available to answer any questions you may have at this time.
For flute, clarinet, trumpet or trombone, I always recommend starting on a rental program. Most music stores offer some type of equity (money from rent that may be used towards the purchase of the instrument) in their rental programs. If your child is serious about continuing in the band program, you may want to consider purchasing the instrument after the first year or so.
For baritone, tuba or percussion, rentals will be set up through the school. Your child will be provided with an instrument to have at home for practice and one to use at school. These instruments are too big to be taken back and forth from school on a regular basis.
Rental prices at reputable music stores in the city range from $10-$30 per month. The recommended music stores will be able to give you further details.
Many times the want ads are an excellent source of instruments for the novice student. My only recommendation is that you have the instrument checked by a reputable instrument repairman before you purchase it. Pawn shops are not as reliable. Before purchasing an instrument from either of these sources, please check with Mr. Isaak with respect to the brand name of the instrument. A simple telephone call may save both time and money in the long run.
I would like to begin the program as soon as possible in September. Students will need to have an instrument for the second day of school.
All supplies that your child may need for their particular instrument may be purchased from me at the school. These supplies are of good quality and well suited for students. A price list will be posted in the band room and your child will bring home a copy of this list with their particular needs during the first week of school.
We are planning two school concerts this year. Dates we are looking at are in late December and late April.
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ACCORD MUSIC |
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LONG
& MCQUADE |
L&M rental prices (page 2 gives prices) |
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QUEST MUSIQUE |
Quest rental prices (prices are lower down on the page) |
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ST. JOHN'S MUSIC LTD. |
see School Band Rentals |
All instruments rented from a reputable music store should come with the following: |
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Flutes: Lint free cloth |
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Clarinets: Reeds, cork grease, clarinet swab |
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Trumpets: Valve oil, polishing cloth, slide grease |
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Trombones: Slide oil (or cream and water), polishing cloth, slide grease |
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Baritones: Valve oil, polishing cloth, slide grease |
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Tubas: Valve oil, polishing cloth, slide grease |
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Percussion: (you will receive your stick bag after paying rent to the school) |
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An instrument selection meeting provides your child with an opportunity to select one of the instruments listed below. With the assistance of local professional musicians, students are able to try the instruments and choose the one that is best suited for them. Every attempt will be made to insure that your child has a successful beginning to novice band. This meeting will take approximately 25 minutes.
* These are the only instruments available through the school. There are a limited number of these instruments available.
At the end of the instrument selection meeting, you will be provided with information regarding the rental of your child's instrument and any additional supplies he/she will need to begin the program. Mr. Isaak, the band director, will be available to answer any questions you may have at this time.
For flute, clarinet, trumpet or trombone, I always recommend starting on a rental program. Most music stores offer some type of equity (money from rent that may be used towards the purchase of the instrument) in their rental programs. If your child is serious about continuing in the band program, you may want to consider purchasing the instrument after the first year or so. It is recommended that you buy the additional insurance for your rental instrument.
For baritone, tuba or percussion, rentals will be set up through the school. Your child will be provided with an instrument to have at home for practice and one to use at school. These instruments are too big to be taken back and forth from school on a regular basis.
I recommend that you rent the instrument from one of the reputable music stores in the city. Rental prices range from $10-$20 per month. There are also rent-to own plans that are approximately $25 per month. Below I have listed four of the music stores in the city that deal in rental/purchase of band instruments.
|
ACCORD MUSIC |
|
|
LONG
& MCQUADE |
L&M rental prices (page 2 gives prices) |
|
QUEST MUSIQUE |
Quest rental prices (prices are lower down on the page) |
|
ST. JOHN'S MUSIC LTD. |
see School Band Rentals |
Please make arrangements for your rental as soon as possible. Many of these stores may run out of rental instruments before the beginning of school!
Many times the want ads are an excellent source of instruments for the novice student. My only recommendation is that you have the instrument checked by a reputable instrument repairman before you purchase it. Pawnshops are not as reliable. Before purchasing an instrument from either of these sources, please check with Mr. Isaak with respect to the brand name of the instrument. A simple telephone call may save both time and money in the long run.
I would like to begin the program as soon as possible in September. Students will need to have an instrument for the second day of school.
All supplies that your child may need for their particular instrument may be purchased from me at the school. We have purchased quantities of these materials at good prices and you may find it convenient to buy them at school. These supplies are of good quality and well suited for the novice student. A price list will be posted in the band room, in the sectional studio, and on our website. Your child will bring home a copy of this list with their particular needs circled during the first week of school. All Grade 6 students will be required to purchase a method book and folder for a cost of $8.00 in September.
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REEDS (box of 5) |
ACCESSORIES |
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Bb Clarinet - $8 |
New Folder - $1 |
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Alto Sax - $10 |
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Tenor Sax - $11 |
Valve Oil - $2 |
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Drumsticks - $4 |
Students at all levels of the band program are required to perform playing tests that are used to assess both understanding of concepts and execution of skills. Tests are listed for the year in their folder, in the band room, in the sectional room, and on our website. The tests are rehearsed as a group in class and students learn how to practice the particular tune. In class, each student plays the tune, and we assess the performance. The teacher will provide verbal feedback as well as a mark. Students are reminded that if certain skills have not been adequately demonstrated, they will need to practice them so that theses skills may be more evident on subsequent performances. Students who wish to redo a test may do so, but they need to find an appropriate time with the teacher. The goals behind these playing tests are:
Every student in the band program is expected to keep a log of their practice time outside of the classroom. Blank calendars for this practice log will be provided for each student at the beginning of each month. Students are expected to write in the time, in minutes, that they practice outside of class each day. A standard of 500 minutes per month is desirable for all students. Calendars are to be handed in at the beginning of the next month. The goals behind these practice calendars are:
The following questions and answers
about practice were written by Mr. Isaak in October
2002 after a band parents meeting.
You, the band
student. Learning to play an
instrument takes practice.
Like most homework, you make
time for it to happen. How about right now!
Practice as soon as you get home, unless you know that there is a better time
in your schedule. The times that work best for you may be
different than someone else. Some people enjoy playing with a group or a
friend. Plan a time, and then do it.
Somewhere out of other
people’s way can be good, because then you can play the way you need to
without interference. Take the responsibility of finding a place that you like
to play. I use my living room because it is comfortable and well lit, although
it is not private. If that doesn’t work for you, go to a back room in the
basement or a bedroom and play away.
Begin with what we did in class.
Then decide what you would like to play. Include:
If you need a recording or more
paper music, check a music store or ask a teacher.
Slowly and
carefully at first. Use lots of air.
Spending time at a relaxed pace is very valuable for building a steady sense of
time. Playing long sounds, even just with a mouthpiece, helps develop good
tone. Play with different volumes, speeds and articulations.
This is the most common question
that teachers are asked about practice. If you have figured out good answers to
all the questions above, and you are wondering how much time to spend with your
instrument, here are some guidelines:
to 7oaks arts pages or school home page or to School Division pages