***UPDATE: BEGINNING BAND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED***
WELCOME BACK PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO A NEW YEAR IN BAND!!
New Students
All 4th and 5th grade students who are playing a band instrument for the first time (or who are switching instruments) must complete the simple online registration form below. Parents of beginning band students are required to attend the informational meeting on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 7:00 PM at the WILMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL Auditorium. Beginning band lessons will start during the week of September 19. Please contact Ms. DiLullo with any questions by calling your child’s school, or emailing at: Anita.dilullo@wpsk12.com
BEGINNING BAND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
Returning Students
5th grade students who played last year and are planning to be in the Advanced Band this year (continuing on the same instrument from 4th grade) should NOT complete the online registration form. They will be receiving band lesson schedules this week and advanced band lessons will start on Sept. 12
THINGS TO KNOW FOR BEGINNING BAND
Beginning Band students are assigned to a specific lesson day each week, and are grouped in small classes with other students who play the same instrument. For lessons, students will need to bring their instrument and lesson book to school each week. Both the instrument and lesson book should be CLEARLY LABELED on the outside with the students’ name, school, and classroom. Band students should also purchase a portable wire music stand to use at home for practicing. These music stands DO NOT need to come to school on lesson day, as we have plenty of music stands in our classroom.
Instrument Specific Details
FLUTE: In addition to the instrument, lesson book, and music stand, students will need a soft, cotton cloth for cleaning the instrument (a handkerchief, or 1/4 of a regular sized bandana is adequate).
CLARINET and SAXOPHONE: Parents will need to purchase reeds from time to time. The reeds are a thin piece of wood that go on the mouthpiece. Without a reed, the instrument is unplayable. Because they are very thin pieces of cane, reeds can break, chip, or split easily. This happens frequently with beginning students who are just learning how to properly handle them for the first time. Reeds are sold in “strengths” with the lowest numbers being for beginning students and the highest numbers being for professional musicians. We recommend that our beginning band students purchase #2 strength reeds, in boxes of 5 or more as, again, they do tend to break very easily in the beginning. Please be sure to specify which instrument your child plays when buying these (either Clarinet or ALTO Saxophone). Additionally, these students will also have tubes of cork grease in their cases. A tube of cork grease should last a student for about 2 years. Cork grease can make you very sick if it is eaten (young children may mistake it for chapstick), so please keep it away from small children and pets.
TRUMPET and TROMBONE: These students will need a soft cloth (a clean sock for example) for polishing the outside of their instrument. Students will also have valve or slide oil in their cases. A bottle of oil should last a student for about 2 years, and the oil should not be applied until we have learned how to and where it goes. The oil is toxic if consumed, so please keep it away from small children and pets.
PERCUSSION: These students will receive a “drum kit” that includes a case, snare drum, drum stand, rubber practice pad, a pair of drum sticks and a lesson book. Beginning Band students will be REQUIRED to bring this kit (in the case) to school TWO TIMES this year. The first time will be on the first day of lessons, when the students will receive instruction on how to properly assemble the drum and stand without puncturing it. The second time will be on May 2, 2017 for the spring concert. For all other lessons, percussion students will be bringing their lesson book, drum sticks, and practice pad to school. Percussion students will have the opportunity to use the snare and bass drums at school, in addition to cymbals and other auxiliary percussion instruments. Beginning percussion lessons do not include instruction on drum set.
BELLS (Xylophone): These students will receive a bell kit that includes a case, chromatic xylophone, stand, mallets, and a lesson book (some kits may also include a drum pad and drum sticks, but we will NOT be using those in lessons). Students will need to bring the xylophone, mallets, and lesson book (in the case) to school each week for lessons.
WHERE TO GET AN INSTRUMENT & SUPPLIES
We recommend these local vendors:
K&C MUSIC: http://www.kandcmusicco.com
NATIONAL MUSIC: http://www.nationalmusicinc.com
PERFORMANCE MUSIC: http://www.performancemusiccenter.com
THE MUSIC PLACE: http://www.themusicplace.com/store
TEWKSBURY MUSIC CENTER: http://www.tewksburymusic.com