Beginning Band

Welcome to the Music Room!

Your Musical Journey Starts Here!

During the first month of high school, you will be given a BUNCH of information. As we navigate these first few weeks together, feel free to reach out for support! We're here to help.

The during the first music classes, we will learn the culture of the band room -

how we enter the space and set up for class
where to find things and where our items belong
how we work together and support each other in our weird sound making adventures
learn about each other as we learn about music

We will also be learning to read and write the language of music. Just like learning letters and numbers, we need to learn the symbols of music. You might already have some knowledge from previous lessons or music classes so you can think of this as a great refresher and way for you to help out your classmates who are beginning to learn. Our other big objective for the year is goal setting. We will set group goals and personalized goals on a regular basis and this will be part of our regular assignments called "Goal Cards."

NOt sure? Read thesE MYth Busters

STOP!
Don't rent an instrument yet.
PLEASE TRUST THE PROCESS.

Instrument Selection Process

As we move through this process together, I request that you keep an open minded approach. There might be an instrument out there that you haven't tried yet - or have even heard about - that is YOUR perfect fit. PLEASE do not rent an instrument until we have finished this selection process. Let's go through the first steps together.

1. Instrument demonstrations and information classes.
In our first Band classes, we will learn about the different instrument families and the members of those families, spending time listening to examples and trying to make a sound.

Brass Family has five members: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone/Euphonium, Tuba.
Woodwind Family has five members: Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone
Percussion Family is the largest with too many instruments to list! Percussion students find it very handy to already have some piano skills, though a piano background is not an absolute requirement, it will definitely help! Percussion students must be able to play and read music for the snare drum and mallet (xylophone type) instruments before they they start on the drum kit.

2. Instrument Choice Sheets
This is the time when you take all the information you have gathered about each instrument and make some educated decisions. Students (with support of their parent/guardians) will decide their top three instrument choices with accompanying sales pitch/persuasive words as to why they should receive their top pick when instruments are assigned.

Factors to consider (these are also on the forms) These questions help guide the Instrument Assignment process. :
- Do you take the bus or get a ride to school?
- Do you prone to frequent headaches?
- Will you be getting braces soon?
- Do you already own the instrument?
- Have you always wanted to play it?
- Have you played it before and for how long?

3. Instrument Assignments
Once the Instrument Choice sheets have been returned signed and on time, assignments will be made. Ms. Livingstone will phone home to discuss the choices with parent/guardians only if necessary. Please note that there is a section on the form for parent/guardians to submit their comments - this is a truly helpful component of the process and usually eliminates the need for phone tag! The final instrument assignments will be posted on the Music Room Door. This is the exciting part!!!