Welcome to Elementary Instrumental Music

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Welcome to Elementary Instrumental Music!!!
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6th Grade School Year In Brief

• Lessons
• Large Group Instruction/Rehearsals
• Practice
• Private Lessons

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Lessons

• Core instruction during 1st year on instrument
• Required for participation
• During school day (except St. Peters)
• 30 minutes, once per week
• Like-instrument groups

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St. Peters Lessons

• Early morning (730 and 800)
• Held at one of the ISD 831 elementary schools in
  Forest Lake
• Parents responsible for transportation to and
  from

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Large Group Instruction/Rehearsals

• One large group rehearsal each week
• Begin the last week of October or 1st week of
  November
• St. Peters students bused to rehearsal
  transportation home provided by parents
• Location TBA
• Rehearsals continue throughout school year

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Practice

• Minimum 2 1/2 hours of practice per week
  necessary for normal progress
• 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week
• Please take seriously, practice minutes are part
  of your grade!!!
• More practice more enjoyment achievement!

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Private Lessons

• Private lessons encouraged if possible
• Make sure the instructor has experience with
  beginning instrumental students
• This will ensure that lessons will be structured
  with compatible activities for your childs
  instrument lesson material

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• Success on an instrument is
• determined by the desire to
• succeed the motivation to
• practice consistently.

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• How will my child select
• the proper instrument?

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Factors for Determining Instrument Selection

• Students physical characteristics
• Sense of pitch and rhythm
• 1st sound the student is able to make on an
  instrument
• Number of students playing each instrument
• Balanced instrumentation key to success of
  program
• Students personal choice
• Students disposition and reaction to challenges

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Determining the Right Orchestra Instrument

• There are a few physical characteristics which
  factor into a students choice of string
  instrument
• Graduated sizes to fit childs growing body
• Families who own full size instruments will
  probably need to rent smaller instrument until
  child grows into larger size
• Important for all string players to have
  excellent sense of pitch, finger, and arm
  coordination

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Orchestra Instruments

• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• Bass

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Violin
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Viola
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Cello
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String Bass
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Band Instruments

• Flute
• Oboe
• Clarinet Bass Clarinet
• Alto, Tenor, and Bari Saxophone
• Trumpet
• French Horn
• Trombone
• Baritone
• Tuba
• Percussion

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Flute
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Clarinet Bass Clarinet
Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
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Saxophone
Baritone
Alto
Tenor
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Trumpet
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French Horn
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Trombone
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Baritone
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Tuba
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Percussion
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Where Do I Find an Instrument?

• Recommended that all beginning instrumental
  students rent an instrument for an initial trial
  period rather than purchasing the instrument
  right away
• Most music stores have rental programs with an
  option to buy at end of the trial period
• ONLY PURCHASE INSTRUMENTS FROM A REPUTABLE MUSIC
  STORE!!!
• Purchases from other sources may result in an
  inferior product

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3 Options for Obtaining an Instrument

• Renting
• You already own an instrument
• School-Owned

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Renting an Instrument

• Reserve instrument by completing rental agreement
  on evening of display
• Or
• Complete agreement sometime before school begins
• This ensures instrument will be available in time
  for the 1st lesson

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If You Already Own an Instrument

• Make sure your instrument is in good playing
  condition
• Older instruments often need reconditioning
• Have music store inspect instruments playing
  condition before school begins

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School-Owned Instruments

• Options
• Band Orchestra
• Bass Clarinet String Bass
• French Horn
• Baritone
• Tuba
• Limited number available
• Repair charges for extra ordinary damage due to
  student carelessness or abuse responsibility of
  the student and his/her parents

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Band School-Owned Instruments

• For the 2008-2009 school year, a 75 maintenance
  fee charged
• Check to ISD 831
• Contract must be completed and turned in with
  check in order to receive instrument at 1st
  lesson

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Orchestra School-Owned String Basses

• 2 string basses are necessary
• 1 for home use (75 if rented from school)
• 1 for school use (10)
• Due to the limited number of school-owned basses,
  renting from a music store is highly recommended

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Smart Music

• What is Smart Music?
• The essential practice tool for musicians
• SmartMusic is an interactive, computer-based
  practice tool for musicians. Challenging
  exercises, instant feedback tools, and more than
  30,000 accompaniments make SmartMusic an
  essential part of your practice sessions.
• Youll never practice alone
• SmartMusic accompanies you while you practice.
  Your performance improves faster because
  practicing is more productive and fun.

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How Does Smart Music Work?

• With SmartMusic loaded on a computer, students
  plug in a vocal or instrumental microphone and
  begin practicing.
• They play or sing their part with accompaniment
  and receive, in real time on the computer,
  detailed feedback on their performance. Ideal for
  woodwind, brass, string, and vocal musicians of
  all levels.
• SmartMusic is your instant backup band that makes
  practicing fun!

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Cost

• 25 a year
• Instrumental teacher gives each student a code to
  use when buy the subscription and microphone at
  www.smartmusic.com
• CDs and accessories will be mailed directly to
  you (shipping charges apply)

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Smart Music Testimony

• "SmartMusic helped me with my sight-reading. It
  makes it easier to hear the music." ?--
  Alexandra, 6th grade
• "SmartMusic changed the whole band experience for
  me. It's more fun."?-- Katherine, 9th grade
• For more information, visit www.smartmusic.com

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• THE END!!!