We are wrapping up our instrument exploration. By the beginning of next week students will be finishing the brass family and string family, complete their conversations about saxophone and percussion and be ready to make some important choices. We will be sending home instrument selection forms with students the week of October 8th. When we send home this form, please complete it right away and send it back to school the very next day. I urge you to start having conversations now so you are ready when the form comes home.
A few words about making these choices. We ask students to select at least 2 instruments they could be excited about learning. We do our best to give every student the instrument they most want to play but sometimes we need to make slight compromises. As you discuss choices with your students keep the following in mind:
We want all students to be excited about the instrument they will learn this year. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!
A few words about making these choices. We ask students to select at least 2 instruments they could be excited about learning. We do our best to give every student the instrument they most want to play but sometimes we need to make slight compromises. As you discuss choices with your students keep the following in mind:
- We can only have 3-4 saxophones at each school. If more students want saxophone we will start all of them on clarinet and then re-visit this choice mid-winter.
- Percussion includes BOTH mallets (bells) and snare drum. Students who want to choose percussion need to be really hard workers and very organized. They will need to practice twice as much since they are learning 2 instruments at once. This will continue throughout middle and high school. Previous keyboard experience (piano) is also VERY helpful.
- Cellos, french horns and euphoniums cannot travel on the bus, but students who ride busses are welcome to choose these instruments. We will work with you to find an alternative solution if you are unable to get these instruments to and from school.
We want all students to be excited about the instrument they will learn this year. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!