6th Grade Beginning Band 2015-2016
Basic Information for Students and Parents
What is band?
Band is a total blast!! Band class is an opportunity to learn how to play a woodwind,
brass or percussion instrument in a large group during the school day. Students in
Beginning Band will learn how to begin to read music and play the instrument of their
choice. Throughout the year they will have the opportunity to play music of different
styles and cultures and perform for the community. As students progress on their
instrument and enter the middle and high school bands they begin to play more diverse
and complex music and will travel and performing at different venues and audiences.
Band students learn to work as a group, as a team, and create not only music, but also
lifelong friendships and experiences. They will learn skills that will transcend musical
performance and improve the way they approach everyday life.
How do we start? How do we sign up or get information if we are interested?
We will be sending information home to all 6th grade students the first week of school.
This information will have a permission slip/sign-up that will come with kids to their first
band class meeting, and a schedule for coming back for instrument selections/fittings and
when instrument specific classes will begin. For your planning, our first band class
meeting is currently scheduled for Tuesday, September 14th at 2:30pm in the St. Helens
High School Band Room. Students will ride busses over to the HS for this meeting. See
below about going home that day. That night we will have a parent meeting for all
parents. That will be at 7pm in the St. Helens High School Band Room. I beg all
beginning band parents to attend this vital informational meeting!
How do we get band instruments?
Don’t worry about this just yet. I actualy prefer that you wait till the fall! Renting an
instrument is the best way to start your student out and during our individual appointment
we can discuss rental options. If the idea of spending money on a rental may be an issue
please do not be afraid to ask me about other options. We have made band work for many
family and we can make this work for you regardless of your financial situation.
When and where is band class held? How do they get there and back?
Beginning Band Class is held at St. Helens High School in the band room at the end of
the school day. We are not able to do band at each elementary school due to staffing, but
we are able to bus students to SHHS to do the class. Students arrive by busses at around
2:30 and are dismised at the end of the high school day (3:15pm).
Band is typicaly 2 days a week for our beginners. At the beginning of the year your
student will have band 2 times a week based on the instrument that they play. The
Woodwind and Percussion Class will meet every Thursday and Friday and the Brass
Class will meet every Monday and Tuesday. After everyone gets off to a good start we
will adjust the classes, changing them to ability based or combining to one band 4 days a
week.
After class each day students have a few options to get home. They can walk, be picked
up or ride a bus home. I will be working with the drivers and Druham School Bus
Services to get students on the correct bus home from the high school each day.
What if we don’t sign up for band next year? Can we do it in 7th grade?
It is highly recommended that you begin band this year if band is something your are
concidering for your child. As the band classes progress students learn more advanced
skills and become able to play their instruments with a much more controlled sound and
technique. It becomes much harder to catch up or start new students on an instrument if
they choose to start band later in school. It is like starting any subject from math to ballet.
Coming in late puts you at a disadvantage and forces you to scramble to catch up or fail
and quit.
If you concern is other after school activites know that students can and have sucessfuly
done both in the past! We will talk about this at the fall meetings!
I look forward to next year’s beginning band, and to meeting all of you!
Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have a question regarding the band
program. I would love to see your student give band a try this coming year!!
Noelle Freshner
Director of Bands
St. Helens School District
[email protected]
503-366-7418