Beginning Band Info for Incoming 6th Graders

updated 8/12/08

Hello! Welcome to SMS!

As incoming 6th graders, students will have an opportunity to become involved in many different programs and activities over the next 3 years. One of the activities that SMS has had a lot of success in over the last 20 years is our BAND. Our Warrior Band (7th and 8th graders) has won numerous awards and trophies and is known as one of the best middle school bands in Kern County. Spending one year in beginning band enables most students to step right into Warrior Band the next year. We would like to invite ALL incoming 6th graders to join our beginning band for 2008-09

No Experience Necessary!

Annual Band/Guard Parents meeting and beginning band parents orientation is Thursday August 21, 5:45pm in the SMS Band room. Approx first 30 minutes will be spent on general parents meeting. The rest of the time (30-45 minutes) will be spent on beginning band information. NEW this year, At least THREE music stores (Nick Rail, CA Keyboards, Stockdale Music) will be there to actually rent instruments and sell music books and accessories that night! 5pm to 7:30pm

BEGINNING BAND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

PARENTS: For lots of good general information, also please visit the various "TIPS" pages listed in the main menu

• WHO PROVIDES THE INSTRUMENTS? In most cases, you are expected to provide your own instrument. (see below) We have a limited supply of school-owned instruments. Students currently on free/reduced lunch will have first chance at school flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets and trombones. Larger school instruments, such as horns, baritones, tubas, and bass clarinets are available to all interested students. All drummers must provide their own snare drum.
  
• HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR BAND? Students should receive an "elective sign-up sheet" early in May. They should be filled out, signed by parent and returned ASAP. Students who have been accepted into the beginning band program will receive notification before the end of this school year.
• WHAT ARE ALL THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE BEGINNING BAND?
  

Woodwinds: flute, clarinet, bass clarinets, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Brass: trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, tuba
Percussion: all beginners start off on snare drum and must provide their own
Mallet Percussion: bells

• WHEN DO I NEED TO HAVE AN INSTRUMENT? Nobody is expected to have an instrument on the first day. Our goal is to have everyone with an instrument by Friday 8/29. Each class will be told when to bring instruments to school for the first time.
• WHERE SHOULD WE GET AN INSTRUMENT? I strongly suggest you use a MUSIC STORE. There are a lot of CHEAP instruments available on the internet or in discount stores and warehouses. WARNING! You get what you pay for!!! If something goes wrong with a bargain instrument, you will probably be unable to get it fixed locally and it could take MONTHS to send it somewhere, or it may not be fixable at all!!
• HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RENT AN INSTRUMENT? Rental prices can vary from store to store and depending on instrument you are renting. Please use the phone numbers below and the links page to contact the stores directly and shop around.
• I HAVE A SCHOOL INSTRUMENT RESERVED. WHEN DO I GET IT? The first week of school,you will receive an instrument check-out form.You will need to fill it out, get it signed by parent/guardian, and return it along with the $35 fee before you get a school instrument. Checks payable to STANDARD SCHOOL DISTRICT. There will be a lot of instruments to check out during the first week of school so you will need to be patient. We get them out as quickly as possible.
• WHERE DO I KEEP MY INSTRUMENT AT SCHOOL? ALL instruments are to be brought to the band room in the morning and kept on the assigned shelves. Insrtuments are NOT allowed to be left overnight at school. And they are NOT allowed to be kept in classrooms. (NOTE: all cases should be labeled with student names)
• CAN I SWITCH INSTRUMENTS IF I DECIDE I LIKE SOMETHING ELSE BETTER? Usually NO! It is very hard to change schedules around once school has started. It is not a simple matter of just changing band classes, it usually involves changing your 6th grade teacher as well!!! However, once you make it into Warrior Band in the 7-8th grade, a few people do sometimes switch instruments.
• WHERE DO GET A MUSIC BOOK/ HOW MUCH DOES IT COST/ WHICH BOOK DO I GET? You will need to purchase your own music book at a local  music store. Ask for Yamaha Advantage BOOK I. Make sure you know exactly which instrument you are playing because the books are different for each instrument. Call the local stores listed below to find out about cost. They sometimes run out of certain books, so a phone call before you go down is a good idea.
• CAN I QUIT IF I DON'T LIKE IT? NO! You are making a full year commitment to try it for the entire year. Lots of students sometimes feel like quitting, but more times than not, if they just work through it and keep on trying, things work out well. If you really don't like it at the end of the year, then you do not have to sign up for 7th grade band.
• WHEN DO I COME TO BAND? Schedules will be mailed out on or about 8/15 Band classes will say either MWF (for flutes, clarinets and saxophones) or TuTh (for all other instruments). MWF students will come to band on the first day of school. TuTh students will come on the second day of school. THIS IS A ROTATING SCHEDULE. If you are MWF the first week, you will be TuTh the second week,etc. DO NOT WORRY, you can always check your schedule here on the Beginning Band Calander from the maun menu.
• WHAT IF MY SCHEDULE LISTS THE WRONG INSTRUMENT? It is probably not a mistake. HORN players will be in the class called "Trumpets". "Low Brass" includes trombones, baritones and tubas. And although we try to keep all other instruments grouped together (flutes with flutes, clarinets with clarinets, etc), once in awhile we have do a tiny bit of mixing due to other conflicts in the schedule.
• ARE THERE AFTER SCHOOL PRACTICES OR PERFORMANCES FOR BEGINNING BAND? Beginning band is a regularly scheduled class held during the school day. There are NO beginning band practices outside of regular school hours. Beginners DO have to attend 2 performances during the year. One is one Saturday 12/1 and the other one is our annual Spring Concert held in May, usualy on a Thursday night.
• ARE BEGINNERS PART OF THE MARCHING BAND?  NO. Our marching band is the Warrior Band which consists of 7-8th graders. (Most 6th graders who complete one year of beginning band will be eligible to join the WB next year). Any announcements you see concerning morning marching practices, competitions or parades applies to to the Warrior Band and Color Guard. (NOTE: there are a very few 6th graders and/or 6th grade beginning band members in Color Guard)
• WHAT DO BEGINNERS NEED BESIDE AN INSTRUMENT AND A MUSIC BOOK? (also see note below)

            * A portable folding music stand makes home practice much easier for all students!

                * A metronome is very important for drummers and highly recommended for all.

                * Clarinet and saxophones will need at least 6 reeds to start. Clarinets start on strength #2. Saxophones will need strength #2 1/2. (saxes will need to specify alto or tenor) NO PLASTIC REEDS!!!!

                * Clarinet and saxophones will need a pull-thru cleaning swab. (saxes will also need a neck cleaner)("pad savers" are NOT recommended)

                * Saxophones will need a neck strap.

                * Clarinet and saxophones will need cork grease 

                * Clarinet and saxophones will need reed guards.

                * Trumpets, Trombones, Horns, Baritones, Tubas will need valve/slide oil and tuning slide grease. (I substitute plain vaseline/petroleum jelly for tuning slide grease)

                * Flutes will need a tuning rod and/or a flexible wire-handle cleaning swab.

                * Drummers will need a snare drum(with minimum of 8 tuning screws) AND carrying case, a good sturdy drum stand high enough to enable student to stand up and play, practice pad of any type, and pair of wood sticks

NOTE on Accessories: School Instruments will come with most basics. 2 reeds will be furnished to start. Purchasing additional reeds is your responsibility. As oils run out, purchasing replacements is also your responsibility. For convenience of parents and students, reeds and oils and some other items are on sale in the bandroom. Shining/polishing clothes are sold in stores for most instruments and are strictly optional. Key oil for flute, clarinet and sax is also sold but not really needed for beginners.

MUSIC STORES
Please call the stores directly if you have questions on terms, costs, availability, etc.
Armas Music 322-0851 (Mainly for repairs)
California Keyboards 327-5397
Stockdale Music 836-1236
The Music Connection 323-3057
Nick Rail Music (Santa Barbara, but has local delivery) 1-800-649-5354 

Also visit our LINKS PAGE for links to local and internet stores