Beginning Band
I require all students joining Beginning Band to submit an agreement form signed by a parent/guardian.
-
Meeting Times
-
WEDNESDAYS 2pm-3:30pm.
-
Optional Extra Practice Time at school: Thursday 7:30-7:50am.
-
Attendance Policy: If your child misses 3 or more club meetings they may not be able to participate in performances due to being behind in their progress. If this happens, I will reach out to you about getting them caught up. Pickup lateness policy is consistent with all TES clubs.
-
Concerts: Beginning Band will perform twice a year, once in the Winter and once in the Spring. Dates will be sent home the first week of clubs.
-
Our performance uniform is “wear all black.” No tank tops or leggings, sneakers and unripped jeans are OK.
-
Instruments MUST have a NAME TAG attached with the student’s full name, home phone number, and address. Instruments may be dropped off in the music room before school starts and picked up when school ends. Instruments may not stay in the music room overnight.
-
Fittings - How do you know what instrument you will play?
-
Available: Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone.
-
Ms. Gulseth will test each student individually for their proficiency on each of the instruments available and they will decide together which instrument will be the best fit. Do NOT purchase an instrument before your child has been fitted for one.
-
Financial Commitment
-
Instruments are not available through Trafalgar Elementary School.
-
All of the necessary materials can be rented or purchased a variety of ways, but my #1 recommendation is to get supplies and instruments alike from:
-
Cadence Music
-
Website: https://cadencemusic.com/t-rentals.aspx
-
Biggest Benefit among many: Rental instruments have a $6/mo maintenance fee which covers all normal wear and tear on the instrument. The store delivers to our school every Wednesday, so there is never a need to make a trip.
If you are interested in other instrument purchase or rental options, or have any financial concerns, reach out to me so I can help. Band instruments must be made sturdily in order to live in the hands of kids who will drop and break them while learning to treat an object gently. If the instrument is made of poor quality materials, often they cannot be repaired once broken.
DO NOT BUY A BAND INSTRUMENT ON AMAZON
Trafalgar Elementary School
Beginning Band Materials List
Required FOR ALL Instruments:
Book: Habits of a Successful Beginning Band Musician for your instrument (About $11)
Pencil for EVERY rehearsal
Recommended: Folding music stand to keep at home (About $15-20)
Flute:
Silk Cleaning Cloth (about $10)
Cleaning wand (comes with flute)
Recommended: Thumb Rest
Clarinet Materials:
Cork Grease (about $10)
Silk Cleaning Drop Swab (about $10)
Box of 10 Vandoren 2 ½ strength reeds (about $30)
About Reeds:
Reeds last about 2 weeks max per reed and will need to be replaced as your child plays through them. "Vandoren" is the brand, and "2 1/2" refers to the strength of the wood. If you are considering buying a different brand of reed, please consult this strength chart and match to the 2.5 column, rounding up when there is not an exact match.
Trumpet Materials:
Valve Oil (about $3, often comes with trumpet)
Slide Grease (about $7, often comes with trumpet)
Small Black Hand Towel or Wash Cloth
Trombone Materials:
Slide Lubricant (about $11, often comes with trombone)
Small Black Hand Towel or Wash Cloth
At-Home Practice Links