Tates Creek Elementary Band
Shaun Owens, Director
Course Outline & Expectations
Welcome to the Tates Creek Elementary Band Program! I am excited about the
opportunity to work with your child this year. In order to have the most successful and
positive musical experience, your new musician will need your encouragement and support.
The following information is provided so your child will be prepared for classroom
instruction.
Each 5th grade student at Tates Creek Elementary participates in band for a 9
week period with their homeroom class. The goal is to provide a positive
group and individual experience while learning the core content for
music.
Click here for a video from our
last concert.
Games Schedule Grading Performances
Instruments Text & Supplies
Music
Symbol Matching Game
This is a memory game like Concentration. When you start,
one copy of each musical symbol will be hidden. Click a wooden panel
to uncover a symbol. Click on the panel with the matching symbol to
uncover them both.
Click
Here for Games
Band meets daily for 45 minutes. Students are expected to be prepared and on time.
Instrument cases are to be stacked neatly in their designated area. Nobody plays until we
all warm up together! Band is about everybody doing the same thing, the same way, at the
same time. That is how we will be truly be successful.
Band is a graded course of study. Students are responsible for their
grades. Additionally, students will be
assessed on class participation, public (group) performances and individual performance
assessment. Grades are posted each nine weeks. Extra credit is available if necessary.
Each class will perform a summative concert for their
peers during the school day. Parents are
encouraged to attend all public performances In support of their musician's
accomplishments.
All band students will be evaluated in order to determine which instrument will allow
them the most success. This will allow for a more positive student experience, and it may
save parents the headache of obtaining multiple instruments.
Everyone will need an instrument in GOOD WORKING CONDITION. If you are planning
to purchase an older instrument, please be sure that it has been looked over by an
instrument repairman for the adjustments it may need (leaky pads, bent valves and slides,
etc.) before expecting your child to be successful learning how to play it. It may be
preferable to rent instead of purchasing an instrument. This may help avoid the burden of
reselling an instrument at a latter date. Please call me with any questions concerning
this matter.
A word of warning: rates among various music dealers are generally comparable. However,
if you find a rental rate for a given instrument that is significantly lower than the rate
quoted by other dealers, it may reflect the quality of the instrument. While the price may
be tempting, an inferior instrument will inhibit your child's progress!
Most instruments are available from the school for rental. These are
used instruments, functional, yet far from top quality.
All students will need a pencil and a copy of the text for their specific instrument.
- Text and materials are provided.
Each instrument will also require the following accessories suited to it:
- Flute - cleaning rod, cloth handkerchief.
- Clarinet & Alto Sax - at least four new #2½ reeds (reeds are cheaper by the
box), plastic reed guard, cork grease, cleaning swab.
- Trumpet, Horn, Baritone & Tuba - valve or rotor oil, slide grease, mouthpiece
brush, cleaning snake.
- Trombone - slide oil, tuning slide grease, cleaning snake, mouthpiece brush.
- Percussion - Percussion kit including bells, practice pad, sticks and hard rubber
mallets.
A folding music stand is required for home practice. Students who do not have a proper
stand often develop incorrect posture habits which restrict their development. All the
items mentioned above should be available at most local music stores.
The one element most vital to your child's musical development is HOME PRACTICE. At
this stage, one hour per week divided into 5 sessions per week is recommended. The
important consideration is frequency of practice, not necessarily duration. Encouragement
and supervision of home practice are important for your child to have a positive and
successful musical experience. Besides, their grade depends upon taking the instrument out
of the case and playing it!
Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I am looking forward to sharing
this rewarding experience with you and your child.
Shaun Owens
smowens@fayette.k12.ky.us
Last Revised: January 20, 2004.
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