Crestview Middle School

5th Grade Band Packet

Mr. Michael J. Fay, Director

Dear Prospective Band Parent(s)/Student,

Thank you for taking a brief moment to review some important information that could have a lasting impact on the future of your child. All parents are interested in providing the most advantageous opportunity for the welfare of their children. Please take a moment to allow us to present this information concerning our 5th grade (beginning) band program.

This year CMS will offer the chance for every fifth grade student to participate in band. We are very excited about our instrumental music program and eagerly look forward to this new crop of budding young artists who will join this year's class of talented musicians. At this time, you may not know a lot about our band programs. However, I hope this letter will answer some questions you may have.

Most of the students wanting to enroll in 5th grade band may already know what instrument they are going to play while others may not. No worry! Throughout the first few weeks of September, 2011, during the student’s study hall, we will be demonstrating Brass and Woodwind instruments to the students, introducing them to the various instruments. In addition, we will be assessing their musical aptitude through a battery of tests. Band members will be expected to try out instruments they have an interest in and decide on a first and second choice of instrument they would like to play. We are asking that any students interested in playing percussion participate on a woodwind or brass instrument for the first semester. At the end of the first semester, all students still interested in playing percussion will be auditioned with a limited number of students being permitted to continue on as percussionists.

After we have completed assessing and assigning students to instruments, we will have a brief rental night scheduled for the last week of September (specific date is TBD). The meeting will last approximately one hour and will cover information concerning renting, leasing and purchasing instruments, accessories and method books.

We know that band students represent the top of the academic scale in our schools. We know they are averaging 62 points higher on SAT tests, which would indicate they are stronger in verbal and math scores than other members of the student body. We also know band students are the ones who enjoy a successful high school career, go on to college, and become the leaders in our society. There is a definite link between the top achiever academically and the band student. They are one and the same.

One of the most positive experiences you can offer your child is the chance to learn self-discipline at the highest level via participation in band. Their social skills, communication skills, self-concepts, cooperative talents and creative mind will all be nurtured through their study of music. These life-skills will serve as an important foundation as they take on various responsibilities in their future.

There are always questions about the band program. We hope that the enclosed information will answer some of your questions. If you still have questions or concerns please contact either band director at your earliest convenience. We look forward to getting to know you and hope that you will discuss with your child the possibility of joining an outstanding organization of young musicians.

Sincerely,

Mr. Michael J. Fay Music Director CMS/CHS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT BAND

1. DO I HAVE TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MUSIC TO JOIN BAND?

NO! Any training in music that you might have will be helpful, but everything you need to know to play an instrument will be taught in BAND.

2. WHO WILL BE IN BAND?

Your friends and fellow classmates will join you in what will be some of the most exciting times in your school days. The more friends, the more fun you will have. The band is the largest spirit organization at our middle school. Many of our band students are the leaders in academic achievement, school spirit, and club activities.

3. WHAT INSTRUMENTS CAN I CHOOSE FROM?

5th Grade Beginning Band students are divided into classes that include:

WOODWIND BRASS PERCUSSION Flute Trumpet Snare Drum Clarinet French Horn Bells/Xylophone Saxophone Trombone Timpani Oboe Baritone Cymbals Bassoon Tuba Bass Drum

4. HOW DO I KNOW WHAT INSTRUMENT TO PLAY?

After you have signed up for BAND we will meet with you at school during your study hall. At this time we will let you play on all the beginning band instruments and further discuss which instrument would be best suited for you. Because of physical characteristics, you might progress faster on one instrument than another.

5. DOES IT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO BE IN THE BAND?

NO! The main cost is your instrument and method book which will run approximately $8. Good new and used instruments are available from local music stores such as Motter’s Music in Canfield. Most students rent an instrument on a rental-purchase plan at a very low monthly cost (approximately $25-$45) depending on the instrument. The school supplies the bigger, more expensive instruments such as tubas, baritones, and French horns for a small, yearly fee of $30.

6. CAN I BE IN THE BAND AND PLAY SPORTS?

ABSOLUTELY!!! In fact it is possible to participate in band all the way through your senior year of high school, AND participate in a varsity sport. Scheduling conflicts rarely ever occur. Band rehearsals take place during the day. Most concerts take place in the early evenings after most practices/games have concluded.

WHAT IS BAND?

BAND IS A SCIENCE

Band music is precise, and it demands exact acoustics. A conductor’s score is a chart or graph which indicates frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody and harmony all at once, and with the most exact control of time.

BAND IS MATHEMATICS

The music is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time which must be done instantaneously and not worked out on paper.

BAND IS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Most of the terms are Italian, French or German, and the notation is certainly not English- but a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas.

BAND IS HISTORY

Music usually reflects the environment and times of its creation, often the country and/ or racial feeling.

BAND IS PHYSICAL EDUCATION

It requires extraordinary coordination of fingers, hands, arms and facial muscles, in addition to the controlling the abdominal muscles and the respiratory system, all of which respond to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets.

SOME FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO PLAYED IN THE BAND Flute Trumpet Alanis Morrisette (singer) James Woods (actor) Halle Berry (actress) John Glenn (Astronaut and U.S. Senator) Celine Dion (singer) Michael Anthony (Bass player for Van Halen) Calista Flockhart ("Ally McBeal") Drew Carey (actor/comedian) George Eastman (founder of Kodak) Stephen Tyler (lead singer for Aerosmith) Alyssa Milano (actress) Prince Charles (future King of England) Noah Webster (Webster's Dictionary) MontelWilliams (talk show host) Gwen Stephani (singer) PeterWeller ("Robocop") Molly Erdman ( the “wife” in the Sonic Commercials) Steve Earle (Nashville bad boy) Darcy Hordichuk (NHL Nashville Predators) Clarinet Richard Gere (actor) Rainn Wilson (actor) Shania Twain (singer) Julia Roberts (actress) Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) (All-State Player in CA) Woody Allen (actor/director) Jackie Gleason (actor) Gloria Estefan (singer) PeterWeller (actor – RoboCop) Tony Shaloub ("Monk") Eric Lindros (Dallas Stars Forward) Eva Longoria ("Desperate Housewives") Brandon Routh (actor – Superman Returns) Dr. Michael DeBakey (pioneering heart surgeon) Samuel L. Jackson (actor) Jimmy Kimmel (comedian/talk show host) Allan Greenspan (Former Federal Reserve Chairman) French Horn Steven Spielberg (movie director) Ewan McGregor (ObiWan Kanobi StarWars I, II, III) Robert Reid (former Houston Rocket) Vanessa Williams (Singer/Actress) Gloria Estefan (singer) Otto Graham (NFL Hall of Fame quarterback) Squidward Henry Cisneros (former Secretary of Housing and Urban Amy Acuff (US Olympic High Jumper & Model) Development) Joseph Mascolo – (Clarinet for the Metropolitan Opera Samuel L. Jackson (actor) & Stephano Dimera from “Days of Our Lives”) Trombone Jonathan Frakes ("Star Trek" actor/director) Bass Clarinet Bill Engvall (Blue Collar Comedy Tour) ZakkWylde (Guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne) Nelly Furtado (singer) Conrad Janis (actor) Sax John Pankow (actor, "Mad About You") Allan Greenspan (yes, he plays both) Tony Stewart (NASCAR Driver) Jennifer Garner ("Alias") Bill Clinton (former U.S. President) Baritone Roy Williams (NFL Detriot Lions) Neil Armstrong (Astronaut…first man on the moon) Vince Carter (NBA Star) David Robinson (Retired NBA Star) Tuba Fred McMurray (actor) Andy Griffith (actor) Tedi Bruschi (NFL New England Patriots) Malik Rose (NBA) Bob Hope (late comedian/actor) Thomas F.Wilson ("Biff" from the Back to the Future) Lionel Richie (singer) Harry Smith (CBS's "The Early Show") Tom Selleck (actor) Dan Akroyd (actor) TylerWright (NHL Anaheim Ducks) Aretha Franklin ("Queen of Soul", singer)

Percussion Mike Anderson (NFL) Tommy Lee (Supernova) Tracy Simien (NFL) Eddie George (retired NFL) Trent Raznor (Nine Inch Nails) Dana Carvey (actor/comedian) Vinnie Paul (Pantera) Andy Schneider (NHL Pittsburgh Penguins) Walter Payton (NFL Hall of Fame running back) Johnny Carson (TV Host) Mike Piazza (former MLB catcher)