Abington School District the Elementary Instrumental Team
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ABINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT MUSIC DEPARTMENT www.abingtonarts.org 2018-2019 Education in music is most sovereign, because, more than anything else, rhythm and harmony find their way into the secret places of the soul. - Plato The Abington School District takes great pride in being able to offer string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instrument classes at the Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools. It is the goal of the directors to produce outstanding orchestras and bands. It is also the belief of the directors that students who are involved in an outstanding band and/or orchestra program learn more and develop better self-discipline, responsibility, and knowledge, and take pride in their musical accomplishments. To produce an outstanding orchestra or band requires that each student accept certain responsibilities: 1. Responsible Behavior 2. Dependability 3. Musical Excellence 4. Dedication One of the most wasteful decisions any school could make would be to discard arts education as a “frill." The investment in a fine arts curriculum is repaid many times over by the quality of life it fosters in the community and by the growth it encourages in our most valuable asset: our children. - William E. LaMothe Chairman & CEO Kellogg Company Band Program Description In the fourth grade students receive band instruction one day per week for 45 minutes. While the students are out of their regular classroom no new concepts are to be introduced. In the fifth and sixth grades band students receive one small group instruction class per week for 45 minutes. In addition, fifth and sixth grade band students are combined into a band for 45 minutes per week. Our data suggest that providing broad programs of study for children in elementary school need not be at the expense of the so-called basics - reading, language arts, and mathematics. This can be accomplished by assuring a minimum number of hours in the school week and using these hours efficiently for instructional purposes................... We still have 3.5 hours each week for the arts. - John Goodlad A Place Called School At Abington Junior High School students are able to elect to participate in a band at each grade level and in the Jazz Ensemble. At Abington Senior High School students may elect to participate in the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and Jazz Ensemble. Music gives...Wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything. - Plato www.abington.k12.pa.us/arts 2 Choosing An Instrument In the beginning band program students may choose from the following instruments: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, percussion kits (Drum practice pad, bells, & case). In future years, your child may have the opportunity to expand his or her instrumental experience on oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, french horn, and tuba. These instruments are provided by the school district due to their size and/or cost. Your child's primary concern in choosing an instrument is probably going to be what looks like the most fun. Our concern is to find the instrument on which your child will experience the greatest opportunity for success. Factors we consider in this decision are: 1. Your child's interest in the instrument. 2. Your child's physical characteristics. 3. Your child's musical ability as demonstrated during the recorder classes. 4. Balancing the instrumentation in the band ensemble. Try a musical instrument. As soon as you decide to take up an instrument, your brain has a whole new group of muscle-control problems to solve. But that's nothing compared with what the brain has to do before the student can begin to read notes on a page and correlate them with his or her fingers to create tones. This is remarkable, high-level type of activity - Arnold Scheibel Director of UCLA's Brain Research Institute Sometimes we feel that music lessons are only for children who are "talented"........ Every person has some musical aptitude - the capacity to respond to musical sound and to control the body's movement in order to create music. - Cheri Fuller www.abington.k12.pa.us/arts 3 Obtaining An Instrument Parents are expected to provide an instrument. These can be rented from many different sources. One of the principal causes of pupil frustration is an inferior instrument. The following are local music stores that sell and rent quality musical instruments: DeVoe's Music , Inc. Menchey Music Service 51 East Main Street The Shoppes at Wyomissing Lansdale, PA 19446 762 Woodland Road 215.368.3395 Reading PA 19610 www.devoesmusic.net 888.636.2439 www.mencheymusic.com Music & Arts Centers Local Representative for Menchey Music 490 North Easton Road DeLuca Music Co. Horsham, PA 19044 56 South York Road 215.443.7880 Hatboro, PA 19040 www.musicarts.com 215.674.1401 www.delucamusic.com Local Representative for Music & Arts Keswick Music Works Zeswitz Music 363 North Easton Road Weekly deliveries & service Glenside, PA 19038 at all Abington schools 215.887.1462 877.480.8224 www.keswickmusicworks.com www.zeswitzmusic.com If you have an opportunity to obtain an instrument from a source other than one listed above, your child's teacher will be happy to evaluate the playing condition of the instrument. Instrument Repair See your teacher before attempting to repair your child's instrument. Instrument Identification All instruments should be tagged with student’s name and school. Keep a record of the make, model & serial number at home. Instrument supplies Clarinet players should maintain 4 good reeds (Strengths #1 ½ or #2) at all times. A reed clip is an inexpensive but safe way to store the reeds. Brass players should have proper lubricant for their instrument (valve oil, tuning slide grease, trombone slide cream). All students should have a music stand for the best practice results at home. www.abington.k12.pa.us/arts 4 Instrumental Expectations Instrumental Class Rules 1. Always come to class, even if you forget your instrument. 2. If you’re absent, get your assignment from another student. 3. Mark assignments on the practice record in your book and have practice times initialed by parent or guardian. 4. Leave and enter all classrooms quietly. 5. No talking or running in hallway. 6. No gum chewing, eating or drinking in class. 7. Respect other people’s property. Do not handle anyone else’s instrument. 8. Only play your instrument when you are asked to. Playing out of turn is inconsiderate to your classmates and your teacher. 9. Put all equipment away when asked. Concert Expectations All students are expected to attend the school concerts as part of the curriculum. As concert dates are planned at the beginning of the year, conflicts should be avoided with advance notice to private instructors or coaches. Concert Dress Code Black slacks or skirt, black shoes, black socks, white shirt or blouse. Visually represent your school with pride. Play clothes are not considered "appropriate". For example - Jeans, sneakers, tee-shirts, shirts with writing or advertisements, tank tops, shorts. www.abington.k12.pa.us/arts 5 Family Support Although music aptitude varies among children, what we call "talent" seems to have more to do with achievement, discipline, and practice, how rich the home environment is musically, and the family's commitment to progress in music study. - Cheri Fuller Use Positive Reinforcement To Maintain Motivation Attentively listen to your child practice every day, even if only briefly. Encourage your child to practice. A daily practice schedule is a good idea. Attend your child's concerts - - celebrate with them afterwards by going out for a treat together. Praise Your Child With Your Words "Wow! That's really improved!" "That sounds great!" "Don't worry, you can get it right." "Be patient with yourself." "Look at how far you have come." "Keep trying." "You practice that piece for 10 minutes and then I'll come back and hear you." Remember that your impatience with or disapproval of your child's best efforts is damaging to his or her self-esteem. Adjust your expectations level to your child's ability and length of time the instrument has been played. Practice Expectations Check your child's music folder once a week for information from the teacher. Ask your child how his or her lesson went that day. Record your child's daily practice time and sign the appropriate place on the record each week. A minimum of 70 minutes per week (10 minutes per day) is required of all students. This indicates to your child and to the teacher that you are playing an interested part in the work at home. www.abington.k12.pa.us/arts 6 Please e-mail your student's teacher whenever you need more information or have a concern. Teacher e-mails addresses are listed on page 8. Home Practice Setting The Musical Scene 1. Set a regular time and place to practice that is free from distractions. The best places for your student to practice are public rooms such as a living room or family room, dining room, and play room. Restricting your student to their bedroom to practice is discouraging and teaches the student that music is not welcome in the home. 2. Purchase a collapsible music stand. Its use results in good posture, good vision of music and better sounds. 3. Decide on a safe place to store your instrument. Always put your instrument back in its case when you are done practicing to protect it. Never place your instrument where there is extreme heat or cold. Examples of extreme heat around the house are heat registers, radiators, fireplaces and wood burning stoves.