Who can participate in Come Join the Wildcat Band Band? EVERYONE! Be a part of something very Famous People who were in band: special as we begin our 80th year of Band in the Belmont Schools. Belmont Jimmy Kimmel - Halley Berry - All instruments are available and Julia Roberts -/Clarinet we hope you will choose to be a Middle Keesha -/ part of our program. Lil Wayne - Nelly Furtado - Nora Jones -Saxophone Research shows that students who School Band -Flute participate in Band are more likely Samuel L Jackson- to: Home of the Wildcat Band Lionel Richie-Clarinet/Tenor Sax ♪ Have fewer discipline issues

♪ Score higher on all standardized tests A Guide to Joining the ♪ Show a higher level of focus in Just to NOTE: all classes Band!

♪ Develop teamwork skills needed McDonald's Corporation surveyed 500 chief Executive Officers of Fortune 500 for today’s society companies and 500 U.S. Congressmen. ♪ Have more self confidence Ninety percent said that playing a band ♪ Make friends that will last for a instrument helps build character and lifetime leadership skills. When asked if they would encourage their children to pursue ♪ Have more FUN! as part of a school's curriculum, 100% of the congressmen and 98.6% of the businessmen said yes. GET EXCITED!!!!!!

Carrie Lineberger, Band Director

[email protected]

WHY MUSIC? WHY COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHAT ARE MY INSTRUMENT BAND? It might be ABOUT BAND: CHOICES?

more appropriate to I want to sign up for band, but I don’t Band offers several choices of instruments for know how to play an instrument. How can your child to play. ask: WHY NOT MUSIC? I be in band? Woodwind Instruments include: Flute, 99% of all beginners have never played a wind Clarinet, and It is evident should be WHY NOT BAND? or in their lifetime. Brass instruments include: Trumpet, French experienced by every student. We, as a Beginning band is designed to teach you Horn, Trombone, Baritone and culture, will be best served if the hearts and everything you need to know to play an Percussion instruments include: minds of our youth are filled with the instrument and be in a performing band. and Bells (these instruments will be selected knowledge and the understanding of MUSIC. by audition in January) The time has come, the time is now: What about home practice? STRIKE UP THE BAND! All band students are expected to practice How to determine which instrument to play. In the next few weeks, the Belmont Middle band each week on their own which will improve their skills. In April and May, Mrs. Lineberger will travel to director will visit the feeder elementary schools to the elementary schools to have instrument recruit for the beginning band program. This brochure There are many things I want to do in fittings. Your child will try out the will hopefully answer many of the questions you may middle school. How can I be in band and instruments that interest them. Most students have about band. Learning an instrument is very all those other activities? will get to play what instrument they wish, exciting. Band kids are involved kids. We encourage our but sometimes physically there is a need to Researchers have found that band participation: students to do a variety of activities. We will choose the recommendation of the director. have many students who go out for football, ✧ Enhances high brain function. basketball , track or other school sports, as I know what instrument my child wants to well as participating in one or more of our play, should I purchase or rent that ✧ Improves reading and math performance. many clubs. Being well rounded and instrument before classes start? I highly recommend waiting until instrument fitting ✧ Raises IQ scores and proficiency scores. experiencing many different activities is part of the middle school experience and we has occurred. Nothing is more frustrating for ✧ Provides important experiences that can help encourage it. Since the majority of learning in children than trying to learn an instrument physical coordination, timing, memory, visual, aural band occurs during the school day, conflicts that they are not physically suited for. and language skills. rarely arise. And when they do, we can work them out. Upcoming Dates: ✧ Enhances cooperation and builds teamwork skills. Band Interest Survey Due: April 12th Learning an instrument is also an activity that can be Will my child have band every day? enjoyed for a lifetime. Yes, it is a graded, academic class that is Instrument Fittings: April 15th-May 24th part of the Every Student Succeeds Act and

is 45 minutes each day. Band Info Meeting at Belmont MS: th May 28 5-7pm in the Band Room