Hoover Beginning Band Welcome, musicians! All students are welcome to join band without experience ! Beginning Band is a year-long elective that meets every day during school. Band does require home practice and instrument rental. Simply request “Beginning Band (Band 1)” on your schedule request form. ● Want to get a head start on learning an instrument? ○ Register for summer band! (June TBD). Applications can be picked up in the HMS front office or from your elementary music teacher after Spring Break. ● NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! ○ If you have never played an instrument before, don’t worry! Everyone is welcome in beginning band! ● Are you already in Orchestra? ○ You can continue into the Hoover Intermediate Orchestra AND take Beginning Band! ● Do we have grades in band? ○ Yes, just like any elective class that meets daily. Band students are graded on their rehearsal etiquette, performance attendance, and individual playing tests. ● Required Evening Performances: ○ Fall Informance : October ○ Winter Concert: December ○ Spring Concert : May ● Additional Performance Opportunities: ○ Solo & Ensemble : February/May ● Instrument Options: (students try each instrument and are placed on the best fit by Ms. Leffard) ○ Woodwinds: Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Oboe, Bassoon ○ Brass : Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba ○ Percussion : Audition only (no previous experience required) ● Instrument Rentals: ○ Instruments rented from Hoover include : Tuba, Euphonium, French Horn, and Percussion ○ Instruments rented from The Horn Section include : Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, and Trombone ○ If you are concerned about the cost of renting an instrument, please contact Ms. Leffard. ● Do you already play a band instrument? If you have experience on one of the instruments listed above, please contact Ms. Leffard directly at [email protected] About Ms. Leffard Ms. Leffard grew up in the panhandle of Florida near Pensacola, and wanted to teach music to others from an early age. She received her Bachelors of Music Education from Florida State University in May 2017. The 2021 – 2022 school year will be Ms. Leffard’s fifth year at Hoover teaching both band and orchestra classes. She loves getting to share the excitement and accomplishment of learning instruments with students, and is looking forward to having new musicians in her classroom! If you have any questions, email : [email protected] We hope to see you next year! .