Instrument Program Overview

1. Please make sure you have instrument packets from our vendors and have a seat. The program will begin promptly at 6 pm.

2. Mrs. Kelly Levere • Been with SV since 2003. • Taught 7th grade general music for 4 years. • Going on my 6th year of teaching band. • Bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University. • Master’s degree from Duquesne University. • Have a 2 year old son at home and due with a little girl on June 17th.

3. Instruments and Student Performers • Flute – – Difficult to get a good sound at first. – Play by blowing into the instrument like you would make the “fog horn” sound over a pop bottle.

4. Clarinet and Alto Saxophone • Clarinet – Jackie Mortimer • Alto Saxophone – – For both instruments, a reed is used on the mouth piece to make the sound. – Students are required to buy their own reeds. – Each students should have 4 good working reeds at a time. – You want to invest in a good reed case if you play the clarinet or alto saxophone. It will prolong the life of your reeds and ultimately save you money!

5. Brass Instruments • All brass instruments use a lip buzz to produce sound. • Trumpet – Kevin Farinelli • French Horn – – Requires double the practicing time and LOTS of parent support/help. – Students who play the French Horn must be very dedicated and willing to work very hard even when they are frustrated. – I am not telling you this to scare anyone away, but just so you know the commitment you are signing up for. – Some school horns are available but they are not guaranteed. School rental cost is a non-refundable $100 per year. You may need to rent an instrument, which will be much more expensive. – You will need to put your child’s name on the wait list for a school instrument TONIGHT! School instruments are rented out based on the wait list.

6. Low Brass Instruments • All Low Brass instruments read the bass clef. • THERE ARE NEVER ENOUGH LOW BRASS INSTRUMENTS! • Trombone – Kenny Farinelli – Uses a slide to change pitches. Nothing to push down. • Baritone – Brad Snyder – Can move onto Tuba in 5th grade. – Some school horns are available but they are not guaranteed. School rental cost is a non-refundable $100 per year. You may need to rent an instrument, which will be much more expensive. – You will need to put your child’s name on the wait list for a baritone TONIGHT! School instruments are rented out based on the wait list.

7. Percussion • Xylophone and Snare – • All Percussion students will learn the bells first. • They do not actually get a snare drum with their rental. – It’s a bell kit which includes bells and a drum pad. • After note reading is mastered with the bells we will add in snare and bass drum. • Many other “toys” will be added (tambourine, maracas, triangle, cowbell, wind chimes, timpani, etc.) as the students progress.

8. Why decide to join band now? • 3rd grade students make the decision to join band now. • They will start lessons in the fall. • This enables us to have more instruction time in the fall instead of taking time up with the tryouts.

9. The Time Comittment • Beginners should be practicing 10 – 20 minutes EVERY DAY. • The more they practice, the easier it gets. • Parents, you will need to encourage your child to practice. The newness will wear off. • PRACTICING IS HOMEWORK, just like math/science/spelling/etc and should be written in the student’s planner. • If you and your child can’t make the time commitment to practice, then signing up for band is probably not the best idea.

10. Rent vs. Buy • We highly encourage our students to rent. • The trial period is set up for a minimal cost and adequate time to see if band is the right choice for your child. • If you buy and decide in a few months that band is not for your child, then you are out the cost of the instrument. If you rent, then you are only out the initial rental fee. • Our vendors will bring your child’s instrument to the school and come every week to make sure all instruments are in working order. You never have to go to the store!

11. What will I be paying for with my initial rental fee? • School owned instrument (french horn, baritone, and tuba) – You will be paying a non refundable rental fee of $100 per year. • This fee will be waved for free/reduced lunch students and families. • This is more of an upfront cost, but it is still less expensive than renting these instruments from a rental company. – You will need to purchase a Standard of Excellence book from Mrs. Levere in the beginning of the year. The cost for that book from Mrs. Levere is $7.00. • Rental company instrument (flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion kit) – You will be paying a non refundable rental fee (to the instrument company) for the trial period. The trial period lasts until winter break in December. – You will also be purchasing a Standard of Excellence Book 1 for your child. This does not need to be returned if your child decides to quit the program after his or her trial period.

12. If you must buy an instrument… • Buy your instrument from a MUSIC store. (Brighton, Johnstonbaugh’s or Volkwein’s to name a few) • “Discount” instruments from “big box stores” are typically not good quality and CANNOT be fixed. • Please contact me prior to purchasing an instrument to make sure the one you purchase is of good quality.

13. If you already own an instrument… • Please make sure your instrument is in good playing condition before the start of the 2012 – 2013 school year (August 28th, 2012). • Quality repairs can be done at any of the three vendors represented here tonight and at Fudoli’s Music Store in Butler, PA.

14. What do I need to get for my child to participate in Band in the fall? • An instrument (rented or bought) • A music stand • Standard of Excellence Book 1 (with or without CD) • Cleaning Kit (especially for the brass players!)

15. Trial Period • Trial period is 4 months long. (Sept. – Dec.) • Initial time commitment is the entire trial period so that the students can get a good feel for their instrument. • Option to quit after the 4 month trial, before Christmas break in December. – A letter will be sent home to remind parents. • Once we start full band rehearsals in January, students may not quit until after the concert in May. • Students are not normally permitted to switch instruments in the middle of the year.

16. How does the rotating band schedule work? • With many changes happening again in the district for the 2012 – 2013 school year, the band schedule is NOT finalized yet. • I can only tell you how the schedule looked this past year: – HES lessons are split between days 3 and 4. The majority of the lessons will be on Day 4 and full band rehearsal was on day 4 during recess time (Jan – beginning of May). – Rowan lessons are on Day 5. Full band is at the end of the day from 2:30 – 3:05. – Beginning Band starts in January and runs through our concert in early May. We do not meet as a full band after the concert but we will continue to have lessons. • At Haine Elementary, large group band will meet during your child’s recess time from January through the concert. This would mean that your child would MISS RECESS once a week during those months.

17. How does the rotating band schedule work? • Small Group Lessons are scheduled on a rotating basis. – This insures that students will only miss their regularly scheduled class once every 9 weeks. – The lessons rotate every half hour. – Students are responsible to get any missed classwork from their teacher. • There are typically very few problems with the rotating schedule. • Here’s how it works (I have pictures!):

18. How does the rotating band schedule work? Sept. 26 Sept. 19 Sept. 12 Oct. 25 Oct. 18 Oct. 11 Nov. 8 Nov. 1 Oct. 3 EXAMPLE SCHEDULE 8:50 – 9:20 Fl Horn Trpt AS 2 AS 1 Cl 2 Cl 1 Fl Horn 9:55 – 10:25 Cl 1 Fl Horn Trpt AS 2 AS 1 Cl 2 Cl 1 Fl 10:25 – 10:55 Cl 2 Cl 1 Fl Horn Trpt AS 2 AS 1 Cl 2 Cl 1 10:55 – 11:25 AS 1 Cl 2 Cl 1 Fl Horn Trpt AS 2 AS 1 Cl 2 12:05 – 12:35 AS 2 AS 1 Cl 2 Cl 1 Fl Horn Trpt AS 2 AS 1 12:35 – 1:05 Trpt AS 2 AS 1 Cl 2 Cl 1 Fl Horn Trpt AS 2 1:05 – 1:40 HES 4th Grade Full Band Rehearsal starting in January 1:45 – 2:15 Horn Trpt AS 2 AS 1 Cl 2 Cl 1 Fl Horn Trpt 2:25 – 3:05 HMS 6th Grade Full Band

27. Let’s See That Again!!!

37. Why Tryouts??? • Tryouts are done so that your child finds the instrument that is best suited for themselves. • It’s about finding the right fit. • No one is told that they can’t be in band. • You and your child will tryout with a specific music vendor but you ARE NOT obligated to rent from that vendor. • If you choose to rent from someone other than our three vendors, then you are responsible for making sure your child has their instrument at the beginning of the school year.

38. Tryout Dates and Times • Rowan’s Tryouts are TOMORROW from 8am – 1pm, in the Rowan Cafeteria. • Haine’s Tryouts are on Wednesday from 8am – 1pm in the band room and on the stage. • Parents, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you to attend the tryout with your child. They may not come home with their first choice instrument and I want you to see why. • Each appointment will take approximately 15 minutes. • LIMITED EVENING APPOINTMENTS are also available TOMORROW NIGHT from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Haine Middle School. – Students from Rowan and Haine may come to try out tomorrow night.

39. When coming to school for your child’s tryout… • Please sign-in in the office and follow the signs to the tryouts. – Do not come through the Middle School Doors for the HES daytime tryouts. • Go straight to the tryout area. It is a security issue for you to visit other places or attempt to get your child from their classroom. – Student runners will get your child from their classroom once you check in at the tryout.

40. When coming to school for your child’s tryout… • Students will be able to try two instruments. • Parents are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to be at the tryout to see what instrument your child is best suited for. • NO MONEY IS NEEDED at the tryout. • Decisions do not need to be made at the tryout. Rental agreements need to be turned in to the rental company by July 15th. – The earlier the better! – If you WANT to turn your paperwork in at the tryout, that is ok. • Instruments and book will be delivered directly to school in the fall if you rent from one of our vendors (Brighton, Johnstonbaugh’s or Volkwein’s) • Please do not put your rental agreement in “ ”.

41. Meet Our Vendors: • Brighton Music – Mr. Gary Jackson – highlights of the Brighton Music rental program • Johnstonbaugh’s – – highlights of the Johnstonbaugh’s rental program • Volkwein’s – Ms. Heather Sirney – highlights of the Volkwein’s rental program

42. Signing up for tryout times • You will not be signing up for an individual company for your tryout. – You will be assigned a company as they have time available – Brighton, Johnstonbaugh’s or Volkwein’s. • Please PRINT LEDGIBLY. – I need to read the names on the sheet at the tryouts. • Mrs. Levere – Evening Tryouts tomorrow evening at Haine. – For any RES and HES students. – Limited appointments will fill time wise starting at 6pm. • Mr. Gary Jackson (Brighton Music Center) – ALL ROWAN SIGN UPS (TOMORROW 8 – 11:45) – Just because you are signing up with Brighton does not mean that you will try out with Brighton. – Appointments fill up from time wise from the beginning of the day. • Ms. Heather Sirney (Volkwein’s) – ALL HAINE SIGN UPS (THURSDAY 8 – 11:45) – Just because you are signing up with Volkwein’s does not mean that you will try out with Volkwein’s. – Appointments fill up from time wise from the beginning of the day.

43. School French Horn and Baritone Waiting List • See Mrs. Levere after you have signed up for a try out time. • Get on the list even if your child is just thinking about playing French Horn or Baritone. – The rental cost for a school owned instrument is a non-refundable fee of $100 per school year. If there aren’t any instruments available through the school, you are more than welcome to rent through one of our vendors.

44. Thanks for coming! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email at levereke@svsd.net.

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