HOW CAN I JOIN THE BAND? Read the differences between Silver and Gold Band here!
SILVER AND GOLD BAND are the combined groups of FOURTH and FIFTH grade students, mostly winds and percussion, but sometimes string players with advanced prior training (learning flats is essential). We alternate host schools every school year, so that music stands, percussion and drums stay at one school. Rehearsals take place this year at BRYAN SCHOOL, since last year we rehearsed at Merritt School.
Rehearsals are on Wednesdays 7:40-8:15AM (except for THIS YEAR 20-21) for both MMS and EHB students. Each week during lessons (during the school day) students work towards their band benchmarks by learning new pitches, circling their assignments, and return to lessons the following week to complete these exercises in their books.
Not everyone is in the band immediately upon signing up for lessons, but every year our goal is to have all beginners joining us by January, to prepare for the Spring Concert! There is a Winter Concert in December, and Spring Concert in May.
Benchmarks for Silver Band - Wind players and drummers:
Silver Band members play 1-3 songs in their first concert. To join Silver Band, students complete up to #22 in their lesson books (winds), drummers complete 5 worksheets in their packet (up to 8th note rhythms) during lesson time.
Benchmarks for Gold Band - Wind players and drummers:
Gold Band members play all 6-7 songs in the concert. You are in Gold Band if you have played in at least 1 concert, and have reached up to #36 in lesson books (wind players)... DRUMMERS are considered GOLD BAND because they play in every song.
We play 4-7 songs in each concert, performing in December and in May . Any student taking lessons with me will have an opportunity to play in our concerts, whether it be 1 song, or all songs on the program, so your child can experience the joy of performing for an audience, and grow as an ensemble musician!
Band Guidelines:
*it is important to bring your own music to rehearsal, and not share with others as there are markings in your music specifically to help YOU
ALL band members arrive between 7:30- 7:40AM (I know it's early!! ). Allow time to put together instrument and find your assigned seat.Bryan students dismissed at 8:15 for pickup. Merritt students stay to help with putting all chairs and stands away. Drummers help to set up and break down equipment.
Beginner strings are invited to learn the String Features (separate music from band), once all notes on the strings D and A have been learned (page 19 in your lesson book) during our lesson time. Students who study with a private teacher can arrange to come play for me (audition) to determine if weekly lessons are a good idea idea, in addition to your private lessons.
Benchmarks for Silver & Gold Band - String players:
Strings are not normally part of a band (usually winds and percussion) so the parts are not player-friendly to violinists, violists and cellists. To play in the band, the students must have knowledge of the keys of B flat and E flat. This requires a shifted hand position which is not taught until 1st position is mastered.
Rehearsals are on Wednesdays 7:40-8:15AM (except for THIS YEAR 20-21) for both MMS and EHB students. Each week during lessons (during the school day) students work towards their band benchmarks by learning new pitches, circling their assignments, and return to lessons the following week to complete these exercises in their books.
Not everyone is in the band immediately upon signing up for lessons, but every year our goal is to have all beginners joining us by January, to prepare for the Spring Concert! There is a Winter Concert in December, and Spring Concert in May.
Benchmarks for Silver Band - Wind players and drummers:
Silver Band members play 1-3 songs in their first concert. To join Silver Band, students complete up to #22 in their lesson books (winds), drummers complete 5 worksheets in their packet (up to 8th note rhythms) during lesson time.
Benchmarks for Gold Band - Wind players and drummers:
Gold Band members play all 6-7 songs in the concert. You are in Gold Band if you have played in at least 1 concert, and have reached up to #36 in lesson books (wind players)... DRUMMERS are considered GOLD BAND because they play in every song.
We play 4-7 songs in each concert, performing in December and in May . Any student taking lessons with me will have an opportunity to play in our concerts, whether it be 1 song, or all songs on the program, so your child can experience the joy of performing for an audience, and grow as an ensemble musician!
Band Guidelines:
*it is important to bring your own music to rehearsal, and not share with others as there are markings in your music specifically to help YOU
ALL band members arrive between 7:30- 7:40AM (I know it's early!! ). Allow time to put together instrument and find your assigned seat.Bryan students dismissed at 8:15 for pickup. Merritt students stay to help with putting all chairs and stands away. Drummers help to set up and break down equipment.
Beginner strings are invited to learn the String Features (separate music from band), once all notes on the strings D and A have been learned (page 19 in your lesson book) during our lesson time. Students who study with a private teacher can arrange to come play for me (audition) to determine if weekly lessons are a good idea idea, in addition to your private lessons.
Benchmarks for Silver & Gold Band - String players:
Strings are not normally part of a band (usually winds and percussion) so the parts are not player-friendly to violinists, violists and cellists. To play in the band, the students must have knowledge of the keys of B flat and E flat. This requires a shifted hand position which is not taught until 1st position is mastered.