Prairie Spirit East Bands

Beginning Band (music class) 2015/2016

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Following the recent grade 4 instrument testing and demonstration sessions we are pleased to extend an invitation to your family to become part of the long tradition of The Prairie Spirit West Music program. We specifically invite both you and your son/daughter, firstly, because they have expressed an interest in playing an instrument next year and secondly because we know that students are most successful when their parents invest in their child’s school activities. During the testing sessions all students had the chance to try every brass and woodwind instrument guided by professional musicians and the band directors. Each student then picked their top three instrument choices for next year (see attached sheet) based on their ease of making a sound and their personal preference. Given the overwhelming success of the sessions we are now looking to register students A.S.A.P. so we can plan and schedule classes in the fall. Please fill out and return the attached registration forms either to the school administration or Mr. Martin/Mr Martin by June 18th. There are several band information sessions and a chance to pre-reserve band instruments for the fall as listed below, in each case the band directors and representative s from local music stores will be on hand to help. There is also information about our programs attached to this letter. Please email or contact will.martin@spiritsd.ca to confirm your attendance to any of the information sessions. If you have any other questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me by email or phone. Have a great week, Will Martin Band Director Prairie Spirit East Information session and Rental Night Clavet School – Wednesday June 17th 5:30-7pm

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. - Victor Hugo

"Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand" - Stevie Wonder

About the music programs

1. The programs are open to students in grade 5-12 (students may start in any grade from 5-11) 2. The music classes are a fully credited subject. 3. Instruction is given in-school on a regular 6-day school cycle. 4. It is recommended all band students practice on average 15-30 minutes per day to both build and

maintain necessary muscle strength and stamina and to facilitate constant improvement. 5. Instruments are rented or purchased by individual students from music stores in Saskatoon, but are also

available from the division if financial assistance is needed. The ensembles Beginning Band Instruction given in each school weekly Beginning Band is for all students in their first year playing an instrument. All beginning students rehearse separately in their home schools but come together for several events throughout the year. Including concerts, Watrous Music Festival and a Beginner/Concert Band day retreat. Students starting in higher grades can be fast tracked into Concert Band after December if quick progress is made. Intermediate Winds Mondays @ Clavet 4:15-5:45pm The Concert Band is developing level ensemble for instrumentalists that have graduated from Beginning Band, returning students or members of the Senior Winds that have taken up a second instrument. This is in addition to the regular instruction given during the school day- students are transported by school bus from their homes schools. The concert band regularly participates in music festivals such Watrous, Regina Optimist and Moose Jaw Festivals.

Senior Winds Mondays @ Clavet 6:00-7:30pm

The Senior Winds is a higher level band for players that have been playing three years or more and concentrates on a higher standard of repertoire. The Senior Winds takes part in music festivals, retreats and tours across Saskatchewan, Alberta and beyond. This is in addition to the regular instruction given during the school day- students are transported by school bus. Jazz Band Mondays @ Clavet 4:15-5:30pm The Jazz band is for students that have been playing five years or more. Students in Jazz Band also have the option to take an extra credit class in their home schools every week where they learn a mixture of Jazz History, theory and improvisation skills to supplement learning in the general music/band credit class. Junior Jazz Mondays @ Clavet 6:15-7:15PM The Junior Jazz band is for students that have been playing for 1 year or more and acts as an intro to Jazz, pop and other mediums of music. Students have a chance to play their band instruments or if they already play guitar, bass, piano or drums to utilize and improve upon those skills in this setting.

For more information about the East Music Programs, please visit the website:

http://blogs.spiritsd.ca/pssdeastband/

Music is Science It is exact, specific; and it demands exact acoustics. A conductor's full score is a graph which indicates frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time. It embodies many levels of physics from acoustics to architecture.

Music is Mathematical It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper, in a highly specific form with regard to exact placement and symmetry.

Music is a World Language Most of the terms are in Italian, German or French; and the notation is certainly not English. It is a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas. The semantics of music is the most complete and universal language.

Music is History Music usually reflects the environment and times of its creation, taking on the emotion of a nation, region or a people. It is the only Art form we can hear as people hundreds of years ago had. Unlike paint, whose image is always there once created, Music is perpetually "Repainted" each time it is performed. The feelings and thoughts of countless generations are forever cast in Sound.

Music is Physical Education It requires fantastic coordination of the fingers, hands, arms, lips and facial muscles, and control of diaphragmatic, back, stomach and chest muscles, which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets. There are as many calories burned by a symphony trumpet player in one performance as there are by a quarter-back in a professional football game. Music is also a team activity that helps promote cooperation, social harmony and teaches students discipline while working together toward a common goal.

Music is Art It allows a human being to take technical and sometimes difficult areas of learning and translate them into human emotion. It helps every person to recognize and understand beauty, and to understand love, compassion and how to live more fully within this world. Music is the only subject that uses, combines and engages both sides of the brain.

This is Why We Study Music… Not because we expect you to major in music. Not because we expect people to play an instrument all their lives. Not just so you can relax. Not just so you can have fun and make lifelong friends.

BUT: So you will be human and share and enjoy a lifelong appreciation of music, seeing what it brings to the world and how it brings us together.

Which Instruments do we use?

In school band students are given the choice of many different instruments with different sounds and characteristics that suit the diversity of any classroom. In the first year of band we use the following

instruments:

Instruments Preferred Brand Names (in order of preference) Oboe Yamaha, Selmer

Flute Yamaha, Armstrong, Gemeinhardt, Accent Clarinet Yamaha, Buffet, Vito (No Bundy) Alto Sax Yamaha, Selmer, Accent, (No Bundy) Trumpet Yamaha, Bach, Getzen, King (No Bundy) Trombone Yamaha, Conn, Bach, King, Besson, Accent

Bell Kit Yamaha, Ludwig (Prerequisite – must have minimum 2 years of RCM piano background to play percussion)

French Horn Yamaha, Holton, Conn, (Prerequisite – must have minimum 2 years of RCM piano, or Voice background to play) Baritone/Euphonium Yamaha, Besson

Instruction Materials: These will be provided by the band teacher and are at no extra cost. MUSIC STORE St. John's Music - 640 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon 306-242-6292 (Instruments may be reserved by telephone.) DO NOT PURCHASE INSTRUMENTS FROM EBAY, GARAGE SALES, COSTCO, LONDON DRUGS, SEARS, XS CARGO, FAMILY ATTICS, ETC. Please speak with your Band Director if you have any questions regarding this. PRACTICE It is hugely important that students practice as much as possible, especially in the first year of playing. The first year learning music is the hardest in terms of the amount of information that must be learnt. Practice is essential to build up the lip muscles (embouchure) and stamina to play the right pitches and to become familiar with the instrument that they choose. A practice journal/Diary will be kept to be signed by a parent/guardian on a weekly basis. This will both show the students’ their own progress but also give a chance for student questions to the teacher and teacher feedback for students growth.

Beginning Band Supply List These supplies can be purchased at the same store where you rent your instrument.

FLUTE Cleaning cloth (clarinet hanky swab)

Polishing cloth

CLARINET 10 - #2-strength clarinet reeds - Rico Royal - Blue Box (not orange boxes)

Clarinet hanky swab (no felt)

Cork grease

Reed guard

Mouthpiece brush

ALTO SAXOPHONE 10 - #2-strength alto sax reeds - Rico Royal - Blue Box(not orange boxes)

Alto sax cleaning swab (no felt)

Cork grease

Neck swab

Reed guard

Mouthpiece brush

TRUMPET OR FRENCH HORN Cleaning snake

1 bottle valve oil - Hetman or any clear valve oil (trumpet only)

Slide grease

Rotary valve oil (French Horn only)

Mouthpiece brush

TROMBONE Cleaning snake

Spray bottle

Slide cream (not slide oil) - Conn Superslick or Yamaha preferred

Tuning slide grease (or anhydrous lanolin from drugstore)

Mouthpiece brush

BARITONE Cleaning snake

1 bottle Hetman valve oil

Tuning slide grease (or anhydrous lanolin from drugstore)

Mouthpiece brush

PERCUSSION (prerequisite – must have minimum two years of RCM piano experience & must discuss

with band teacher in advance) 1 pair 2B or 5A drumsticks (no plastic tips)

Practice pad (for your sanity - should come with bell kit)

Beginner Band Registration Form - 2015/2016

Registration form (to be handed in by June 19th)

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY: Student Name: ________________________ School: ___________________________________

Student Age: __________________________ Student Grade (as of September 2015): __________

Parent/Guardian Name(s): ________________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

Phone Number: __________________________ Email Address: __________________________

Instrument you & your child have chosen he/she would like to learn: ______________________________ Please note: Any students wishing to play percussion, French horn or Oboe must have at least two years of piano or organ background already and must speak with the director for approval. Photos: At times during the school year, photos of the bands may be taken and may be posted in newsletters or on the band website. No names will be printed with the photos. Please check one of the following boxes to indicate your permission for photos to be published or not. ___Yes, photos of my child may be published in newsletters or on the band website. ___No, photos of my child may NOT be published in newsletters or on the band website. Please read and sign the following: We, the parents/guardians of _____________, understand that band is in addition to other classes and requires a commitment for the entire school year. Students will be given some time to try band out and see if they can handle it with the other classes and activities they need to maintain at the same time. If our child is not going to complete the year in band, we will notify the teacher in writing or with a phone call, and will withdraw from the class before or on the withdrawal date, which for Beginners will be October 19th, 2015. Parent/Guardian Signature: _________________________

Now that you have enrolled your child in the band program, your family is a member of the Band Parents Association (BPA). The executive of this organization works for you. We have parents

volunteering to keep your child actively involved with the program. We are also here to help you with fundraising, should you need it.

There are a number of things you may want to raise money towards: beginner retreat, trips in advanced and senior levels; shirts ordered by BPA and bought by advanced and senior students and senior vests

(maintenance & replacements) Just as school fees are required, so are band fees.

Your money is held in your ‘family account’. This will allow you to raise and hold money until you need it for band. It can pay for anything mentioned above.

Please make cheque payable to - Band Parent Association.

Please update your e-mail address so that the latest band information gets to you and as well, verification of your payment will be electronic.

Anyone of the executive members would gladly provide more information, about the BPA or if you would like to be a part of the executive, please refer to our contact information of the Preludes

Newsletters.

---------------------------------------------------------Cut off portion---------------------------------------------------

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Beginner Fees: $ 5 (includes Band Retreat)

Advanced Fees: $15 (includes Band Retreat & Regina Festival Activity)

$ 30 Black shirt with logo

(if new to advanced level or require new shirt)

Senior Fees: $5 (vest maintenance)

$ 35 white shirt (if new to senior level or require new shirt)

Fees now due Please return the lower

portion of this form with your payment

One form per family please

Parent’s Names: ___________________________ ______________________________

School: __________________

Total amount enclosed: _______ Please take from my existing family funds to pay my fees:_____

Home Phone: ________________

E-mail address: ________________________________ Thank you

Student’s name:

_________________________

Beginner amount: _________

Advanced amount: ________

Senior amount: ___________

Student’s name:

_________________________

Beginner amount: _________

Advanced amount: ________

Senior amount: ___________

Student’s name:

_________________________

Beginner amount: _________

Advanced amount: ________

Senior amount: ___________

DIVISION BAND PARENTS ASSOCIATION FEES / UNIFORMS/ FAMILY FUNDS