Theresa Disney 2014-2015 Delta School District 1 Parent/Student Band Package 2015-2016 Devon Gardens

Theresa Disney 2014-2015 Delta School District

1

Parent/StudentBand Package

2015-2016

Devon Gardens


2

Choosing an instrument to play is a complicated decision. Often students have tunnel vision and only want to play one particular instrument. This decision is usually based on past information from limited resources and experience.

Parents worry that the money spent will be wasted. Concerned that the student will complain. In fact parents will hear complaints like, I’m bored, the instrument is too heavy, it’s too hard, I’m no good, I don’t have the time to practice. It is natural to want to give up at the beginning. However, that is the perfect time to share about times you persevered and succeeded beyond your expectations or when you felt most satisfied about something you accomplished?

Consider when we learned to walk. We were supported and given plenty of time and encouragement. First we wiggled, then rolled, crawled, and held on to someone or something. We fell, we cried, but were motivated to try again. We got right back up. Finally we took our first steps alone. That was a first experience of success.


3

The bands at Devon Gardens rehearse once a week during school hours. There will be homework in the form of practice, practice records, group assignments, opportunities for leadership, peer tutoring, and performance.

There are many choices of instruments, however the choices are limited to those in a school concert band. The choices are listed below.

WoodwindsFluteClarinetBass Clarinet Alto SaxophoneTenor SaxophoneOboe

BrassTrumpetTromboneSingle French HornDouble French HornBaritone

PercussionSnare drumBells(Various other non- pitched percussion instruments are supplied at school)

Note: Piano, guitar, harmonica, harp, recorder, banjo, ukulele, and violin are not included in our concert band.

StringsElectric bass guitar


4

When deciding consider: Size

1. For larger instruments such as, tenor sax, and trombone, longer arm length and a wide hand span is required.

2. An electric bass is paired with an amp increasing cost of rental or purchase. Transporting both back and forth to school on band days is cumbersome and tedious. Instead, consider a lower pitched instrument such as a bass clarinet, baritone or trombone. If you decide to play bass, the rental company will fit your bass with the correct amp. Consider that a 25 Watt amp may be 46.7cm high and weigh 14.5 kg

3. As a general rule, smaller instruments are cheaper to rent. A flute or clarinet may be rented for as little as the cost of two Starbucks specialty coffees per month. A French horn for the price of 8.

Interest• Students should choose their top three favourite instruments. This allows the teacher to balance

the instruments. This crucial element of instrumentation leads to the success of the band. Availablility

• Rental at the beginning of a student’s musical career, is most often the best option to consider. Delta School District considers Tom Lee, Long and McQuade, Tapestry Music and Matterhorn Music as service providers of choice. However, one service provider is chosen to work directly with certain schools. This year Devon Gardens will work directly with Tapestry Music. Sectioning off the district, and assigning different music companies to each section, enables the service provider to provide consistent levels of service to all our schools based on available resources. All stores have the same goal in mind. One just as good as the next. They want our students to succeed.


5

Rental Options

****There is no obligation to rent or purchase from Tapestry Music. You are free to choose the company you prefer or borrow an instrument from a friend or relative. However, if you are borrowing used instruments, consider they are personal and should be fully serviced and cleaned professionally before use.****

The rental service provider of choice for Devon Gardens is Tapestry Music.

For your convenience a copy of the rental flyer was sent home.

For ease of comparison, rental flyers from Tom Lee and Long and McQuade are available online. Please consider that there are many reasons that Tapestry was chosen. One includes the fact that the service to the instrument can be completed by discussing the instrument issues with your teacher and leaving the instrument at the school. Ease of service to the instrument is paramount because parents, students and teachers are very busy. Tapestry will pick up and deliver the instrument directly to the school. Students will not be without an instrument for too long while waiting for repairs.


6

Awareness of Care and maintenance

1. All instruments require care and maintenance.• Brass instruments require valve oil and slide grease. It is not necessary to wash

out a brass instrument that you have just washed, however, you would wash out the instrument, by removing all the slides and valves and give it a warm soapy bath. After washing it is imperative to grease the slides and oil the valves as soon as the horn is dry. Never force a valve into the valve casing. They fit smoothly in when turned correctly into position. The horn’s valves and slides will seize without regular care. Woodwinds should never be put in water or given a soapy bath. This will ruin the pads. Woodwinds require cork grease and special handling techniques. Swabbing the interior of the instrument and drying out the reeds between uses is critical to the instrument’s longevity.

• Reeds should be adjusted with ability level. • Reeds are ranked in levels of hardness. • Beginning players usually start on a 2 or 2.5 and advance to higher numbers

as facial muscles develop. • Always use the reed specifically made for your type of instrument. Sizes

vary according to the instruments. • Always remove the reed from the mouthpiece before adding the mouthpiece

cap.• To avoid moldy growth and plaque on the reed, remove excess water from

the reed after each use. This will allow the reed to dry out between uses.• Never share someone else’s reeds and have spare reeds on hand at all

times.


7

Braces 1. There is some confusion over the braces issue. Depending on the extent of the

hardware in the mouth the decision should be made between the parent and the student. Consider the following:

2. Small brass mouthpieces sit against the front of the mouth extending over the lips. Pressure may be felt against the teeth irritating the flesh inside the mouth as the flesh rubs the braces.

3. Woodwind players: the bottom lip is curled slightly over the bottom teeth. The mouthpiece is placed in the mouth. Brace’s on the bottom teeth may irritate the sensitive flesh against the bottom teeth. Hardware on the roof of the mouth may obstruct the entry of a woodwind mouthpiece into the mouth.

4. Percussion players will not have any issue with braces. 5. Others have not considered braces a hindrance when playing any wind instrument.

Also, some brass players comment that when they played with braces they were forced to play without pressure and this improved their technique and stamina.

All instruments have their challenges. A wealth of Information is available on the internet. From purchasing and rental to care and maintenance and lessons. Check out Youtube for individual lessons about the instruments. Many different techniques will be taught, some contradicting others. However, find the right technique for you and stick with it.


8

Rental Night – 2015/2016The Tapestry rental/purchase evening will be scheduled in September 2015 at Devon Gardens.

Bring a credit card with you as this is required for the rental program, even if you pay by cheque or cash.

Arrive early. Be prepared with your questions.

If you are unable to attend the rental evening please consider going to the store yourself or renting online at www.tapestrymusic.com/rentals

Music classes will start in September on the student’s scheduled music days.

http://www.tapestrymusic.com/rentals


9

Method Books

The School’s choice of method books is “The Essential Elements 2000 Comprehensive Band Method.

1. If you already own a copy of the book you do not have to buy another unless your son/daughter chooses a different instrument.

2. The school will bulk purchase the books and collect the fee from the student at the school. The books will be distributed at school in band class. Buying through the school will save you money and time.

Percussionists:

Percussion students should purchase a drum practice pad and one set of snare drum sticks. The percussionist could rent a bell kit or a snare drum depending if they perfer pitched or non-pitched percussion. Renting a bell or snare drum would ensure that sufficient practice time on the instrument is available at home and at school.


10

Some things to consider before choosing an instrumentThese questions should be considered when choosing an instrument.

Do you wear braces? Top teeth ____Bottom teeth________headgear ______ Other ____(Consider playing percussion or flute, although some students have played clarinet and alto saxophone with braces))

Do you own, or will you borrow the band instrument you want to play? (Y,N) If yes, what is the instrument?Instrument Choices 1st __________________2nd ________________ 3rd __________________

Musical Experience: Choir: (consider playing any instrument, but singers make great trombonists)

piano: (consider playing any instrument but piano players make great percussionists)

recorder (consider playing clarinet)guitar (consider playing bass guitar but will have to read bass clef)

How much money are you willing to pay per month for an instrument?$00.00 Play percussion and use the school instruments with a drum pad and sticks for rehearsing at home.

Borrow from a friend, relative or use an instrument already in the home$12.00-20.00 Rent a used instrument (flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone$21.00- check flyers from music companies for new and used instrument rental costs

Will you be renting at your school’s rental evenings? All concert band instruments will be available

Will you require an instrument from our school’s inventory? (We have a limited number of flutes, trumpets, trombones, alto saxes, and clarinets. We have one bass clarinet and two baritones). Please speak to the Principal if a school instrument is required. A contract will be set up and fee payments arranged.


11

Repairing your instrument:

1. If you are renting from a music store, purchase the maintenance agreement to ensure all repairs are covered throughout the rental period. It is usually $1 or $2 per month.

2. If you own your instrument and it requires repairs before it is playable, there are options to investigate at the following service providers.

Matterhorn Music Tom Lee MusicSuite 70 (upstairs) 10090 152 St Unit #1577788 132 St Surrey, BC V3R8X8Surrey, BC V3W 0H5 [email protected]

Tapestry Music Long and McQuade1335 Johnston Road 8291-120 StWhite Rock, BC Canada V4B 3Z3 Delta, BC V4C6R11-888-347-7480 604-591-8524

Documents

Theresa Disney 2014-2015 Delta School District 1 Parent/Student Band Package 2015-2016 Devon Gardens