Here is how you can support your band student!
You are a critical component to the success of your band student. I know that some of you may not have any experience with band and are unsure of what you will be able to do to help your student. Well, do not fear, I am here to help you help them be the best band student they can possibly be this year and in the years to come. Whether you have had experience in a band program or not the following information will be very valuable for you to read through. Below I will give you information, ideas and resources to check out that will help you keep your band student on track this year!
1. Read through the band handbook! - There is a lot of information in the handbook and it is important that you are familiar with it all. I go over the expectations for the year, grading policies and the calendar to name just a few. This should have been brought home on the first day along with instruction for the last page to be filled out and returned to school. If you did not receive it or you just need a new copy, click here to print a new one.
2. Visit this website often! - I will be updating the information on this site frequently. This is also the site that your student will need to visit to get there homework assignments and to log their practice time for the week.
3. Engage your student in conversation about band. - Ask them questions about what they learned in class. Check up on their daily assignments and have them play it for you or name the notes or count the rhythms.
4. Be Patient! - At first what you hear will sound a lot more like noise than music. It will get better I promise! Just keep encouraging your student to practice and you will soon hear the improvements.
5. Provide a place to practice. - Make sure that your student has a place to practice and try to help them set up a good routine. Read below for more tips on practicing.
6. Make sure that your student has all of the necessary supplies. - All students will need more than just an instrument throughout the year. Please read below about the supplies they will need and how to get those supplies when needed.
7. Keep the instrument in good playing condition! - All instruments will need some type of maintenance throughout the year. Just normal playing of the instrument will cause keys to move out of position or valves and slides to get dirty and stop moving smoothly. If you think that there may be a problem with your student's instrument, have them bring it to one of the directors to have it looked over.
8. Look into private lessons. - If it is possible, try to set your student up with private lessons. This one on one time will help to improve their playing immensely. Meyer Music offers lessons and there are also many teachers that work out of their homes.
9. Attend concerts and listen to music at home. - Going to concerts is a great way to help develop your band student's appreciation for the arts and performing on a musical instrument. There are many options available, such as the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band, or area High School or Middle School band, orchestra or choir concerts. Students will receive extra credit for attending concerts, just have them bring in the program with their name on it and your signature! Students can also listen to classical music. They can also receive extra credit for listening to 20 minutes of music each week. This will get added to their practice reports. See the practice card page here for more information.
10. Attend the Band Booster Meetings and volunteer to help! - The band boosters is a great way to get involved. We are always looking for people to help out with various things. Please try to attend a meeting and see how you can help. See the band booster page here to get the date and time of the next meeting.
1. Read through the band handbook! - There is a lot of information in the handbook and it is important that you are familiar with it all. I go over the expectations for the year, grading policies and the calendar to name just a few. This should have been brought home on the first day along with instruction for the last page to be filled out and returned to school. If you did not receive it or you just need a new copy, click here to print a new one.
2. Visit this website often! - I will be updating the information on this site frequently. This is also the site that your student will need to visit to get there homework assignments and to log their practice time for the week.
3. Engage your student in conversation about band. - Ask them questions about what they learned in class. Check up on their daily assignments and have them play it for you or name the notes or count the rhythms.
4. Be Patient! - At first what you hear will sound a lot more like noise than music. It will get better I promise! Just keep encouraging your student to practice and you will soon hear the improvements.
5. Provide a place to practice. - Make sure that your student has a place to practice and try to help them set up a good routine. Read below for more tips on practicing.
6. Make sure that your student has all of the necessary supplies. - All students will need more than just an instrument throughout the year. Please read below about the supplies they will need and how to get those supplies when needed.
7. Keep the instrument in good playing condition! - All instruments will need some type of maintenance throughout the year. Just normal playing of the instrument will cause keys to move out of position or valves and slides to get dirty and stop moving smoothly. If you think that there may be a problem with your student's instrument, have them bring it to one of the directors to have it looked over.
8. Look into private lessons. - If it is possible, try to set your student up with private lessons. This one on one time will help to improve their playing immensely. Meyer Music offers lessons and there are also many teachers that work out of their homes.
9. Attend concerts and listen to music at home. - Going to concerts is a great way to help develop your band student's appreciation for the arts and performing on a musical instrument. There are many options available, such as the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band, or area High School or Middle School band, orchestra or choir concerts. Students will receive extra credit for attending concerts, just have them bring in the program with their name on it and your signature! Students can also listen to classical music. They can also receive extra credit for listening to 20 minutes of music each week. This will get added to their practice reports. See the practice card page here for more information.
10. Attend the Band Booster Meetings and volunteer to help! - The band boosters is a great way to get involved. We are always looking for people to help out with various things. Please try to attend a meeting and see how you can help. See the band booster page here to get the date and time of the next meeting.
Practicing Tips |
Supplies Needed |
Students need a quiet, well lit place to practice. They should sit in a chair with their music on a music stand. Be sure to check that your student is always practicing with good posture!!
Students need to practice every day. We recommend that they practice for 20 minutes each day. It is better for students to practice for short amounts of time every day, rather than practicing only once or twice a week for a longer amount of time. Help your student establish a routine. A good practice session should look like this: Warm-up (1-3 minutes) - Long tones, scales & breathing exercises Rhythms & Note Names (3-5 minutes) - Counting and saying letter names Difficult Passages (5-10 minutes) - Break down into small chunks and repeat Fun Music (3-5 minutes) - Play through favorite pieces or exercises Encourage your students to use the resources here to help with things they may be struggling with or are uncertain about. These resources can also help you to know whether your student is performing something properly. Check either the 6th Grade or 7th Grade page to see what your student's daily assignments are and be sure that they are working on the appropriate materials for the next class period. Listen to your student play the materials that are required for a test. Some tests will be recorded and submitted online and others will be played in class. Help remind your student to record and submit their practice time every week. There submissions will be due every Monday. They will submit their time from this website here. |
Some of the supplies that students will need for band are a one time purchase and others will need to be replenished more frequently.
Please look over the following supply lists to see what you will need to acquire to have your student ready for class. Some of the items are mandatory and some are just highly recommended. If money is an issue and your student needs some of these supplies please look into some of the fundraising opportunities that we have to offer. By fundraising throughout the year you can earn money into your student's band account and that money earned can be used to help purchase these necessary supplies. Also contact the directors right away about any issues as we may be able to help or we can offer a temporary solution until you have raised enough money to purchase your own supplies. Here is a link to our current fundraisers. Supply Orders can be turned into the directors and we will be able to place the orders. We can take cash or you can write a check to Meyer Music. If you have an order to us by Tuesday we will be able to receive the order by Thursday, after school. Orders will not be placed unless they are accompanied with the payment. 6th Grade Supply Order 7th Grade Supply Order |