6th Grade beginning band 2022-2023
Please do not buy other brands of reeds!
6th GRADE
CLARINET
- Juno – Size 2.5 or 3
- Mitchell Lurie – Size 3
ALTO SAXOPHONE
- Juno – size 2.5 or 3
- Rico Royal – size 3
- Vandoren Classic “Blue Box” – size 2.5
HOLIDAY CONCERT
Tuesday, December 6th
6:00pm
High School Centerstage
SPRING CONCERT
Tuesday, May 23rd
7:30pm
High School Centerstage
Concert Attire: Nice “church” clothes Please no jeans, shorts or athletic attire
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much time outside of the school day does band take?
Very little. We encourage students to practice 3x a week for 15 minutes. We only have 2 evening concerts. Practicing is the students homework, they will have very minimal if any other assignments to complete for band class outside of the school day.
When are the concerts?
Holiday Concert – Tuesday, December 6th – 6:00pm – High School Centerstage
Spring Concert – Tuesday, May 23rd – 7:00pm – High School Centerstage
What about athletics and band?
We strongly believe students should NEVER have to choose between athletics/choir/drama/clubs and band. Students can and are encouraged to do it all! Athletics, academics, and band all complement each other. This is part of the CAPS philosophy district wide. In fact, we have high school band members on the varsity football team, cheer team and in marching band.
What if we can’t afford an instrument?
We will never turn a student away due to their financial circumstances. We will work with each family to allow their student to play a high quality instrument and be a member of the band.
How does band work in middle school?
It is scheduled like a normal class.
All 6th grade students are scheduled into the same band class.
We then break into smaller groups for more individualized instruction.
The class is team taught by both band directors!
How many electives does a 6th grade student receive in their schedule?
Students have 6 classes and 1 seminar.
2 of those 6 classes are electives.
Band is a year long class.
In addition to band, students choose an additional 2 electives.
(Example – Physical Education 1st semester and Art 2nd semester)
What are the instrument options for beginning band in 6th grade?
Students can choose between the primary 5 wind instruments – flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet and trombone.
Are there a limited amount of spots on the 5 wind instruments?
Nope! We encourage students to choose the instrument they are most interested in.
We highly encourage all students to attend our beginning band fitting night on Tuesday, August 23 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Coopersville Middle School. During this time we will have multiple stations available for students to try out (following covid guidelines) the instruments with the guidance of trained professionals.
What about percussion?
Percussion includes both the snare drum and mallet instruments. This is the only instrument that requires an audition.
Why is there an audition for percussion?
The percussion is the loudest instrument in the band and it is very exposed. A struggling percussionist can negatively impact the entire band due to the nature of the instrument. Playing a percussion instrument is similar to always being the soloist.
The audition helps ensure the success of both the student and the band. The audition will consist of maintaining a steady pulse, reading note names, demonstrating the ability to stay organized and having a positive attitude. The date and time of these auditions will be announced shortly.
What will be taught in band?
Students will learn the basics of reading music as well as the fundamentals of playing their instrument. They will also learn how to play in an ensemble setting. Throughout their time in band students will learn to express themselves through music as well as develop leadership characteristics and valuable life skills that will transfer to every part of their life.
Do you need any prior music experience?
No previous experience is required!
Can a student join band in the 7th grade if they did not participate in 6th grade?
This can be accomplished with instruction from a private tutor and would require a great deal of determination on the student’s part (and money for lessons on your part). If your child wants to learn an instrument, however, NOW is the time to do it! This might be the only time in their life where they can receive free instruction as part of the school’s curriculum.