What is beginning band?

5th Grade Band

Lessons
5th grade students have the option of learning a band instrument. Band is consider co-curricular in that students are given 1 lesson per week during the school day. The lessons are 30 minutes in length. The number of students in each lesson group depends on the instrumentation and general dispositions of the students. Average lesson groups are 3 – 4 students but they can be as small as 1 on 1 or up to 6+ at a time.

When possible, the lessons will include like-instruments. Example: all flutes or all trombones. In some instances, mixed instrumentation occurs, particularly as the school year progresses and student abilities begin to develop. Most lesson focus on developing fundamentals of instrumental music, which include: tone production, posture, music reading/notation and general teamwork.

Many elementary band itinerants incorporate a “rotating schedule” for their band students. This involves shifting kids through the different times slots each week. Example: Trumpets might come at 10am one week and then 10:30am the next and then 11:00am the following week. Rotating schedules allow for more flexibility when various interruptions occur, such as testing or student intervention times. An added benefit is that students will not miss the same subject matter each week and that greatly reduces anxiety in students.

Full-band Rehearsals
Along with their small group lessons, 5th graders will rehearse as a full band once per week. These rehearsals occur outside the regular school day hours, either before or after school for approximately 50 minutes. Teachers, including substitutes, are given “extra standard pay” to run these rehearsals.

The band rehearsals may occur in various rooms, depending on the school. It will be best to check with the school’s secretary or general music teacher to find out the location of the rehearsal. Examples include: the same room as band lessons, a dedicated music room or even an entirely different room.

6th Grade Band

Lessons
6th grade band operates very much like 5th grade band, except most of the students will have been playing for a year already. Students are given a 30 minute lesson each week, during the school day. Unfortunately, rotating schedules do not work as well at the middle school level, so most kids will have a set lesson time each week.

Full-band Rehearsals
6th grade band students also have a full band rehearsal that occurs outside the school. Depending on the school, those practices might be before or after school.

For further information on each school, please select the appropriate chapter.