WELCOME TO STS BAND 2017-18 Below is the New Parent guide to starting Band at STS..
The STS Beginning Band Program is under the Direction of Mr. Tony Powell. The class meets twice weekly. Brass (trumpets, trombones, euphoniums) and Percussion will meet Wednesday/Thursdays 4:15-5pm in the Performing Arts Classroom and Woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, saxophones) Monday/Thursdays 4:15-5pm in the Performing Arts Classroom. We will begin after Labor Day.
STS Band is open to all students in rising grades 3-8. We will be holding a demonstration for students on the following dates: August 21st 10am for rising 5-8th graders in Chapel and August 22nd 8:15am for rising 3-5th graders in the Chapel. Parents are invited to attend this meeting. This meeting will simply be instrument demonstrations.
Instrument Choices will be: Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone. We do allow a small number of alto saxophones and percussionists. We limit these numbers because these instruments are loud in volume and we can only accept a limited number. Students are allowed to choose a speciality instrument as a beginner instrument as long as he/she is signed up for private lessons: those instruments include Euphonium, French Horn, and oboe
Our program is in need of trumpet and trombone players.
We high suggest renting your child's first instrument. By renting, you will have a quality instrument for your child and if he/she decides that they want to either switch to another instrument or discontinue band, you just simply return the instrument and you are done. If switching to another instrument, we just switch the rental instrument.
MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT August 23rd: and August 24th Seapark Music will be on our campus to help you rent your child's first instrument/book and supplies. We will be set up in Mr. Farmer's room 5pm-6pm both evenings. If you are interested in signing your child up for private lessons, we will also be signing students up for lessons at the rental meeting. Come meet Ms. Fritts and Mr. Powell at the 5-6pm Band rental meeting.
Students will receive their instrument and band book at their first band class.
If for any reason, your child decides that they no longer want to participate in band, parents simply email Mr. Powell and let him know. If you are renting your child's instrument through Seapark Music, you simply you simply bring the instrument to us.
Students will have two performances: December (date to be announced soon) and May 9th.
BAND INSTRUMENT RENTAL INFORMATION AND GUIDE TO PURCHASING
HOW TO HELP MAKE YOUR CHILD A SUCCESSFUL BAND STUDENT
I highly recommend that you purchase a subscription to Smart Music. (www.smartmusic.com ) This is a online computer tutorial program that allows students to successfully practice their band book assignments at home. The cast is 40.00 per year. You have the option of purchasing a microphone, but not necessary with all computers.
Private lessons: St. Timothy's is one of the few schools in the area that actually has an after school/onsite staff of private instructors. If you go to the private teacher page, you will find contact information for each teacher. This is an invaluable investment in your child's music education. We only meet with the students twice weekly for band, by adding one private lesson per week...your child will progress at a much rapid rate. Cost: 30.00 1/2 hour 45.00 45 minutes 60.00 hour. Beginners should sign up for 30 minute lessons. Instructors have limited space available. Below are guidelines for those wishing to purchase their own instruments whether new or used. If you are purchasing an instrument, please make sure that you have it checked out by Ms. Fritts/Mr. Jacson or private teacher.
GUIDELINES FOR INSTRUMENT PURCHASE (If you wish to purchase on your own) AND NECESSARY ACCESSORIES FOR EACH INSTRUMENT If you go on sites such as Amazon, etc...you will find very inexpensive instruments, some are even lovely sparkly colors such as pink, purple, blue, green. Do not add these instruments to your shopping cart. While they may seem like a great deal, they are not. Most are very cheaply made, many will not play, and almost all have repair issues that cannot be repaired. Below are guidelines for brands that I recommend (those who have a reputation of being a quality instrument) and what you should purchase for that instrument.
Flute: Brands to Consider Jupiter, Yamaha, Geimnhardt, Pearl, Emerson, Bundy/Selmer
What do I need for my child's Flute: 1. Standard of Excellence Book 1 2 Two cleaning Clothes -- I recommend purchasing an Altus cloth for keeping the outside of the flute shiny and a simple silk cloth of some sort for cleaning out the inside of the flute 3. Cleaning Rod-- If you are purchasing a used flute, and it does not already come with a cleaning rod...you can pick one up rather cheaply at the music store 4. You may opt to purchase a Cleaning Kit....but do not allow your child to use the "key oil" that is sometimes added to these kits....only a professional should apply key oil to an instrument.
What do I need for my child's clarinet 1. Standard of Excellence Book 1 2 Reeds- Your child needs 4 good working reeds in their case at all times. Reeds break, chip, and need to be replaced monthly (regardless of chips/cracks). Without a proper reed, your child's instrument will not play. I recommend that beginners purchase a box of 2 . 5 reeds (number represents strength). Brands most beginner friendly are Mitchell Lurie, Vandoren and Vandoren V12 (Scott Moore's favorite reed). Keep the box at home and keep 4 good reeds in your child's case at all times. As we progress, your child will move to a 3 reed and will need to purchase higher quality reeds such as Mitchell Lurie and Vandoren V12. The higher quality reeds are more expensive, but have also produce higher quality tone production. 3-Mouthpiece/Ligature These are two very important components to the clarinet. You will want to have a good working mouthpiece that has no chips or cracks. If you would like to upgrade your mouthpiece, I recommend purchasing a VANDOREN M15 (PROFILE 88/NON-13 SERIES) OR D'ADDARIO XO. A high quality ligature is also important, We recommend BONADE INVERTED LIGATURE. All rental instruments will come with good working ligatures and mouthpieces.....if you are purchasing a used instrument, again, please let us advise you on these materials. 4. Silk Swab-Clarinet players should purchase a silk swab to clean out the inside of their instrument. 5. Cork Grease
Alto Saxophone Brands Preferred: Yamaha and Jupiter Brands to consider: Selmer
1. Standard of Excellence Book 1 2. Reeds. We recommend starting on strength 2. .5 (do not go lower than 2 .5 ) Brand of choice for our Alto Saxophone players is Hemke Premium Reeds and Vandoren (the ones in the Vandoren Blue Box) only. Students will eventually move up to a 3 reed. 3. Mouthpiece Recommendation....Vandoren Optimum AL3 4. BG Alto Saxohone Swab for the body of the saxophone and a silk clarinet swab for cleaning the neck.
Trumpet Brands to consider: Jupiter, Bach, Conn, King, Yamaha, Getzen
1. Standard of Excellence Book 1 2. Mouthpiece...Our private trumpet instructor, Lisa Burn, recommends that beginners use a 5c mouthpiece. The 5c is friendlier to a beginner than the other sizes. Therefore, we recommend students start with a 5c mouthpiece. We recommend Bach for mouthpieces 3. Valve Oil....A must have at all times. We highly recommend the Brand "BLUE JUICE" Valves on a trumpet are much similar to piston valves in an engine..they must be lubed and oiled properly in order to function properly. 4. Slide Grease.
Trombone Brands to Consider: Jupiter, Bach, Conn, King, Yamaha, Getzen 1. Standard of Excellence Book 1 2. Mouthpiece...We recommend a Bach 6 1/2 AL 3 Spray Bottle. Please purchase your child a small, empty spray bottle. Students will put water in this bottle to keep their slide moist when they are playing their instrument 4. Slide Cream....We do not use oil on the trombone slide, instead we use a slide cream. Students should keep slide cream in their cases at all times. We recommend the brand: Superslick 5. Slide Grease, this is not for the main slide on the Trombone, but for the tuning slide
Percussion 1. Standard of Excellence Book one for Drums/Mallets
We start our percussion students on Percussion Kits. These kits contain a home practice pad, set of bells, mallets, sticks and a stand for the bells and drum pad. Brands to Consider: Ludwig and Pearl If your child needs sticks and mallets: Sticks, we recommend Vic Firth SD 1 (do not purchase jazz sticks for concert band use) and for mallets we recommend a pair of Poly ball/nylon mallets (. These can easily be purchased at a Music and Arts location or Music and Arts online. (recommended mallet brands: Yamaha KPB-91B, Innovative ip902, James Ross, Malletech BB34, or Bob Becker) At school, students will need their kits to begin the school year, but as we progress, they will be able to leave them at home as we have snare drums, bells, xylophone, marimba, timpani, bass drum and all other necessary percussion equipment at school.