Welcome to the

Rockvale Middle School Band

Band Directors

• Kathy Quarto

• Debbie Hice

Be Part of the Band!

• What is band? (15 minute video clip –click here)

• Why should my child be in band? (5 minute video clip –click here)

What will your child learn in band?

• How to play an instrument• Organizational skills• Leadership skills• How to work with others as a part of a team• Reading and language skills• Mathematical reasoning• Artistic interpretation• Creativity• Commitment & work ethic• Self evaluation skills• Writing skills• Problem Solving• Study Skills

Fitting Day – Saturday, August 24

• Sign up for a time tonight (8am-1pm Sat)• Plan to be at the school for at least an hour• Director will guide your child through the

instrument fitting process• Instruments to be fitted:

– Flute– Clarinet– Trumpet– Trombone– Percussion (this will take place during class prior to

August 25)

Other Fitting Day Options

• If you are unable to make the fitting day on August 24, see Mrs. Quarto or Mrs. Hice for an alternate after-school time

Beginning Instruments

• Beginning Band students will start on one of these instruments

• Flute

• Clarinet

• Trumpet

• Trombone

• Mallet Percussion

Advanced Instruments

• Students who are doing well on their initial instrument may audition for one of the following in December. Regular practice at home is a must.

• Most advanced instrument changes require private lessons

• *Oboe• *Bassoon• *Bass Clarinet• *Alto Saxophone• *Tenor Saxophone• *F Horn• *Baritone• *Tuba• Drums & Accessory

Percussion (this is ONLY for mallet percussionists & will be added for all percussionists)

Instrument Fitting

• You are free to rent an instrument from any reputable music store

• The Music Stop will be at the school with instruments to rent and materials to purchase on the fitting day for your convenience

• Please do not rent or purchase an instrument before your child has been through the final fitting process

Costs / Investment

• Instrument

• Instrument Accessories

• Method Book ($10-$17)

• Pep Band t-shirt (optional)

• Dress slacks/skirt/dress, dress shirt/blouse/dress shoes

• Audition fees – Solo & Ensemble (optional)

Instrument

• Large instruments (tuba, baritone, F Horn, bass clarinet) are rented from the school– $50 per semester

• Small instruments (flute, clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, bell set/snare drum/practice pad) are rented from a music store if not owned by the student

• Percussion instruments (marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, bells, bass drum, drum set, timpani, snare drum, cymbals, etc)

• $25 per year user fee• Percussion pack – marimba mallets, xylo/bell mallets, snare drum

sticks, mallet bag (may purchase or rent from school)– $60 purchase / $25 per year rental

Instrument Rental• Allen Haynes – owner of The Music Stop• All music stores offer a rental program • Costs are basically the same• Some include insurance, some offer it as an add-on

(you need insurance for repairs)• Beware of hidden costs/fees• Initial cost is $25-$35 for the first 3 months• After the first 3 months, you can

– Purchase the instrument– Purchase a used or new instrument

• Check with Band directors on brands• Beware of extremely cheap instruments at pawn shops, on-line, or

at big box stores (You get what you pay for)

– Continue to rent to own

Method Book

6th Grade• Essential Elements 2000

Book 1

Accessories

Woodwinds• Clarinets/Saxes

– Initially Rico size 2-½ reeds

– After Fall break -VanDoren size 3 Reeds

– Cleaning Swab• Cotton or silk

– Cork Grease

• Flutes– Cleaning Rod

– Cleaning Cloth

Brass/Percussion• Trumpets/Baritones/Tubas

– Valve oil / Slide Grease

• F Horns– Rotary Valve Oil / Slide Grease

• Trombones– Slide Oil / Tuning Slide Grease

• Percussion– Specific Drum Sticks,

Marimba & Xylophone Mallets, Practice Bells, Practice Pad, mallet bag

Essential Elements Interactive

• https://www.essentialelementsinteractive.com/

• School Code – RMSband7

• You will need to input the code on your book to set up and account

• We will go over this in class once students have their instrument & book

Smart Music

• Optional Practice Program• For PC, Mac & handheld devices• App available on Ipad• Optional Home subscription• Access to all music in method books• Sightreading• Hundreds of songs• $40/year for home subscription• www.smartmusic.com

Smart Music

Performance Attire

Optional• Tie-Dye Band T-shirt

– $15

– Will use next year as pep band shirt

– Students wear this to school on concert days to show band spirit

Concerts• Dress Up Clothes

• Dress Slacks/Skirt/Dress

• Dress Shoes

• Ties are optional

Practicing

Success

Required Performances

• November Concert

• March Concert

• Solo & Ensemble Classroom Performances

Fall Band Concert

• Thursday, November 21

• RMS Auditorium

o5:45 warm-up

o6:30 concert begins

• Concert attire

oDress up clothes

oDress pants, dress or skirt & blouse (no jeans)

oDress shoes & socks (no tennis shoes)

Spring Band Concert

• Tuesday, March 24

• RMS auditorium

o5:45 warm-up

o6:30 concert begins

• Concert Attire

Optional Recommended Performances

• All Rutherford County All Star Band (students selected by directors)

• Solo & Ensemble Performance Assessment

Rutherford County All Star Band

• Rutherford County Middle School (TBA)

• Saturday, May 9

– Rehearsal during the day

– Evening concert

o Parents provide transportation to and from rehearsals / performance

o Membership by band director nomination

Solo & Ensemble Performance Assessment

• HIGHLY Recommended• 98% of RMS students participate• Stewarts Creek Middle School - Smyrna• Each student prepares a piece to perform as a soloist

or as a part of a small ensemble• Each event is evaluated and rated by a judge• Students receive a rating sheet and a medal for 1st &

2nd place ratings• Students are evaluated against a standard of excellence

– not ranked against each other• Parents provide transportation

Parent Help• Sign up for a Jupiter account to receive band communications

& grading updates in ALL classes

• Encourage your child to practice

– Help them to set up a regular time and place to practice

• Sign practice record each week to be turned in Monday

• Transport your child to and attend performances

• Poinsettia Fundraiser help

• Let the directors know of any issues that may affect your child’s learning

• What do we need for band? Tissues, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, band-aids, lined index cards, paper towels, pencils, lined paper, SHARPIES, HIGHLIGHTERS – pink, orange, yellow

• Help with set-up, serving and clean-up for receptions after concerts

Grading

• Rehearsal Technique

• Practicing

• Performances

• Written Assignments

• Playing Tests (Performance Assessments)

• Essential part of your child’s progress on his/her instrument• Minimum of 100 minutes required each week• Practice should take place over at least 4-5 days• Practicing is 25% of the band grade• Requires parent signature (not initials)• Due every Monday morning before school• Please DO NOT sign your child’s practice record

unless he/she has practiced the amount of time recorded• Please DO NOT give your child permission to sign YOUR

name

Practice Records

Private Instructors

• Rebecca Murphy – flute• TBA - clarinet• Karl Wingruber – sax, flute, clarinet, bassoon, bass• Mike George – brass (trumpet, F Horn,

trombone, baritone, tuba)• Matt Jefferson – low brass• Tim Hale – percussion

• *Cost - $20 per lesson, payable monthly in advance• *contact the band director if you would like your child

to take private lessons during the school day

Where Does My Child Get a Band Instrument?

• Basic information

• Some options:

• Music Stop

• Music & Arts Center

• Concert Productions

Sign up for Band Fittings

• 3 Saturday sign-up sheets

• A few after school options

– See Mrs. Quarto / Mrs. Hice

Be sure that you or your child turn in the yellow band registration form tonight or first thing tomorrow morning

Fitting Day• Parent must be present for this• Each child will try the flute, clarinet, trumpet &

trombone to find out which instrument "fits" best• Percussionists will have auditioned prior to this time

– There will be a short list of percussion finalists– Any student on the short list may choose percussion after

trying out the other instruments

• The Music Stop will be in the choir room with instruments to rent/purchase and accessories to purchase

• Students may NOT open the case or take out the instrument until the band directors instruct them in the proper way (Please be patient)