James Mastricola Upper Elementary School

Instrumental Music

Parent Resource Book

GRADE FIVE 2015-2016

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my

daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”

"After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well."

—Albert Einstein

Ms. Saranita

bernicea.saranita@merrimack.k12.nh.us

2015-2016

Instrumental Music Opportunities at JMUES In addition to weekly music class and the chorus program, JMUES offers an instrumental music program for fifth grade students:

Instrumental Music is a Two Part Program:

1. Instrumental Music Lessons 2. Grade Five Band (Large Group Performance)

Students enrolled in Instrumental Music Lessons are expected to participate in Grade Five Band, which meets together as a large group on Monday mornings from 8:30AM-9:05AM.

Instrumental Music Lessons: Group lesson instruction, beginning September 30, with instruments

Instrument lessons are open to ALL fifth grade students who would like to

participate—no previous music experience is required.

JMUES provides fifth grade instruction for the following instruments: flute, clarinet,

saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone/euphonium, and percussion.

Students will attend instrument demonstrations during the first week of school.

Students will have an opportunity to try instruments in Music class during the weeks

of September 14 and September 21.

Parents are responsible for acquiring all music lesson instruments and supplies. See

attached information about renting an instrument.

Grade Five Band: Meets Mondays, first period, beginning September 28

No instruments until November 9 /second quarter

All students enrolled in instrumental music lessons are expected to participate in

the Grade Five Band, which meets together as a large group on Monday mornings

during first period. No classroom instruction time is missed during band

rehearsals.

Students may ride the bus to school and report to the band room from the bus or

students may be dropped off at JMUES, beginning no earlier than 8:10AM.

8:10AM-8:30AM student arrival, individual skills practice, and

student collaboration time

8:30AM-9:05AM Band rehearsal~ large group content instruction

9:05AM students pack-up, report to classroom

Grade Five Band will begin on September 28, without instruments, for pre-band

skills instruction

Grade Five Band musicians will start bringing instruments to Monday morning

Band meetings on November 9 (start of second quarter).

Music Policies at JMUES

Concert Attire

Unless notified otherwise, JMUES concert attire is: White shirts or sweaters, black pants or skirts, and dark shoes.

Please avoid tee shirts, sweatshirts, blue jeans, sneakers, and other casual clothing.

Skirts must be knee length or longer.

For safety reasons, ladies are asked to keep heels low and chunky, if any at all.

Students may choose to express their individuality with colorful neckties or hair ribbons.

Because of allergies, please refrain from wearing perfume or cologne.

All clothing must adhere to the JMUES dress code, as outlined in the student/parent

handbook.

Of course, we realize that your children are growing quickly, and we do not expect you to

purchase new shoes and clothing that will be outgrown by the next concert.

Instrumental Music Lessons (Beginning September 30) Students will need to have an instrument, lesson materials, and a pencil by this date.

During the first quarter/first five weeks of lessons, band lessons are taught in lessons

grouped by instrument. These lessons are during academic classroom time (as a “pull-

out” program); students are pulled out of classroom instruction time one day each week

for a 40 minute group lesson. This schedule will be determined by September 25.

This is only for the first quarter.

Beginning with the second quarter, students have instrument lessons in place of their

regularly scheduled Unified Arts Music class, and instrumental music lessons become a

graded subject on the report card. Lesson groups become grouped by classroom, and not

by instrument.

All elements of the general music curriculum will be taught to instrumental music

students during their instrument instruction time. Students are expected to maintain a home practice routine, with a goal of 15-30 minutes

of practice 5-7 nights each week. Band Rehearsals (Beginning Monday, September 28—no instruments until Nov. 9)

Students may ride the bus to school and report directly to the band room from the bus.

Parent drop-off for band is not necessary.

Students MAY NOT enter JMUES before 8:10AM. This is very important for safety

reasons, and failure to comply will jeopardize the continuation of the bands and choruses.

In case of a school cancellation or delayed opening, Band rehearsal on that day will be

cancelled, however instrumental music lessons will run as usual.

Lesson, Rehearsal, Home Practice Each student is expected to have a pencil, folder, and their music for each lesson and

rehearsal.

Students must commit to 15-30 minutes of home practice 5-7 days every week and

students must log that practice with the logging materials provided.

Students are expected to model the JMUES expectations of Respect, Responsibility, and

Safety during all rehearsals, classes, and performances.

Concert Attendance

It is expected that parents and guardians of students who have enrolled in the music

opportunities at JMUES will be committed to their child attending each concert.

Student Withdrawal While we hope all students who enroll will practice perseverance and commitment, there

will be some who will be unable to complete the year. For these students we ask for a

letter of withdrawal, written by and signed by a parent/guardian. When making this

decision, please keep in mind that withdrawal in the same month as a concert is neither

respectful nor responsible.

Due to PowerSchool Grading: ALL REQUESTS FOR INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

LESSON WITHDRAWALS MUST BE MADE, IN WRITING, AT THE END OF A

GRADING QUARTER.

WITHDRAWAL DATES FOR INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ARE:

November 6

January 29

April 8

2015-2016 Performance Dates:

Please mark your calendars, or post this paper with your important dates (subject to changes and additions)

Back to School Recital~ optional

September 22

Grade Six: band students, pianists, guitar, etc…

MUES or Abbie Griffin Park (TBD) 6:00PM

Autumn Concert

Wednesday, November 18

Grade Six Band, Grade Six Chorus

MUES 6:30PM Snow date: Monday, November 23

Holiday Recitals~ optional December 8, 15

All 5th and 6th grade band students welcome to perform solos/small ensembles*

Pianists, guitarist, violinists who take professional private lessons welcome to perform*

MUES 6:00PM Snow date: none

*limited to 20 JMUES performers/recital night and

students may perform in one of the holiday recital evenings

Mid-Winter Concert

Wednesday, January 13

Grade Five Band, Grade Five Chorus

MUES 6:30PM Snow date: Friday, January 15

Baby, It’s Cold Outside Recital~ optional

Tuesday, February 16

All 5th and 6th grade band students welcome to perform solos/small ensembles*

Pianists, guitarist, violinists who take professional private lessons welcome to perform*

MUES 6:00PM Snow date: none

*limited to 20 JMUES performers/recital night

Celebration of Song

Tuesday, March 15

Grade Five Chorus, Grade Six Chorus

MHS 6:30PM Snow date: Wednesday, March 16

Cavalcade of Bands

Wednesday, March 30

Grade Five Band, Grade Six Band

MHS 6:30PM Snow date: Thursday, March 31

Spring Arts Festival

Wednesday, May18

Grade Five and Six instrumental solos, small ensembles, jazz groups, choral ensembles

MUES Smith Gym, APR, library, courtyard 4:30-8:00PM*

*schedule of performance times for individuals and groups to be determined.

School’s Out (Almost)! Recital~ optional

Tuesday, June 14

All 5th and 6th grade band students welcome to perform solos/small ensembles*

Pianists, guitarist, violinists who take professional private lessons welcome to perform*

MUES or Abbie Griffin Park 6:00PM Snow date: none

*limited to 20 JMUES performers/recital night

Moving On Ceremony

Last full day of school

Grade Six Band

MUES~ 1:15 PM

Music&Arts

BAND INSTRUMENT RENTAL NIGHT

Hosted by JMUES (in APR) Tuesday, September 29

Arrive anytime 6:00PM-7:30PM

Renting from Music & Arts is an option, not a requirement. You may

rent or purchase your instrument and required materials at a quality

music store of your choice.

For your convenience JMUES will be hosting Music and Arts on

September 29. Please be aware that you are renting the instruments from the

music store, and not from Merrimack School District. All returns will need

to be made directly to Music &Arts, which is located in Manchester.

There are three ways to rent your instrument and order supplies from

Music&Arts:

1 Music&Arts has the “EZ Pass” Lane, renting through

their website, Musicarts.com. Simply go to the

site, click on the rentals tab at the top of the

bar, enter you zip code. Next, find your student's

school, select an instrument, select “Fall Delivery”

option. Finally, enter in your and their

information before September 22nd and it will be

waiting at the school on September 29th Rental

Pickup. All of the required materials will be

delivered with your instrument. This is probably the

most convenient option for most people.

2 Reserve an instrument and materials though the JMUES band enrollment process. Attend the September 29th

Rental Night to rent your instrument and purchase your

supplies. In this case you complete all necessary

paperwork at Rental Night, instead of online at

musicarts.com.

3 Go directly to Music&Arts to rent your instrument and purchase your materials. Music&Arts is located at:

18 March Ave, Manchester, NH 03103

(603) 623-0153

Music & Arts Centers Price List

Do not send checks or any money to school. You must either rent the instrument

online at musicarts.com, attend rental night, or go directly to the store in order to

rent an instrument and purchase materials.

3 month intro rental trial rate:

trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute

3 months rental $26.00

insurance $7.00

total for 3 months $32.00

alto saxophone

3 months rental $50.00

insurance $9.00

total for 3 months $59.00

After the three month introductory period, rental costs change. Please go to

musicarts.com for specific details.

Band lesson books (Standards of Excellence for all beginners), reeds, and all other

materials will be available for purchase at rental night. Pricing may be found at

www.musicarts.com.

Percussion requirement: A stick and mallet bag is required in addition to snare/bell kit.

HIGHLY recommended investments: Care kit, folding music stand for home practice

Renting from Music and Arts is an option, not a requirement. You may

rent or purchase at a quality music store of your choice.

Materials/Equipment

In addition to Standard of Excellence, book one, the following materials are required:

Suggested Materials For All Instruments

(consider for future purchase, after 3 month trial)

FLUTE SmartMusic subscription

flute wire music stand for home practice

cleaning rod cleaning kit

cleaning cloth metronome or metronome app

pencil small tuner or tuner app

CLARINET

Clarinet

cleaning swab

cork grease

reeds and reed cases- 1 box of Rico, strength 2.5

pencil

ALTO SAXOPHONE

alto sax

cleaning swab

reeds and reed cases- 1 box of Rico, strength 2

cork grease

pencil

TROMBONE

trombone

slide grease

slide oil

pencil

PERCUSSION bell/snare combined kit

mallets (included in bell/snare combined kit)

snare sticks (included in bell/snare combined kit)

pencil

snare tuning key (included in bell/snare combined kit)

stick/mallet bag

TRUMPET

trumpet

valve oil

slide grease

pencil

MAKE SURE YOU LABEL ALL INSTRUMENT CASES AND BAND

MATERIALS WITH YOUR FULL NAME AND CLASSROOM NUMBER!

PLEASE ENROLL ONLINE:

Copy/paste the link below into your browser to enroll your child in the JMUES

Grade Five Instrumental Music Program.

http://goo.gl/forms/GSif2Bbfes

PLEASE ONLY USE THIS FORM IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE

ONLINE ENROLLMENT

GRADE FIVE

Instrumental Music Registration Form

DUE September 25

Student :________________________________________________________________

Classroom Number : ________

Classroom Teacher:_______________________________________________________

Instrument Choice: (circle one) FLUTE CLARINET ALTO SAXOPHONE TRUMPET

TROMBONE PERCUSSION* BARITONE/EUPHONIUM

*Grade Five students wishing to learn percussion will be required to learn mallet percussion

(keyboard/bells) in addition to drums.

_____ YES! Enroll my child in the MUES Instrumental Music Program.

My child and I understand that instrumental music lessons takes place during general music class

time and is a graded class that appears on the report card each quarter.

My child and I understand during the first quarter, band lessons are taught in lessons grouped by

instrument. These lessons are during academic classroom time (as a “pull-out” program); students

are pulled out of classroom instruction time one day each week for a 45 minute group lesson. This

is only for the first quarter.

Beginning with the second quarter, students have instrument lessons in place of their regularly

scheduled Unified Arts music class, and instrumental music lessons become a graded subject on

the report card. Lesson groups become grouped by classroom, and not by instrument.

My child and I understand that he is expected to practice at home a minimum of 100 minutes each

week. This is best accomplished by practicing 15-30 minutes, five-seven days each week.

I have read the 2015-2016 Instrumental Music Parent Resource Book for Grade Five.

_____ We will be renting an instrument through Music and Arts (please check the line that applies to you)

_____ We have accessed the Music&Arts EZ Pass Lane and have rented an instrument through

their online rental option. We understand that we must come to school on September 29th (Rental

Night) between 6:00PM and 7:30PM to pick up our rental and related materials.

_____ We are planning to rent through Music&Arts, but are unable to access the internet to utilize

the Music&Arts EZ Pass Lane online rental option. Please reserve an instrument for the

September 29 rental night. We will attend the Rental Night on September 29

(arrive anytime, 6:00PM-7:30PM) to rent our instrument and purchase our supplies.

_____ We will go directly to Music&Arts to rent our instrument and purchase supplies.

_____ We will not be renting an instrument from Music&Arts. We do not need an instrument reserved.

We will provide an instrument in good playing condition and the required supplies on our own.

Parent Name(s) ______________________________________________________________________

Parent Signature __________________________________________________________ ___________

JMUES

Instrumental Music

Performance Groups Before School Rehearsal Days

(for your refrigerator… hint hint, hinty hint )

MONDAY Grade Five Band

8:30AM-9:05AM (arrive from school bus, beginning at 8:10AM)

Beginning September 28 (no instruments until November 9)

FRIDAY Grade Six Band

8:30AM-9:05AM (arrive from school bus, beginning at 8:10AM)

Beginning September 11

Lessons are on assigned days.

Students may arrive to school, beginning at 8:10AM.

Students DO NOT have to be dropped off by parents to be in BAND.

Students may arrive by bus! Band begins at 8:30AM.

Students arriving between 8:10AM and 8:30AM will use the time to

warm up and practice.