WELCOME TO BAND!
This is the website for the Elementary Band Program at Hansen, Lincoln, and North Cedar Schools. There will be information for students and parents concerning band for the 2011-12 school year! I'm going to include information concerning many aspects of the Elementary Band Program on this web page. Let me know if there is more information you would like to see here for your convenience and reference throughout the year.
Below please find the letter I mailed to you on August 16 with the dates and times for your child's performance and rehearsals this school year.
August 12, 2011
Dear 6th Grade Band Students and Parents: WELCOME BACK!!
STUDENTS AND PARENTS: 6th Grade Band rehearsals begin Monday August 22 at Hansen School. 6th Grade Band practices on Mondays and Wednesdays this year. Students should bring their instruments, music stands, and RED band books like last year. Please have them to Hansen no later than 7:20 a.m. for each rehearsal. Their folder of new band music will be waiting for them on their chair when they get to the first rehearsal. See the reverse side of this sheet for the complete schedule of practices this semester. It is very important that all students are present for each and every one! The early morning band practices are a big part of the band experience and are a key to a good sounding band and your child’s success; please make every effort to see that
he/she is on time (we do start playing at 7:30 a.m. and it takes 5-10” to get ready!). If there is a problem with your child getting to band on a particular day or if he/she will be absent, please send a note with them or call me personally; ahead of time if possible. If he/she is sick and you call the school to let the secretary know they will be absent that day, you needn’t call me as I check the attendance record each day. We will be performing a concert for the 5th graders to recruit them into band on August 31 during the school day so we need to get off to a swift start!
STUDENTS: I hope you had an enjoyable summer and are ready to get back in the swing of things again. I’m really looking forward to the band this year and have gotten some great music for us to learn. It’s time now to be getting that instrument out and practiced again and those lips, fingers, lungs, etc. back in shape! Lessons will begin September 13th (Day 6) so watch for the lesson schedule to be posted in your classroom. You will have one lesson per 6 day cycle by yourself. Be sure to bring your instrument, new 6th grade band book, and be ready to play right away on your day.
PARENTS: This year once again, I will be asking you to help monitor your child’s practice time. They should mark down their times on the calendar like last year. I would ask you to total the minutes and sign it each week. In 6th grade, students have the opportunity to earn “points” for various musical and band activities throughout the year. These points go toward the band awards given at the end of the year. The main way to earn points is through the weekly practice. I would ask you to assist your child with this through your signatures and attention at home. Thank you!
Clarinet and sax players: be certain you have updated your reed supply. You should all be playing on #2 1/2 reeds (or #3 reeds if I have visited with you about this all ready). Throw away the old #2’s from last year! Always have at least 2 or 3 good reeds in your case at one time. Be sure to grease those joint corks, too!
Brass players: are those valves oiled and slides moving? You will need a bottle of oil and an old clean cloth in those cases and be using them at least once a week.
6TH GRADE BAND REHEARSALS AND CONCERT SCHEDULE, FALL 2011
Rehearsals are held in the Hansen Gym. Parents provide transportation to the school and busses will transport the students back to their respective schools for classes. Rehearsal Dates are:
MONDAYS WEDNESDAYS
August 22 August 24
August 29 August 31
(Labor Day- no band) September 7
September 12 September 14
September 19 September 21
September 26 September 28
October 3 October 5
October 10 October 12
October 17 October 19
October 24 October 26
October 31
November 2
November 7 November 9
November 14 November 16
November 21 (No band - Thanksgiving Break)
November 28 November 30
December 5
Monday evening, December 5, 2011 the 6th Grade Band will present its first formal concert of this school year. The concert takes place in the Lincoln Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. and will last about a half hour. As the concert draws near, I will send home more information concerning specifics. We will resume morning rehearsals after the Christmas Break on Wednesday January 4, 2012.
Please mark the following 6th Grade Band concert dates on your family calendar:
January 25, 2012 Cedar Valley MS Band Festival CFHS Auditorium, 8:00 a.m.
March 24, 2012 6th Grade Band Solo Festival CFHS Music Area, a.m. only
April 23, 2012 All City Band Concert CFHS Gym, 6:00 p.m.
May 7, 2012 Spring Band Concert Lincoln Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me. (Please note the change in the email address!) Let’s have a great year!
Bard Mackey, Cedar Falls Band Instructor
6th Grade Band Performance dates:
Please put these on your family calendar right away! Detailed information will come to you as the dates draw near.
Winter Concert - Monday December 5, 2011 - 7:00 p.m. - Lincoln Auditorium
Cedar Valley Middle School Band Festival - Wednesday January 25, 2012 - CFHS Aud - 8:00 A.M. Please note the morning performance time! It's basically the same time as the early band rehearsals.
6th Grade Band Solo Festival - Saturday March 24, 2012 - CFHS Music Area (Band rooms, choral room, orchestra room).
All City Band Festival - Monday April 23, 2012 - 6:00 p.m. CFHS Gym
5th and 6th Grade Band Concert - Monday May 7, 2012 - 7:00 p.m. Lincoln Auditorium
A FEW THOUGHTS REGARDING BAND
Daily Practice: 20-30 minutes each day is recommended. Two short sessions are sometimes better than one complete one. A short practice session is better than none at all.
Set Practice Time: A time to practice each day should be set up for your young musician.
Practicing headquarters: Establish a “practicing headquarters” (away from TV!) with good light, music stand, and privacy.
Practice Partner: Join your beginner during their practice time, if only for part of it. Provide support for their musical endeavors.
Be Positive: Learning an instrument is a lifetime study. No matter what our children sound like, they make beautiful music just because they are our kids.
Fun in Playing: Fun comes only after the young musician how to play the instrument and how to read music. It takes time. So again, be patient, be understanding, be supportive. They do get better and better and better.
Attend Concerts: If possible, attend concerts with your young musician. Listening will help them. Often our students do not have a solid concept of the sounds of the instrument they are playing. Attend concerts often, at the Junior High, at the High School, and at any of the many musical events in our community.
Listen to Recordings: Have your band member listen to CDs of professionals performing the same kind of instrument as that of your young musician.
Parent-to-Teacher Contact: Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions regarding the Band program or about your young musician’s work in the Band program.
Come to Concerts: Come to your child’s Band concerts in order to sustain morale and attitude. This is true no matter how long they play in Band.
Remember: Your child’s instrument is very expensive (I need not tell you!) and should be handled only by the child studying the instrument.
We Need Your Support: Without your support, your young musician doesn’t have a chance of succeeding. With your support, your child will succeed to the best of his or her ability. Behind every young musician, there is someone rooting them on!
YOUR CHILD HAS JUST STARTED AN ACTIVITY THAT WILL BRING THEM SOME OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES AND MEMORIES OF THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. YOU AS PARENTS ARE TO BE SALUTED FOR MAKING THIS EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE FOR YOUR CHILD. HANG IN THERE, THEY GET BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER!
BAND IS: Enthusiasm Dedication Sacrifice Self Discipline Commitment Responsibility Spirit Pride Musicianship Loyalty Appreciation Respect Pleasure Satisfaction Fun!
Click HERE for the link to the Cedar Falls Schools District home page.
Hansen Elementary School home page
Lincoln Elementary School home page
North Cedar Elementary School home page
Bard Mackey, Elementary Band InstructorHansen, Lincoln, and North Cedar Elementary Schools
616 Holmes Drive
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
319-553-2775
Last updated October 6, 2010!
