|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions |
||||
Can my student do other school activities (i.e., sports) and band?Yes, absolutely. As a smaller school district, we recognize that we are going to have to share students with other activites. We currently have band students who also participate in football, track, basketball, wrestling, and softball, as well as many academic clubs, National Honor Society, etc. In 6th and 7th grade, the out-of-school requirements are so few that we almost never have scheduling conflicts. The outside-of-school demands of marching band make it necessary for us to communicate with coaches and club sponsors, but the staff takes care of that so that you and your student are not caught in the middle. We will work to accommodate any other school activity your student participates in. It should be noted, however, that we do not make exceptions for non-school related sports or activities. My student really wanted to play ________, but was placed on a different instrument. Why?It is possible that your child has a physical feature that would make it very difficult for him/her to succeed. For example, a “teardrop” shaped lip makes it very hard to get a good sound from a flute, and a student with larger lips may find it difficult to make sound on a trumpet or French horn. There are limited spots for some instruments, so not all students are placed on their first choice. However, we find that most often, once a student has learned some things on their instrument, the success they are having overshadows any disappointment about their instrument placement. Where should I go to find an instrument for my student?We always recommend going to a music store to get an instrument for your student, rather than taking your chances online or buying from a department store. Music stores almost always have an in-house repair shop, and in many cases, may not feel comfortable repairing “off-brand” instruments because of inferior metal quality or other concerns about the original workmanship. We strongly feel that the additional cost is necessary to have an instrument that will give your student the best chance to succeed. When your student starts band, they will come home with a sheet of paper that will help you select a reputable instrument that will give your student the best chance possible to succeed in band. The Piedmont Band also runs an instrument usage program for students who wish to take advantage of it. How does the Piedmont Instrument Usage Program work?For the complete sheet of information about the program, please click here. How much does it cost for my student to be in band?For the 6th and 7th grade, a $50 fee is required to help the band program offset the cost of music, instruments,and other general operating costs. Any student participating in the Usage Program is exempt from the $50 band fee. After 7th grade, the band fee for the year will depend on the schedule of the band program for the year and if any trips are involved. In a non-trip year, the fee has typically run from $125-150 per student. In 2007, including the St. Louis trip, the total band fee was $650. If this may present a hardship for your family, please talk to one of the directors; we want your student to have a great experience more than we want your money! Several fundraising opportunities are available to your student and you to help offset the cost of our travel if necessary. Can my child switch instruments after they’ve started band?Generally, once students are placed on an instrument, we prefer that they not switch because 1) we need to keep a good instrumentation for the band, and 2) they will have lost all the work they did to learn their current instrument. However, some woodwind players are eligible to learn how to play double reed instruments (oboe, bassoon) after their 6th grade year if they have demonstrated exceptional ability and dedication, and some clarinet and saxophone players may switch to bass clarinet or tenor/bari sax starting in 8th grade. How does eligibility affect my band student?Grades are taken once a week, and if a student is failing any class, they are ineligible to perform with us in any out-of-school competition. Students must pass all classes in order to remove themselves from the ineligible list. We take this VERY seriously due to the collective nature of a musical ensemble. A performance ineligibility by a student will result in an assignment that will be required in order to make up the performance grade. Repeated performance ineligibilities may jeopardize a student's place in the band program. Does the instrumental program offer strings (guitar, violin, etc) or piano?No, sorry. Local music stores can assist in finding lesson teachers for these instruments. |
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
PDF files require Adobe Reader for proper viewing. To download a free copy, click the icon below. 
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
