Become part of the tradition!
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2023-2024 EARLY ENROLLMENT!Parents may enroll students now for the 2023-2024 SCMS Beginning Band. Click here to complete the online enrollment form. IMPORTANT: Parents of early-enrolled students must still attend the required informational meeting (TBA in August). |
Sixth Grade Beginning Band
Parents, this year your child can begin playing a musical instrument in the Stewarts Creek Band program. When he or she brings home an instrument for the first time, it is more than just an exciting day. It is perhaps one of the greatest opportunities in your child’s life thus far.
If you are like most parents, you believe your child’s education should consist of far more than factual knowledge and an ability to score well on tests. You want your child to focus on growing skills and mindsets that will last a lifetime, and learning a musical instrument can be the key to learning those traits!
There are not many subjects taught in school where your children can have fun, learn a beautiful artform, and develop life skills needed to be successful beyond their school career. Please join us for this wonderful musical journey!
If you are like most parents, you believe your child’s education should consist of far more than factual knowledge and an ability to score well on tests. You want your child to focus on growing skills and mindsets that will last a lifetime, and learning a musical instrument can be the key to learning those traits!
There are not many subjects taught in school where your children can have fun, learn a beautiful artform, and develop life skills needed to be successful beyond their school career. Please join us for this wonderful musical journey!
Common Myths, Questions, and Concerns:
Beginning middle school is overwhelming enough, and band may become too much. The transition to middle school is often made easier when a child is involved in a unifying activity such as band.
No one in my family is musically inclined; therefore my child will not possess the necessary talent. False. Many band students are the first ones in their family to play an instrument. Prodigies are rare; talented musicians are created through practice and nurturing.
Band interferes with athletics and after-school activities. False. Since band is a regular academic class, it does not interfere with athletics and other after-school activities. After-school rehearsals are rare and performances are scheduled with athletic activities in mind. It is important to note that the majority of our band members participate in athletics and/or other clubs.
Students will have to choose between band and other performing arts like choir and drama. False. Our SCMS Fine Arts department works diligently to avoid scheduling conflicts among our department. In fact, band students are HIGHLY encouraged to participate in choir and/or drama.
My child was selected for STEM. Will they have to opt out of STEM to be in band? No. The schedule at SCMS allows for students to participate in both band and STEM.
My child will have too much homework and will not have time to practice. Since band students are often in advanced classes and other activities, the independent practice requirement is only ninety-minutes per week. That can be completed in three thirty-minute sessions. Many students often complete much of their individual practice during our open bandroom practice time between 7:15 and 8:00 each school day.
Instruments are too expensive. Most students rent their instrument through a music store. During our informational meeting, we will explain how your child can get a quality instrument for an affordable price.
Can my child just wait until seventh or eighth grade to join band? No. Beginning Band is offered only during the sixth grade at SCMS. The program follows a sequential three-year curriculum and prerequisite musical skills are necessary for students to experience success in seventh and eighth grades.
Does my child get to choose what instrument they play? Yes. The band directors will conduct a comprehensive instrument fitting process to help students find the instrument(s) on which they will be most successful. After students receive guidance, they will make their final instrument choice. The one exception is percussion. Percussionists play BOTH mallet instruments and non-pitched percussion, and an audition is required to play in the percussion section. More details about his process will be explained in our informational meeting.
What instruments are available in the band? In Beginning Band (6th grade), all students will play flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or percussion. Later, the instrumentation is expanded to include tuba, F horn, bassoon, and oboe. The band directors constantly monitor individual student effort and interest to determine who will switch to those instruments. The majority of students will play their originally chosen instrument throughout all three years of middle school band. Here are some short videos describing the instruments played in the Beginning Band (note: percussionists will play BOTH mallets and non-pitched percussion):
Beginning middle school is overwhelming enough, and band may become too much. The transition to middle school is often made easier when a child is involved in a unifying activity such as band.
No one in my family is musically inclined; therefore my child will not possess the necessary talent. False. Many band students are the first ones in their family to play an instrument. Prodigies are rare; talented musicians are created through practice and nurturing.
Band interferes with athletics and after-school activities. False. Since band is a regular academic class, it does not interfere with athletics and other after-school activities. After-school rehearsals are rare and performances are scheduled with athletic activities in mind. It is important to note that the majority of our band members participate in athletics and/or other clubs.
Students will have to choose between band and other performing arts like choir and drama. False. Our SCMS Fine Arts department works diligently to avoid scheduling conflicts among our department. In fact, band students are HIGHLY encouraged to participate in choir and/or drama.
My child was selected for STEM. Will they have to opt out of STEM to be in band? No. The schedule at SCMS allows for students to participate in both band and STEM.
My child will have too much homework and will not have time to practice. Since band students are often in advanced classes and other activities, the independent practice requirement is only ninety-minutes per week. That can be completed in three thirty-minute sessions. Many students often complete much of their individual practice during our open bandroom practice time between 7:15 and 8:00 each school day.
Instruments are too expensive. Most students rent their instrument through a music store. During our informational meeting, we will explain how your child can get a quality instrument for an affordable price.
Can my child just wait until seventh or eighth grade to join band? No. Beginning Band is offered only during the sixth grade at SCMS. The program follows a sequential three-year curriculum and prerequisite musical skills are necessary for students to experience success in seventh and eighth grades.
Does my child get to choose what instrument they play? Yes. The band directors will conduct a comprehensive instrument fitting process to help students find the instrument(s) on which they will be most successful. After students receive guidance, they will make their final instrument choice. The one exception is percussion. Percussionists play BOTH mallet instruments and non-pitched percussion, and an audition is required to play in the percussion section. More details about his process will be explained in our informational meeting.
What instruments are available in the band? In Beginning Band (6th grade), all students will play flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or percussion. Later, the instrumentation is expanded to include tuba, F horn, bassoon, and oboe. The band directors constantly monitor individual student effort and interest to determine who will switch to those instruments. The majority of students will play their originally chosen instrument throughout all three years of middle school band. Here are some short videos describing the instruments played in the Beginning Band (note: percussionists will play BOTH mallets and non-pitched percussion):
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