Beginning Band 2011 Pleasant Valley Community School District 5 th Grade Band Orientation

Ms. Fitkin 6 th Grade Band at Riverdale Heights, Hopewell, and Bridgeview Lessons at PVHS Beginning Clarinet and Saxophone Instructor for Summer Band

Mrs. Daurer 6 th Grade Band at Cody Lessons at PVHS Beginning Flute and Percussion Instructor for Summer Band

Ms. Pauley PVJH 7 th Grade Band Director 6 th Grade Band at Pleasant View JH Summer Band Beginning Trumpet and Horn Instructor for Summer Band

Ms. Bailey 8 th Grade Band Director at PVJH Junior High Summer Band

Mr. Propes Assistant Director of Bands at PVHS Beginning Trombone and Baritone Instructor for Summer Band

Mr. Anderson Director of Bands at Pleasant Valley High School

Pleasant View Band

Bridgeview Band

Riverdale Heights Band

Cody Band

All-District 6th Grade Band

7 th Grade Band

Jazz Band 8th Grade Band

2010 PVHS Band trip to Florida

PVHS Marching, Jazz, and Pep Bands

PVHS Concert Bands

Choosing an instrument Flute Clarinet Saxophone Trumpet French Horn Trombone Baritone/Tuba Percussion

Flute Good beginning instrument. The fingerings are difficult in the beginning, but are quickly overcome with practice.

Clarinet Excellent beginning instrument. Teaches the woodwind basics that would enable students to switch to oboe, bassoon and saxophone. Many clarinetists in 8 th grade also play saxophone in the jazz band. A very important instrument in the school band. Without a lot of clarinets, the band sounds out of balance.

Saxophone Saxophones are very loud. A small section of them can easily out power the rest of the woodwind section, if not the entire band! If saxophone is one of two or more that you are choosing from, choose the other instrument.

Trumpet Excellent beginning instrument. A good instrument to learn the basics of brass playing. Students can later switch with ease to French horn, baritone and tuba. The trumpet section is another large section of the band, but not as large as clarinet.

French horn The most difficult brass instrument due to the closeness of the pitches using the same fingering. Students should have well- developed hearing. A piano or singing background would be very useful. French horns are available for you to rent through the school district.

Trombone A great beginning instrument Trombones are very important to the sound and balance of a band. They are vital players in concert, jazz and marching bands. If trombone is one of the instruments that you are considering, we strongly urge you to choose it!

Baritone & Tuba Baritone plays the same notes as the trombone, but uses valves instead of a slide. Tuba is the lowest pitched instrument and is played the same as baritone, only with a larger mouthpiece and instrument. The school does have a limited number of baritones and tubas to rent.

Percussion Another overly popular instrument like the saxophone. Unlike the saxophone, not everyone is guaranteed to have a part to play in every selection the band plays. Percussionists have to learn all of the lesson material on both snare and bells. They will also be required to perform a solo on both snare and bells. Piano experience is strongly recommended. If percussion is one of two or more that you are choosing from, choose the other instrument.

About 75%-80% of our beginners start in the summer

Summer Band Classes Two times a week for 5 weeks starting May minute classes of like instruments. Mornings at PVHS & afternoons at Bridgeview School in LeClaire AM & PM classes are identical and taught by the same teacher. Flexible scheduling allows you to attend either session.

Vacations Going on Vacation? The first week of summer band is the most important, try not to miss it. Students could probably miss up to 2 weeks and not be too far behind.

Ice Cream Social Concert The Beginning Band will perform 11 songs at our annual Ice Cream Social at 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 30 in front of PVHS.

Can’t do summer band? There is the option of finding a private teacher in the area or at a local music store. These students will be able to join band immediately in the fall. Wait until the fall. A band director will be in the sixth grade classrooms on the first day with information on how to join band.

Students will be assigned to a 15-minute group lesson (2 or 3 of the same instrument) per week. They come out of class for this lesson

Full band meets twice a week for 30 minutes each

Afraid that you won't have time for band? All of the band rehearsals and lessons meet during the school day in every elementary building. Band does not conflict with orchestra, chorus or athletics at the elementary, junior high or high school levels. Practice time is essential, but all students are able to find a little slice of their day to get some practice in. We do not require hours of daily practice. 20 minutes a day of practice 5 or 6 days a week would be sufficient in 6th grade.

Band Students in Sports 90% of the high school band students are involved in after school extra-curricular activities. PV Band students participate in cross country, bowling, basketball, track, swimming, tennis, wrestling, football, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, cheerleading, Platinum Dance team, drama, choir, and orchestra.

Band and Academics 170 out of the 240 high school band students (71%) have a grade point average above of those students (44% of the overall band) have a grade point average above 4.0 Over 1/3 (37%) of the students recognized at Academic Awards Night for having a GPA of over 4.0 are in band

Rental Plans No student is required to rent, lease or purchase a musical instrument from the companies who are represented here tonight. Parents may obtain their child's instrument from any vending source with which they are comfortable. By virtue of their participation in the instrument display night, Griggs Music and West Music have met the district's demanding standards. The stores will deliver the instruments to the school so we can avoid any damage before the instructors have the chance to teach how to put the instrument together.

Internet & Warehouse Store Shopping Beware of non-brand name instruments available on the internet and at local warehouse type retail stores! Local repair persons will not work on them due to the poor quality, lack of durability and parts. Many parents who have purchased these instruments have had to replace them within one or two years.

Already have an instrument? Please have any previously played instrument checked out by an instrument repair person or band director to make sure that it is in good playing condition. Nothing is more discouraging for a beginner than coming to the first day of band with an instrument that doesn’t work. The student will need to purchase the "Standard of Excellence" lesson book prior to the first day of class.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Tofilon at: or Ms. Fitkin at: A web version of this PowerPoint presentation is available at any of the elementary school websites. Just look for “5 th Grade Band Orientation” Congratulations and welcome to the Pleasant Valley Band Program!

Join the fun! PVHS Band on the new marching band field!