NORTH OLMSTED INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FIFTH GRADE INFORMATIONAL NEWSLETTER EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC EDUCATION NORTH OLMSTED CITY SCHOOLS

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1 NORTH OLMSTED INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FIFTH GRADE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC INFORMATIONAL NEWSLETTER EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC EDUCATION NORTH OLMSTED CITY SCHOOLS

2 FIFTH GRADE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Outline of North Olmsted City Schools Instrumental Music Program Established in 1948 by Mr. C.B. Kriechbaum, the North Olmsted Instrumental Music Program has gained a national reputation for its quality through its successful participation in contests, music educator conventions, international exchange concerts, and high school and professional football game half-time performances. Bands and Orchestras in North Olmsted are part of the intermediate, middle and secondary curriculum of the North Olmsted City School System. A brief outline of the offerings for each grade follows: Grade 5: Grades 6, 7 & 8: Beginning Brass (Trumpet, Trombone) Beginning Woodwinds (Flute, Clarinet) Beginning Percussion (Snare Drum and Orchestra Bells) Beginning Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass) Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grade Orchestras Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grade Bands Jazz Band Pep Band Grades 9-12: Marching Band (Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12) Wind Ensemble (Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12) Symphonic Band (Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12) Senior High Orchestra (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12) Jazz Ensemble Pep Band All instrumental music students are required to be present and perform with their respective groups in public concerts. Advance notice of these concerts is given to students at the beginning of each year. Required concerts number between one and four per year depending upon the level of the group. Marching Band commitments are for all North Olmsted High School football games. Because most of our work is done inside the school day, there are no conflicts with athletics and students may participate in any extra-curricular sport that they wish. Instrumental Music Performance Opportunities for North Olmsted Area Residents After Graduation from High School or College Symphony West Orchestra Parma Civic Orchestra Lorain Civic Orchestra Bay Village and Strongsville Community Band -2-

3 Student Qualifications/ Instrument Selection Any student in the North Olmsted City School System is invited to participate in the Instrumental Music Program. In the fifth grade, group instruction is provided for the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, string bass, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, and percussion. Parents should be aware of a few important considerations when helping their child select an instrument: 1. Can the child produce an acceptable sound on that instrument when being fitted for the instrument? 2. Does the child like the instrument and the tone quality it produces? 3. Does the instrument physically fit the child? 4. Will the selection aid the band or orchestra in obtaining the proper instrumentation? ***The music staff members reserve the right to limit the number of participants in any section. This applies particularly to the percussion section. This limitation is critical to provide all students adequate opportunities. Decisions of section limits will be based upon student aptitude and prior musical achievement.*** Each student will be fitted for an instrument by professional musicians during the school day before or after the informational meeting. Each student will be asked to select two (2) instruments that they would like to try out at this time. The professionals will help the student determine which instrument is the best fit so that an informed decision can be made. More information about this process can be obtained by contacting your child s music teacher. Advantages of Instrumental Music Participation Participation in a music ensemble has many well-documented benefits for your child. A few are listed and discussed below. Academic Achievement: Numerous studies have related participation in music with high levels of academic achievement. This is likely due to many factors, including that music activates many areas of the brain at once. When performing, students must read and translate symbols into sound, and they must do this while properly operating a piece of equipment. Critical Thinking: Students develop critical thinking skills through their participation in music. They must consistently evaluate the accuracy and quality of their own performance, and they must make decisions based upon these evaluations on the spot. Through music, students execrise their brains and practice how to think. This helps them as musicians and as students in general. Citizenship: Involvement in a music ensemble also helps to build cooperative skills, self-discipline, and personal responsibility thus reinforcing many concepts that are taught in the home. Musical Awareness: The subject of music is worth exploring because of the tremendously important role that music plays in all cultures, including our own. The ability to intelligently listen to and enjoy all types of music will last your child a lifetime. -3-

4 Obtaining an Instrument While several instrument dealers are present at tonight s meeting, parents may choose to obtain their child s instrument from any source they choose. However, the North Olmsted Instrumental Music Department has found these dealers to offer quality products and services at competetive prices. We recommend that parents consider instrument quality, serviceability, and customer service in addition to instrument cost. Stores we recommend are listed below: Educators Music Rettig Music Royalton Music Center Detroit Ave Center Ridge Royalton Rd Lakewood, OH Westlake, OH North Royalton, OH Music and Arts (formerly Skyline). Studio Strings Peter Zaret & Sons Violins, Inc Center Ridge Rd 3530 Nichols Rd 5767 Mayfield Rd Westlake, OH Medina, OH Mayfield Hts., OH The following methods are common ways of obtaining an instrument for your child: Rental Programs Most music stores will offer a continuous rental program for anyone who wishes to obtain an instrument. A monthly fee is established. After a specific number of monthly payments, the instrument belongs to the renter. This is really just an extended finance plan, the only advantage is if the renter wishes to terminate the rental early, he or she is only responsible for the amount already paid. Trial Buy Programs The music store will generally charge a flat fee for a three or six-month usage of the instrument. After the specified period of time the student must either buy the instrument or return it to the store. If the instrument is purchased, the price of the three or six-month usage fee is deducted from the retail price of the instrument. String Sizing and Rentals When young children begin to play stringed instruments most will require a downsized instrument. String instruments are the only musical instruments that are made to fit the child. String instrument sizes are 1/16, l/4/ 1/2, 3/4, and full size. Most fifth graders will fit a 1/2 or 3/4 size violin, and the intermediate sized viola is equal to a full sized violin. If a child starts on a full size instrument, such as the one that may have belonged to Grandma or Grandpa, he or she may become quickly discouraged because of difficulties and fatigue in holding the relatively large and heavy instrument in the proper position. Your child may be sized at the meeting, and the music stores will make sure that your child has the correct size string instrument. An average size seventh or eighth grader is probably ready to play on a full size instrument. Adults who play string bass usually play a 3/4 sized string bass. Some stores will rent a small sized string instrument with the idea that as the student grows and needs a larger instrument, the store will provide one at no extra rental cost. If the rental payments are completed, the instrument may be traded in with the only charge being the difference between the price of the small and large size instruments. See your music store for details. -4-

5 Used Instruments Most musical instruments do not wear out with age, but a used instrument may not play as easily as a new instrument due to mechanical wear and lack of proper maintenance. When selecting a used instrument, always get a professional opinion of what repairs or adjustments the instrument will require. Your child's instrumental music teacher will be glad to look at it for you, give you a general idea of whether it is worth the asking price, and tell you where you can take it for reliable service. This all needs to be done well ahead of the starting date so your child will have a playable instrument on their first day of band or orchestra. Recommended Instrument Brands The following brands of new instruments are recommended. The Instrumental Music Staff has found them to be the best overall value and the most trouble-free for student use. Flute Trombone String Bass Armstrong King Consult your Gemeinhardt Yamaha child s instructor Conn Holton Clarinet Violin-Viola NOTE: All string Selmer Scherl & Roth instruments should Vito Andrew Schroder be equipped with fine Yamaha Glacsal tuners. Knilling Trumpet Cello Oboe King Scherl & Roth Renard Bach Andrew Schroeder Selmer Yamaha Glaesal Engelhardt Percussion Ludwig Bell & Snare Combo Kit (M652 R)***Required An Important Word About Discount Instruments In recent years, numerous manufacturers of discount instruments have surfaced. Generally, these instruments are available from the internet and from stores that do not specialize in the sale of musical instruments. While these instruments are certainly less expensive than the brands we have listed above, their quality is inferior and often detrimental to the development of an aspiring musician. As music teachers, we increasingly witness woodwinds with keys that do not properly seal, brass instruments that play with poor response and resonance or with valves that stick, and string instruments that do not stay in tune and have an inferior quality of sound. Simply put, equipment of this nature often encourages students to quit music study altogether. It is our strongest recommendation that parents purchase their child s instrument from a reputable dealer, such as those listed earlier in this packet. In addition, we recommend that you purchase/rent a well-known brand of instrument. The Instrumental Music Staff has found those listed above to be the best overall value and the most trouble-free for student use. -5-

6 Necessary Supplemental Equipment All players: Instrument Folding Music Stand (to be kept at home) Method Book: o Orchestra: Essential Elements - Book 1 by Gillespie/Allen o Band: Essential Elements - Book 1 Pencil Flute Handkerchief (for cleaning flute bore) Cleaning rod Clarinet & Saxophone Two new reeds at all times (2 ½ strength minimum) Preferably in a permanent case Swab (for cleaning inside of instrument) Cork grease Trumpet & Trombone Valve or Slide Oil Slide grease Cloth (for wiping off fingerprints) Snake for cleaning your instrument Percussion Ludwig Bell & Snare Combo Kit (Model M652 R), which includes: o Orchestra bells o Practice pad o 14 Birch snare drum o Drum sticks and bell mallets o Rolling carrying case Strings Instrument of correct size Instrument equipped with 4 chrome wound steel strings, preferable Piastro o Ultra Sensitive (or equivalent) 4 fine tuners Gasperi pegs (or equivalent) Cake of clear rosin Shoulder pad for violins and violas (on small children, a sponge will do) End pin stop (Rock Stop) for cellos and basses Cloth to wipe rosin dust off top of instrument -6-

7 Supplemental Private Instruction (Private Lessons) Parents can add depth to a child's beginning experience in instrumental music by enrolling him/her in a private lesson program with a teacher who specializes on the instrument that the child is playing. In this type of program, the student meets with the teacher on an individual basis for one half-hour per week, at a time and place arranged by the teacher. Often, these lessons are available at local music stores. The cost of these lessons is approximatey $15.00 per lesson, depending upon the teacher. Students who study privately often perform at a more advanced level due to their more frequent/extensive practice and increased individual attention. While we are confident that all children in the North Olmsted Instrumental Music Program will receive quality experiences and instruction, the benefits of private study are significant. We highly recommend private lessons for all students, but those who show strong musical aptitude are especially good candidates. In addition, those children who struggle can certainly benefit greatly from private lessons. Below is a brief list of establishments that offer private lessons with qualifies instructors. Local Establishments Offering Lessons From Qualified Instructors: Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory Prep. Dept. (440) The Beck Center (216) ext 37 Cleveland Institute of Music (Fairview) (440) Educators Music (440) Rettig Music (440) Skyline Music (440) Local Establishments Offering Quality Instrument Repair Services: Academy Music (216) Educators Music (216) Horst s Violin Shop (440) Rettig Music (440) Skyline Music (440) Studio Strings (330) North Olmsted City Schools Instrumental Music Staff There are five teachers in the instrumental music department of the North Olmsted City Schools. All are highly qualified and experienced, so parents can be assured that their children will receive consistent, high-quality instruction. Mrs. Christine Kilbane Chestnut Intermediate School Mrs. Megan Stilla Maple Intermediate School Mrs. LeslieAnne Bird Pine Intermediate School Mr. Erik Kalish North Olmsted High School & North Olmsted Middle School. Mrs. Megan Kovach North Olmsted High School & North Olmsted Middle School -7-