August 28 st, Dear THES Band Parents and Families,

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1 August 28 st, 2015 Dear THES Band Parents and Families, Welcome back to the THES band program! Your child has expressed an interest in continuing Band at Thunder Hill. We have a very exciting year ahead of us and I look forward to working with your child! Lessons will begin Monday August 31 st! Please make sure your child has the following items by that day: 1. Instrument 2. Method Book (Accent on Achievement, Book 1, Percussionists: In addition to Accent on Achievement Book 1 will need A Fresh to Mallet Percussion) 3. Supplies (Reeds, valve oil, etc.) The following pages contain information about the band program at THES and necessary instrument rental information. Please complete and return the attached enrollment form no later than Monday August 31 st. Please feel free to contact me by phone or if you have any questions. Thanks so much for your support of band at THES! Sincerely, Nicole Papadatos Band and Strings Director Thunder Hill Elementary School Nicole_Papadatos@hcpss.org

2 The Thunder Hill Band Program The Thunder Hill band program consists of a Beginning Band (4 th Grade), Advanced Band (5 th Grade), and Jazz Band (will meet before school starting in January). All band students attend sectional practice once each week in additional to full band rehearsals. Please note that any child participating in band will miss a half-hour of instruction on a four-week rotating basis. All missed work is required to be made up. Both Beginning and Advanced Band will perform two concerts a year and will also have the opportunity to participate at the Howard County Elementary Solo and Ensemble Festival! Website Information about the THES Band Program is available on our website: The website is a great tool to help parents and students stay informed about expectations, assignments, concert dates, and much more. I will update the website weekly. There will also be online copies of handouts given in class. If a student misplaces a hand out, it is expected they go to the website and print another copy. This expectation extends to Practice Calendars as well. Practice Calendar As the director of bands at Thunder Hill, my goal for the young musicians in our program is that they learn to love music as listeners, performers and, if they so choose, as composers. In order to achieve this goal, consistent practice at home is a vital adjunct to the concepts taught in full band rehearsals and sectionals. Band members need to practice a minimum of five days per week, twenty minutes per day. Band students will record their daily practice time using the practice calendar distributed in class and available on the website. Turning in filled out practice calendars will count positively towards a student s Practice Habits Grade.

3 Instrument Rental The following music stores rent and/or sell instruments of acceptable quality. This list is provided for your convenience and is not an endorsement of a particular store. Baltimore Brass Company Catonsville Mike s Music Ellicott City Music and Arts Ellicott City Instrument Brands All brands of instruments are not the same. Some brands have, over the years, proven to be of better quality and durability than others. If you are considering renting or purchasing an instrument not listed here, please contact me first. Flutes Yamaha, Gemeinhardt, Armstrong, Jupiter Clarinets Yamaha, Buffet, Selmer, Jupiter Saxophones Yamaha, Jupiter, Armstrong, Selmer Trumpets Yamaha, Getzen, King, Conn, JZ Trombones Yamaha, Getzen, Conn, King, Jupiter Percussion students should rent or purchase a Pearl, Ludwig or Musser bell kit. This kit should also contain a practice pad and drum sticks. Percussionists will need to purchase an additional book: A Fresh Approach to Mallet Percussion by Mark Wessels *** All students will need to purchase Accent on Achievement, book one, for the appropriate instrument.***

4 *** The following accessories will also be needed*** Clarinet and Saxophone: ten #2 1/2 reeds (Vandoren blue box, and Mitchell Lurie are good brands, PLEASE NOT RICO, they are cheaper but will not last as long or sound as good) and a swab. Trumpet: valve oil and flexible cleaner. Trombone: flexible cleaner, liquid slide cream or slide oil It is recommended that all students purchase a folding music stand for home practice. Concerts and Concert Attire The Band will give two concerts this year at Howard High School. Please mark these dates on your calendar now! Participation at concerts is required to be in band. If something is already schedule please contact me immediately. Winter: Wednesday, January 20th Spring: Friday, June 3rd The required concert attire for all band students is black slacks/skirt, black shoes and a white shirt. Report Cards Instrumental music report cards are issued quarterly. The five grading categories and their relative weights are listed below: Lesson Attendance 10% Performance Assessments 40% Participation/Preparation 30% Practice Habits 10% Concert Attendance 10% The criteria for each category will be firmly established in class and available on the band website. Extra Help I am available for extra help, upon student s request, before school and during recess. Extra help can mean a lot of things: extra practice time to work on band assignments, opportunities to work on solo repertoire, or time to start a small ensemble! Private Instruction Private instruction on a musical instrument is not a prerequisite for enrollment in the THES band program. It should also never be viewed strictly as a remedial tool for skill reinforcement, or as a substitute for consistent practice at home. Private instruction is, however, a wonderful way for students who really enjoy playing their instrument to more fully explore the performance techniques and repertoire of that instrument. Please contact me for a list of private instructors!

5 THES Band Enrollment Form This year there will be an online form that can be accessed online at If you have difficulties completing the online form please use this paper copy. Please return this page only to Miss Papadatos no later than Monday, August 31st. Student s Name Current Grade Homeroom Teacher Instrument Parent Name Parent (please print clearly) Parent Phone Number My child has my permission to join the band program at THES. I will encourage my child to practice on a consistent basis. Parent Signature Date