Westchester Elementary Instrumental Music Program Information for Parents

Westchester Elementary Instrumental Music Program Information for Parents and Students

Lessons Pullout Program Students come out of other classes for lessons. It is a WHOLE YEAR Program from September until JUNE. Every effort is made so that students are not pulled out of a subject in which they are struggling. TWO 25 minute group lessons per week Lessons are scheduled this way to ensure that students miss minimal instruction time. There ARE make up lessons available if students have to stay in class for tests/ quizzes etc. These schedules can be found on my website as well as posted in the halls, and your student will bring home a slip of paper indicating their lesson days and times.

Performances Two Main Concerts v Winter Concert TUESDAY Jan. 11 th at 6: 30 pm (snow date Tuesday 1/26) v Spring Concert TUESDAY May 24 th 6: 30 pm It is my expectation that each student musician is expected to attend all performances for the Winter and Spring concerts, except under circumstances of emergency, illness or death in the family.

Other Performance Opportunities • Side by Side Concert with Catonsville Middle School on in April with other local Elementary Schools. (Students will receive extra credit for the quarter AND a homework pass for Friday) • Various performance opportunities at school-wide functions throughout the year. • For Tuba/ Baritone players Saturday December 19 th at the Inner Harbor is Tuba Christmas. • HOPEFULLY a Spring Trip to Hershey Park in May!

HOME PRACTICE = SUCCESS Home Practice Expectations: v Average of 10 Minutes of practice at home per night, 7 days per week. PIANO, GUITAR, & OTHER MUSIC LESSONS COUNT!!! v Home practice must be recorded on monthly practice charts which are graded each month.

Practice Calendars No Name = No Credit Minutes are PER WEEK. That equals 240 minutes total! The only place for you to write!

What Your Child Needs to Get Started ü INSTRUMENT -From any music store of your choice (See Ms. Trumpler’s list of stores) -Music and Arts delivers to the store and is our vendor -A USED instruments is fine! Just bring it in to make sure it works. (Ms. Trumpler has a list of used instruments from people in the community!) üACCESSORIES Clarinet/ Alto Sax: reeds Trumpet/ Baritone/ Tuba: valve oil Violin/ Viola/ Cello/ Bass: rosin Percussion: sticks/ mallets üMUSIC STAND Let Ms. Trumpler know if you would like to purchase a discounted one!) üLESSON BOOK Band: Standards of Excellence Book 1 (non-enhanced is fine) Orchestra: Essential Elements for Strings 2000 Book 1

Grades/Report Cards are issued each quarter. Grades are based on: Ø Lesson Attendance (5 pts: Attitude, Pencil, Instrument, Music, Attending!) ØParticipation/Preparation for lessons Ø Performance Assessments (Playing Quizzes) Ø Home Practice (Practice Charts)

Lesson Attendance • After the first “missed lesson” of the quarter(students choosing not to attend or not having their instrument) students will write in the “Forgotten Instrument Binder. ” No penalty will be given. • After the second “missed lesson” in the quarter students will have a note in their agenda and a letter sent home to be signed by the parent/ guardian. • After the third “missed lesson” in the quarter the student and parent will be required to attend a conference to discuss their continued involvement in the Instrumental Music Program.

Example 1 st quarter Report Card *** First quarter students do not receive a grade. I do this so that you and your student know what to focus on more for 2 nd 4 th quarter. *** This would be a grade range from a 70% (C)-100% (A) This would be a grade of 60 -69% (D) or 0 -59% (E)

Performance Assessment -Please sign them so I know that you saw them. A student may re-do them as MANY times as they want per quarter. Usually there will be 1 -2 each quarter. They are done in class (usually I won’t tell them about the first one… I try to do these as LOW pressure as possible!) -Some are by memory, but most are playing a song out of our lesson book or concert music!

First Lessons • All beginners will start lessons the week of September 21 st. • Students should bring home a letter from me with information regarding lesson days and times by Sept 21 st. If not please check the lesson schedule online!

For More Information • Go to Ms. Trumpler’s Webpage! It can be located on the Westchester Elementary School website. http: //mstrumpler. yolasite. com § Email Ms. Trumpler: ktrumpler@bcps. org § Follow Ms. Trumpler: @Ms. Trumpler § Like Ms. Trumpler on Facebook!

Questions?