Beginner Instrumental Lessons
Beginner Instrumental Lessons are open to all who are in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade. Students typically begin in 4th grade but your never too old to begin!
How do I pick an instrument?
Students are first introduced to each instrument to achieve a timbre preference. I play each instrument to demonstrate the sound and finger and body positions.
Next, I have each student choose their favorite 3 picks to try-out for the themselves. At this point I am assessing each student by their comfort level and natural capabilities. Every student has unique dental and facial attributes. This plays a critical role in the success of their first year of instrumental lessons. I feel that my biggest job in this process is providing parents with an instrumental suggestion for their child. Although this process takes some time and is not "scientific" it will provide each student and his or her family with the information necessary to make an educated decision about which instrument to being lessons on.
3rd Grade Music Aptitude
All third graders take a music aptitude assessment at the end of the year. There are two assessments: Tonal and Rhythmic. These two assessments allow me to gain insight on each student's musical strengths and weaknesses in terms of their "inner ear". It's a great starting place that I keep in mind as students begin instrumental try-outs.
Parent Meeting:
Once students are settled on an instrumental decision, a parent meeting will be held for parents and guardians to officially sign-up their child and obtain the mandatory book and instrument.
Beginner Lesson Schedules:
This year, our school operates on a 5 day rotation. Your child will be offered a 30 minute instrumental lesson 1 time per rotation. They will not be taken out of Reading or Math and will remain the class for all special activities, tests, new material, unit or test reviews, or anything else that the student needs to stay for. Each student taking beginner lessons is responsible for bringing his or her instrument and lesson folder/book on the day they have a lesson. All materials are to go home after each lesson so that assignments can be practiced in preparation for next week's lesson.
Books
Here are a list of the book names Clarion Area Elementary uses for beginner lessons:
~Essential Elements 2000 Book I (yellow and black book) is used for the following instruments:
Flute/Clarinet/ Saxophones/Trumpet/French Horn/Trombone/Baritone/Tuba
~Standard of Excellence Book I (red book) is used for all percussionists.
How do I pick an instrument?
Students are first introduced to each instrument to achieve a timbre preference. I play each instrument to demonstrate the sound and finger and body positions.
Next, I have each student choose their favorite 3 picks to try-out for the themselves. At this point I am assessing each student by their comfort level and natural capabilities. Every student has unique dental and facial attributes. This plays a critical role in the success of their first year of instrumental lessons. I feel that my biggest job in this process is providing parents with an instrumental suggestion for their child. Although this process takes some time and is not "scientific" it will provide each student and his or her family with the information necessary to make an educated decision about which instrument to being lessons on.
3rd Grade Music Aptitude
All third graders take a music aptitude assessment at the end of the year. There are two assessments: Tonal and Rhythmic. These two assessments allow me to gain insight on each student's musical strengths and weaknesses in terms of their "inner ear". It's a great starting place that I keep in mind as students begin instrumental try-outs.
Parent Meeting:
Once students are settled on an instrumental decision, a parent meeting will be held for parents and guardians to officially sign-up their child and obtain the mandatory book and instrument.
Beginner Lesson Schedules:
This year, our school operates on a 5 day rotation. Your child will be offered a 30 minute instrumental lesson 1 time per rotation. They will not be taken out of Reading or Math and will remain the class for all special activities, tests, new material, unit or test reviews, or anything else that the student needs to stay for. Each student taking beginner lessons is responsible for bringing his or her instrument and lesson folder/book on the day they have a lesson. All materials are to go home after each lesson so that assignments can be practiced in preparation for next week's lesson.
Books
Here are a list of the book names Clarion Area Elementary uses for beginner lessons:
~Essential Elements 2000 Book I (yellow and black book) is used for the following instruments:
Flute/Clarinet/ Saxophones/Trumpet/French Horn/Trombone/Baritone/Tuba
~Standard of Excellence Book I (red book) is used for all percussionists.