Band Families: Please read the following information!
I want to take
this opportunity to welcome you to the Fuller Band! My name is Mrs. Oatsvall. This is my second year as the Band
Director at Fuller. Some of you may
be returning families of fourth and fifth grade band students and are already
familiar with the Fuller Band program.
This
link includes important information concerning the objectives, curriculum, expectations and grading system of the Fuller Band program. Also included is information about the
equipment needs and financial obligations of each student.
I
will keep you informed of your child’s progress throughout the year by
use of frequent progress reports, which will be sent home with students on Thursday
afternoons. Each time a progress
note is given out it is expected to be signed by a parent or guardian and
turned back in the following Monday.
If you have any questions throughout the year concerning your
child’s progress please don’t hesitate to contact me by calling the
Fuller office, or through email. I will return your call or email as soon as
possible.
Please
encourage your students to practice at home. It is expected that students practice
between 15 and 30 minutes each day.
This year we will not be using practice records on a weekly basis. Instead, we will have more frequent
playing quizzes during class time to allow each student to show their
improvement. Practice outside of
class is imperative to the progress and growth of your child’s musical
ability.
I
hope that you are as excited as I am about the upcoming year!
Objectives
of the Fuller Band Program:
q To foster a deep love of music in each child
q To provide each student with a worthy use of their
time, a means of self-expression and a healthy social experience.
q To introduce or continue improving music reading
ability
q To listen and compare different kinds of music
q To develop performance skills on the various wind and
percussion instruments.
q To provide performance opportunities for all students
Curriculum
of the Fuller Band Program:
We
will use class time in several different ways, including working out of a
method book, playing from handouts generated by the teacher to supplement the method
books as well as printed and published band works to be performed at our
concerts. In class we will also
learn to play by ear through call and response. We will also listen to recordings of
classical music by professional bands.
Clearly we have an abundant amount of fun ways in which to study music
this year!
Expectations
of Fuller Band Members:
Each
student should be in class every day.
Please bring all required materials to class everyday; without these you
will be unable to participate in class.
We will have several concerts throughout the year. The first of which will be in
December. Concert dates will be set
as soon as possible. A letter will
go home to all parents informing you of these dates. Participation in these concerts is mandatory
for all band students.
Parent-Teacher Communication:
Throughout
the year I will be communicating with all parents in a variety of ways. I will send a progress note home with
each student on most Thursday afternoons.
These will give the parent an idea of how the student performed in class
during the week. I will also send
letters home to families concerning concerts and other class activities.
Grading
System of the Fuller Band:
Grades
for each quarter will be based on the following criteria:
§
In class
participation (must have instrument, book, music and pencil)
§
Written homework
assignments (theory and music history)
§
Playing Quizzes
(These will be done individually in class and the material for each quiz will
be announced at least four class days in advance)
§
Successfully
turning in Progress Notes with parent or guardian signature.
§
Concert
Attendance
Equipment
and Material Needs for Fuller Band students:
o
Instrument
o
Necessary
supplies for each instrument. For
example: reeds, neck strap, cork grease, valve oil, slide oil, mouthpieces
etc. During the first day of class
we will discuss what this means for each instrument.
o
Method Book: Essential Elements 2000,
beginning band and Band I students will need Book 1. Band II students will need Essential
Elements 2000 Book 2.
o
Folder of other
printed music (This folder will be given to students during the first week of
class. It will have each students
name on it and will contain all supplemental handouts and music that we will use
along with the method book)
o
Pencil! Please bring this with you everyday,
will be doing writing assignments in class as well as marking in our music.
Financial
Obligations of Fuller Band members:
It
is my personal philosophy that no child should be denied a musical experience
due to financial restraints.
Therefore, I will do my best to keep financial needs to a minimum. It is imperative; however, that each
child have an instrument to use in class and at home
everyday. If you are unable to rent
or purchase an instrument for your child please speak with me personally about
finding an instrument for your child.
The school has instruments to loan out; however resources are limited, ask earlier rather than later about the use of
these instruments.