WELCOME TO LENA-WINSLOW BEGINNING BAND
A Tradition of Excellence
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A BIT ABOUT LENA-WINSLOW BEGINNING BAND
Lena-Winslow bands are excited to welcome you to our program! This website is your place to find all the information you need to join the band! This is your place to find information about instrument choice, instrument purchase or rental, and summer lessons.
To sign up for band, please fill out your 6th grade electives sheet and return it to Mr. Lobdell asap!
WHICH INSTRUMENT SHOULD I CHOOSE?
If you don't know which instrument you would like to play, this video gives a short description of each instrument that you can play in band.
Two things to consider when choosing an instrument: All instruments are important in the band and all instruments are needed in order to play the best music & percussion spots are limited. There may be an audition for percussionists if too many students are interested.
HOW DO I GET AN INSTRUMENT??
Choosing your student's first instrument for band is an important task that helps determine their success in band. An instrument in good condition is extremely important because if your student has an instrument that doesn't play right, then they can't learn to play well. However, getting an instrument for your student doesn't need to be difficult.
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If you do not already have an instrument, most people take advantage of a rent-to-own programs from the music stores who visit our school weekly: Guzzardo's (Rockford) or West Music (Dubuque.) All maintenance during the rental period is covered, which often comes in very handy with beginners. The buttons below will take you to each music store's website. We will also see representatives from one of these stores at our beginning band meeting on Wednesday, May 15 at 5:00 p.m. in the elementary cafeteria.
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If you are looking to purchase a used instrument from another source, please avoid all beginning instruments from Amazon, Walmart, Sam's Club, etc. You may be able to find a very inexpensive new instrument from these places, but these instruments tend to have many issues and break within the first year of playing - and they cannot be repaired. You can often find great deals on used instruments from selling sites or friends and family - if you decide to go this route, I'd highly recommend taking the instrument to a music store to have them check to make sure the instrument is in proper playing condition.
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If you cannot afford to purchase or rent an instrument, we do have a limited supply of instruments available for students to use. I may not be able to give your student the exact instrument they'd like, but we can definitely find one for them to play.
YES! I WANT TO JOINÂ BAND!
Awesome!
The most imporant thing to do now is to sign up for the class on the electives form! Once you do that, watch for papers coming home with your student on obtaining an instrument and signing up for summer band lessons. It is important for everyone to have their instrument before Summer band lessons begin. Summer lessons will run from July 31-August 11.
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SUMMER LESSONS
Students who join the beginning band are lucky enough to have "head start" lessons before the school year begins. Every student who is signed up for band should attend, however if you are on vacation and cannot attend all of the lessons, please just communicate this so I can plan for the beginning of the school year. On the form for joining band, please also indicate your availability for summer lessons so I can make the schedule work for you as best as possible! I want to do my best to make sure every student has the opportunity to find success in beginning band!
CURRENT STUDENTS
STILL NEED CONVINCING?
Watch this video to see why it's important to join band:
CONTACT
Do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Schultz with any questions you have about joining band. Email is easiest, but you can find my cell on the sign up form if you need to call.
