IMPORTANT BAND LINKS:

Click HERE to register for Middle or Elementary School Band

(this is the one for the great middle school pencil giveaway!)

Click HERE to register for the Elementary All-Town Honors Band (Tue 4:30-5:30 at Wood Hill MS)

j2wright@aps1.net if you have any questions.

Click here to register for the 2017-2018 All Town Elementary Honors Band! 

This band will rehearse weekly in the band room at Wood Hill Middle School on TUESDAYS, from 4:30-5:30PM. It will begin on November 7, and run until the second week of June. There are two performances planned at the moment, March 13 (All Bands Night at the Collins Center), and a Spring Concert/Festival on Saturday, June 16, including a morning dress rehearsal and clinic, a late morning concert, and an afternoon of celebration and fun in a location to be determined. (There will be an additional fee for the celebration, to be determined as the plans are firmed up.)

Students in All-Town Band need to:

1)   ...be a member in good standing of their school bands, maintaining regular attendance.

2)   ...have one year or more experience in Andover bands.

3)   ...have paid a $125 fee for the school year.

4)   …be reliable and responsible members.

For those eventually selected for a jazz band, there will be only a $75 fee due for that, rather than the $125 jazz fee, for students doing both bands. This is a $50 credit for being involved in both.

Registration fees are non-refundable. Please have a check made out to Andover Public Schools at the student's first rehearsal. Band begins on Tuesday, November 7.

Please provide the following information. All other information has been collected via your registration form for school band.

Let me know if you have any questions! j2wright@aps1.net

Getting Started In Band

Welcome to BAND!

Just starting in band?  Here is everything you need to get started!

Registering here will give us all the information we need to steer you in the right directions:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR BAND

THINK ABOUT WHAT INSTRUMENT IS RIGHT FOR YOU!

These are the choices for band!

WOODWIND: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone

BRASS: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone

PERCUSSION: Percussion Kit (snare and bells)

These instruments are available in an affordable rent-to-own agreement from Leonard Music.  Please visit their easy-to-use website for more information!

CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUMENT RENTAL INFORMATION

If you have an alternative source for procuring an instrument, it is strongly suggested that you have this instrument checked out by either Mr. Wright or Ms. Hofius.  The wrong or malfunctioning equipment can be significant obstacle to a rewarding band experience.  Let’s work together to make sure a good instrument in excellent shape is the place from which we all start.

Beginners of any age will also need Standard of Excellence, Book 1 for your instrument.  This also is available from Leonard Music, and can be delivered with your instrument.  There are local stores that stock this book, such as The Real School of Music in Andover, The Music Place in North Reading, Tewksbury Music Center in Tewksbury, National Music in Woburn, and University Music in Lowell.  It is also available on line through Amazon.com.

Band is a large group class, and it has been very much the case that additional study on the instrument in lessons outside of school has been a huge help in a successful and happy experience in band.  There are many opportunities in the community for outside study, including the schools’ own Andover After School Music Program.  There is a one time $35 registration fee for the program, and private study is $35 per weekly 30 minute lessons.  Upon registration for band, you will be sent more detailed information about AASMP

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR LESSONS THROUGH AASMP

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Joe Wright, band teacher in the Andover elementary school! j2wright@aps1.net

It's Easy to Join Band!

Welcome to BAND!

Band in the elementary schools is available for grades 4 and 5, and meets before school once per week for 40 minutes.  If it is your first year of band, your meeting will be from 8:10-8:50 AM.

Bancroft – Tuesday mornings, starting September 26

High Plain – Wednesday mornings, starting September 27

Sanborn – Monday mornings, starting September 25

South – Friday mornings, starting September 29

West – Thursday mornings, starting September 28

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR BAND

There will be a morning ‘open rehearsal’ for parents to join us in December to see our progress, a debut “All Bands Night” concert in March including all the elementary band students in one giant band at the Collins Center, and a performance for the individual school bands in our school’s Spring Concert.  Band ends shortly before the end of the school year.

THINK ABOUT WHAT INSTRUMENT IS RIGHT FOR YOU!

These are the choices for band!

WOODWIND: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone

BRASS: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone

PERCUSSION: Percussion Kit (snare and bells)

These instruments are available in an affordable rent-to-own agreement from Leonard Music.  Please visit their easy-to-use website for more information!

CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUMENT RENTAL INFORMATION

If you have an alternative source for procuring an instrument, it is strongly suggested that you have this instrument checked out by either Mr. Wright.  The wrong or malfunctioning equipment can be significant obstacle to a rewarding band experience.  Let’s work together to make sure a good instrument in excellent shape is the place from which we all start.

You will also need Standard of Excellence, Book 1 for your instrument.  This also is available from Leonard Music, and can be delivered with your instrument.  There are local stores that stock this book, such as The Real School of Music in Andover, The Music Place in North Reading, Tewksbury Music Center in Tewksbury, National Music in Woburn, and University Music in Lowell.  It is also available on line through Amazon.com.

Band is a large group class, and it has been very much the case that additional study on the instrument in lessons outside of school has been a huge help in a successful and happy experience in band.  There are many opportunities in the community for outside study, including the schools’ own Andover After School Music Program.  There is a one time $35 registration fee for the program, and private study is $35 per weekly 30 minute lessons.  Keep an eye out for information regarding AASMP.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR LESSONS THROUGH AASMP

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Joe Wright, band teacher in the Andover elementary school!  j2wright@aps1.net

South Update - 10/2/15

The “Blue Book” (experienced) band (7:30-8:10) worked on the Bb Concert scale (top two lines of page 42 in the red book) and they are expected to perfect that over the next week, particularly the second line which works on the scale “in thirds”.  I also asked them find something they love to play, and be prepared to share that with the group next Friday.

The “Red Book” (beginning) band (8:10-8:50) played as a full band today!  We performed Exercise 1: “Time for Band” on page 6.  We discussed the clef, time signature, whole rests, and whole notes, (quarter notes and rests for percussion).  They are expected to work on all of page 6 for next week.  If that goes easily, it’s fine if they want to have a look at page 7.  I told them that they should read each page carefully every time they practice, an in particular the concepts featured in the gold boxes on each page.

What a great turnout this morning, and the kids did a really great job.  I appreciate all you are doing to encourage their participation, especially your helping them keep playing their instruments in the daily routine.

For those of you that still need instruments, I am including this link to Leonard's Music for their rent to own program.  Let me know if you need any further assistance!

West El Update - 10/1/15

The “Blue Book” (experienced) band (7:30-8:10) was VERY quiet this morning, as all the members were off picking berries or hunting elk or something.  Hope everyone has a safe return, and looking forward to getting back to work next Thursday.

The “Red Book” (beginning) band (8:10-8:50) We were also missing some Outdoor Ed folks, but we made some good progress, and everyone is making good sounds!  Diligence and patience are all we need to keep on this road.  I love the energy and enthusiasm of this group.  It really felt like everyone went home and gave this thing a great effort.  This week, they are working on Page 6, learning our first three notes together as a band.  The percussion will play snare next week, but please make sure that percussion is spending practice time on both snare and bells!  Those who were away, do your best with Page 6, and we’ll work together to get you feeling caught up and comfortable next week.

High Plain Update - 9/30/15

Hope everyone is staying nice and dry!

The “Blue Book” (experienced) band (7:30-8:10) worked on the Bb Concert scale (top two lines of page 42 in the red book) and they are expected to perfect that over the next week, as well as find something they love to play, and be prepared to share that with the group next Wednesday.

The “Red Book” (beginning) band (8:10-8:50) played as a full band today!  We performed Exercise 1: “Time for Band” on page 6.  We discussed the clef, time signature, whole rests, and whole notes, (quarter notes and rests for percussion).  They are expected to work on all of page 6 for next week.  If that goes easily, it’s fine if they want to have a look at page 7.  I told them that they should read each page carefully every time they practice, an in particular the concepts featured in the gold boxes on each page.

I realize that with the rain and the holiday last week that there were challenges in getting the whole group here this morning.  I hope we get everyone next week so we can all move forward together.