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