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Want to enroll in 6th, 7th, or 8th Grade Band?

ENROLLMENT AND INSTRUMENT SELECTION

  • Enrollment for new band students open at select times throughout the year; typically in September and January
  • When your student emails, or speaks to me in person, I will schedule them for an instrument demo so they can choose their instrument. If you are moving in from another district and already play an instrument, please contact me directly at Dhodgson@umasd.org.
  • Based on current instrumentation in the band, certain instruments may not be available for your student to start. If you are moving in from another district and already play an instrument, please contact me directly at dhodgson@umasd.org.

RENTING AN INSTRUMENT

  • Please WAIT UNTIL I DO AN INSTRUMENT DEMO WITH YOUR CHILD before renting an instrument.
  • After your child and I decide on an instrument, please rent an instrument from Music and Arts (CLICK HERE).
  • Please DO NOT buy an instrument from Amazon.com or another vendor without contacting me first.
  • Please purchase the supplies for your child's instrument listed on this page (CLICK HERE).
  • Please rent the instrument as soon as possible; Music and Arts takes a few weeks to deliver instruments.
  • If you need any assistance with renting an instrument, please contact me.

LESSONS AND REHEARSALS

  • Students will leave their core class to come to a 35-40-minute lesson once a week. The weekly schedule is published on schoology and students are expected to check schoology daily to see if any changes are made to the schedule.
  • If the scheduled lesson time does not work for your student, they are expected to email or meet with me to reschedule their lesson time. I am somewhat flexible and can typically make your student's preferred time work.
  • Students are responsible for making up any work from academic classes that they miss.
  • If your child needs to miss their lesson for a test, quiz, or other important material, they must email me to let me know.

PRACTICING EXPECTATIONS

  • Students are encouraged and expected to practice every other day for 20-30 minutes. Of course, this exact schedule may not be possible for your student, so it's important they create a practice schedule that works for them and their household.

CONCERTS

Concerts are our 'final exam' in band and first year students are expected to progress in order to perform in at least the Spring Concert.