For some reason this teacherweb site has a mind of its own and likes to make some paragraphs have smaller or larger fonts than others, no matter how many things I do to try to trick or over-ride it. Please ignore the fact that some paragraphs may be a different size than others. It has nothing to do with the importance of the content.


1. Which instrument for my child?

The simple answer is: the one your child feels passionate about learning and playing. When a student feels passionate about the instrument they have choose to play, I have found them to be more likely to succeed than if the instrument choice was made for them by a teacher or a parent. They will know that THEY choose the instrument, therefore when "the going gets tough" you will not hear from them "well, I didn't want to play THIS instrument anyway" or the like. They will have a sense of pride that will help push them through some of the difficult moments of learning to play an instrument.

2. A bit about rental instruments.
How much is a rental - how much does an instrument cost?

I have personally chosen instrument brands and models that I believe are the best option for a starting band student, and that are well made and strong enough to hold up to the everyday use and abuse of a student musician  carrying them through many years of playing in school band.
 
Of course there are cheaper, less expensive instruments out there that you may run into, but 9 times out of 10 they are exactly that: cheap. They are usually flimsily made and un-able to hold up to the rigors of a young child playing (and sometimes abusing) them constantly. I’ve seen many have poor manufacturing techniques that make them hard to set up properly and/or repair. And, of course, when too many corners are cut for lower cost, the instrument’s sound is usually as a result greatly compromised. 

This is the beauty of the rental program system. When you rent, you’re paying as your child continues to play, for as long as you’d like, with all of your equity going towards your ownership of the instrument. The Rental Company Representative makes weekly stops to Miller School to aid with all issues concerning their rental instruments.


Rental Instruments from the David French Music Co. are "rent-to-own". All of the rental equity that you pay goes toward your ownership of the instrument. 

                               
              2011 4 Month Introductory Rental Prices

3. Am I better off buying used or borrowing?

Maybe, maybe not. It really depends on the specific instrument you're looking at. If you are looking at buying or borrowing a used instrument, you really need someone with expert knowledge of that instrument to look over the instrument for you, and on your behalf. Trust me, you do not want your child struggling with either a sub-par instrument, or an instrument with issues, while other students in their class are doing fine with an instrument in good working order. Learning to play an instrument is a difficult, on-going process. Students will be fighting enough just learning how to play their chosen instrument, without having to ‘on top of that’ fight a sub-par instrument, or one that doesn’t work as it should.

Different musical instrument brands can widely vary in how they are manufactured. Musical instrument are also delicate, and many things can be or go wrong with them. I will be happy to look over a used instrument for you if you or your child brings it in to me at Miller. 


4. Should I buy an instrument now?

I wouldn’t if I were you. A solid good sounding beginner instrument is an expensive investment. You want to KNOW that your child is going to continue playing, at least for a few years, before making such an investment.

This is why I believe the rental program to be a great option for most parents, as you are not locked into it.
 

5. When are the lessons?

Classes are 30 minutes, once a week, and occur during the school day. There are no after-school rehearsals for 4^th grade band members.

Approximately 2/3’s of the instrument students will have their class scheduled during one of their recess times, and 1/3 of the instrument students will have their class scheduled during an afternoon time (once a week) that impacts as little as possible their teacher’s schedule.  


6. How will I know if my child is progressing?

Assignments will be given weekly. Each class will end with Mr. Arzillo writing the assignment on the whiteboard and students will write the assignment in their agenda.  Parents can and should keep tabs on these assignments to make sure your child is doing what they should, and keeping up with the class.

The Band program here at Miller is quite progressive. New material, techniques and songs are given out and taught often. For instance: If you hear your child playing the same song or section of a song week after week, this probably is an indication that they are not moving ahead with new material, and may be falling behind.


7. How much of a time commitment is there to practicing?

Band students are expected to allot 5 days a week, 15-20 minutes a day to their band assignments.  Each class will end with Mr. Arzillo writing on the whiteboard, and the students writing in their agendas the specific assignment that they should concentrate their practice time on.  Parents: please remember your child hasn’t completed all of his or her homework if he or she hasn’t done their instrument practicing. 


8. As a parent, do I have to be involved?

YES!!!

I often say that the best thing a parent can do (especially right away at the beginning) is have your child teach YOU what they learned in class. Have them teach you how to play their instrument.

When you do this, your child will have to think back to everything they learned in class and regurgitate that to you. They will have to demonstrate, making sure they are using the specific techniques and think back on all the tips and tricks they learned in class.
This is not only a beautiful way of having your child practice, but it’s a great way to spend some quality time with your kid!

Also, have your child play for you or practice as you are making dinner, loading/emptying the dishwasher, folding clothes, etc.

Have special performance days at your house. Maybe the grandparents or other relatives are coming over on the weekend – this is a great way to get them to do some small performances, and the relatives will surely love it.

You being “into it” can make all the difference!


9. My child is having a difficult time, what can be done?

Students and parents need to accept that things will most likely “not sound so great” at first, and when ever a new technique is being learned. DON’T STOP PRACTICING because of that. If you give up right away and put the instrument down within the first couple of minutes of practicing, just because things don’t sound or feel correct, you will never “break though” to make any progress. You will not build up required strength, whether it is facial muscles from working on a tight face (embouchure), hand/arm muscles, other body muscles/skeletal system getting used to holding a specific position and keeping the instrument up for periods of time. The ear of a musician is obviously also being developed as practicing continues. Even when you think or suspect you are doing something wrong, keep playing and practicing. Sure, you may be doing something incorrectly that is causing things to not sound or feel right, but at the same time you are doing many of the above things that are helping you become a better, stronger player. Putting down the instrument won’t do anything. Keeping in mind that no amount of people, resources, or learning aids will help in acquiring instrument skills if interest, hard work, effort, and perseverance are absent, here are a few routes a parent can look into for a struggling student:

- Getting together outside of school with a friend who plays the same instrument (maybe a play-date) and practicing together. This, of course, works best when you get together with a friend who is excelling, or even possibly an older student in the neighborhood.

- Youtube is a great resource to find videos of people playing or teaching your instrument. There are video “how to’s”, beginner lessons, and even inspiring pro performances that can help.

-Although it is the minority of Miller Band students who take outside school private lessons, nothing can really compare to the “one on one” nature of them that is absent in school band programs. Granted this is an addition cost, some find they are invaluable for their child. Mr. Arzillo tries to keep on hand a list of current private lesson teachers, and would be happy to email you back some teacher's contact information.

-A parent/student may also look into scheduling with Mr. Arzillo a few minutes after-school of extra help. 


10. My child is bored, what can be done?

I pride myself on running a program that very much differentiates instruction primarily based on student ability. Rarely does a student ever become bored in my program, but if this happens please have the student talk with me and I will be happy to feed them more materials to help keep their fire burning.

11. My child's instrument is in need of repair, what should I do?

12. My child wants to discontinue lessons, what is the procedure?

I highly recommend parents pushing their child to complete the first 4 months of this program. There are many emotional highs and lows that sum up the roller coaster ride of learning a musical instrument. One week your child may be on “cloud nine” because they’ve mastered a song and love the feeling they get from playing it. Only to be followed by a week in which I’ve taught a new technique that’s driving them crazy and all of a sudden they despise their instrument. You push them to keep going, and they in time master that technique/song feeling great again, only to get a new daunting technique/song thrown at them again, etc, etc, etc……

This is the roller coaster ride of learning an instrument. I feel that only after going through this for a full semester can your average student make an informed decision on whether or not playing their instrument is something they truly want to have in their life.

That being said, if and when you and your 4^th grader decide that you would like to discontinue their instrument lessons, please supply Mr. Arzillo will a written document stating such (an email is fine too), and the add/drop logistics will be taken care for you. Instruments being returned to the rental company need to be either handed directly to Mr. Arzillo, or left in his office with a note instructing pick-up by the rental company. A quick call to the rental company to give the rep a “heads-up” to pick-up the instrument wouldn’t hurt either.