Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of
students and parents.
- What are the instruments available to students who would like to learn one?
- How do I go about renting an instrument?
- Do I have to rent an instrument through the French Music Co?
- Can my child switch instruments during the year?
- I would like my child to get private lessons outside of school.
- Which book does the 4th grade classes use?
- I need to get in touch with the instrument rental company.
- How do I go about returning an instrument to the the Rental Co.?
- When is 5th Gd. Band after school rehearsals?
- How often should a Miller Mustangs Band member practice
- My Child Lost his/her Band Music, Folder, etc.
- How is a 5th Grade Band Member eligible to get the next song?
- When do the 4th Grade Instrument Classes meet?
- Can my child join the band in 5th grade?
- What are 4th grade drum students expected to come to class with?
What are the instruments available to students who would like to learn one?
In the 4th grade, students can sign up for a class in
instruction of one of the following instruments:
flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or drums.
How do I go about renting an instrument?
Parents can sign up during the beginning of the year to
rent one of the above listed instruments. Paper work will go
home at the beginning of each year that parents & students can
fill out together and send back in, to request an instrument.
This year the deadline for getting that paperwork in
is Sept. 10, 2010. On Sept. 15, 2010, the David French Music Co.
will come to the Miller School with those instruments. Parents
can come between 4-6 p.m. on Sept. 15th with check CC and pick up
the requested instrument from the French Music Co.
Do I have to rent an instrument through the French Music Co?
No.
Can my child switch instruments during the year?
After the 2nd week of instruments, instrument changes are not
accommodated. It becomes impossible to have students switching
at this point, because all the classes are now well into their
respective curriculum. It would be catastrophic to the program as
well as unfair to the other students, to have new students coming
into a class after the second week, especially with the amount of
students playing an instrument here at the Miller School.
The only way a child can come into a instrument or band class
after the 2nd week of the instrument program, is to catch up with
private lessons outside of school and if & when they feel they
are up to the class, they can come see Mr. Arzillo for
an "audition" to see if they are ready to join the
class. The area music stores usually have private teachers on
each instrument.
I would like my child to get private lessons outside of school.
The Music Nook & The Music House, both in Milford, are a great
place to look. Both places are local and have many private
teachers on staff. Mr. Arzillo also keeps a list of pvt lesson
teachers, and would be happy to email you back some teacher's
names & numbers.
Which book does the 4th grade classes use?
All 4th grade instrument classes use "The basic Training Method"
by John Kinyon. Make sure you have the correct book for your
instrument. Book are available @ the 4th grade instrument
distribution night, or can be ordered by calling French Music Co.
@ 1-800-366-5993 or visiting www.davidfrenchmusic.com
I need to get in touch with the instrument rental company.
French Music Co.
@ 1-800-366-5993
or www.davidfrenchmusic.com
How do I go about returning an instrument to the the Rental Co.?
If you are returning an instrument to the Rental Co, you
must call them first & get a "return authorization number". Then
you can drop the instrument off with Mr. Arzillo and the Rental
Co will send a rep. out to pick up the instrument.
When is 5th Gd. Band after school rehearsals?
The 5th Gd Mustangs Band Meets for rehearsal every Wednesday
From 2:40 - 3:40. The 5th grade after-school band rehearsals
will start Wednesday, September 22, 2010.
How often should a Miller Mustangs Band member practice
A minimum of 5 days a week, 15-20 a day is recommended for 4th &
5th grade band members to keep up with the assigned material
(songs).
My Child Lost his/her Band Music, Folder, etc.
Students should thoroughly look for their music before asking
for new copies. The following places should be checked before
asking for new copies of music: The Band Room, The Band Lost &
Found, The Instrument Storage Room, their Cubby, their Desk, the
table at the front of the cafetorium, at home.
How is a 5th Grade Band Member eligible to get the next song?
The 5th Grade Band will usually receive a new song each month.
Band members are given weekly assignments on that piece of music,
and there is an assessment on the last week of the month. An
assessment grade of a "WU" or above is needed in order to receive
the next piece of music. If a student does not receive a "WU" or
above on assessment day, they will have an additional week to
practice and come in during a recess time to be re-
assessed. If by then, a student still can not achieve a grade of
"WU" or above, they will forfeit the ability to receive the next
month's song, thus affording them more time to practice the song
they are not at a "working understanding" on. It is suggested
that the students adopt a 5 day a week, 15 minute a day practice
schedule in order to succeed with these assignments and have a
successful year in the 5th grade band.
When do the 4th Grade Instrument Classes meet?
Instrument classes for 4th Graders are mostly scheduled during
the students recess time. Classes are 30 minutes long and meet
once a week.
Can my child join the band in 5th grade?
In 4th Grade here at Miller, the students get the chance to
choose an instrument to learn. During the 4th grade year, they
meet in classes of the same instrument (i.e. all clarinets meet
at one time, all flutes meet at another time).
The program differs greatly in 5th grade, where the Band kids
come during their music Unified Arts block. At these times they
meet as small ensemble groups instead of "like" instruments.
Therefore each group is comprised of varying instruments, and
plays as a mini band. This works because they have
had a year of instruction in the "like instrument classes" and
are proficient enough on their instruments to need little
specific instrument attention.
It is impossible to have a 5th grader meet with the 4th grade
beginner classes because how the schedule works with their
classroom teacher's schedule.
Unless your child has had some significant music (instrument)
instruction, he/she would most likely be over his/her head (with
the material) coming into a 5th grade band class.Because of this,
the best option usually is to start your child with some private
lessons with a local private lesson teacher to get him/her caught
up with the students here. This probably would take a fairly
short time (of course if he/she applies herself & practices),
because one-on-one pvt lessons can do much more, quicker than
what I can do with large groups. Then he/she could come &
audition for the band when he/she & I feel it's appropriate.
What are 4th grade drum students expected to come to class with?
4th grade drummers need to make sure they bring to each class:
their books/(sheet music when they start getting some), sticks,
pencil, agenda.Bringing their drum is optional. If a student
doesn't bring his/her own drum, they can use the school's drum
pads (or drums when we have them).
