Instrumental Music
at
Greater Plains Elementary School
Charles W. England, Band Director and Instrumental Music Instructor

Without music, life would be a mistake - Friedrich Nietzsche


  Welcome to the 2006-2007 school year! As the elementary music instructor and band director at the
Center Street and Greater Plains Schools, I would like to welcome returning and new students to our
elementary continuing band program. We also welcome 4th grade students, as well as 5th and
6th grade students who have not previously played a musical instrument, to become part of the beginning
band program.
     Weekly small group private instrumental lessons are given to all members of our elementary bands.
Lessons are rotated through four different time slots which correspond to class schedules so that  students
will have to be excused from a specific class for lessons only once each four weeks. Regular attendance at
lessons is a requirement of the program. Attendance at all scheduled concerts is a requirement for membership in the
band.

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life - Bertold Auerbach
 
    Monthly Lesson and Rehearsal Schedules are distributed to all band members and their teachers . A copy is also posted out side the Music Room.

    Elementary Band Guidelines have been distributed to all students to be shared with parents, and stored in the students' band folders.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION  FOR BAND STUDENTS AND PARENTS
(PLEASE TAKE HOME)
September 7, 2006

Dear Parent,
     Whether instruments are bought, rented, borrowed or inherited, please make sure that your son or daughter has lesson books, as well as other equipment listed below:

Equipment / Lesson Books
     Flute players will need a cleaning rod and cloth.
         Clarinet and saxophone players will need  cork grease, a reed guard, a swab,and at least three good reeds used in rotation. I would recommend buying boxes  of five or ten reeds at a time.
     Brass players will need valve oil ( Al Cass suggested), and tuning
        slide grease, a mouthpiece brush (small conical) and a bore brush.
     Percussion players will need a pair of  snare drum sticks.
     Lesson books - as in the past, it is the parents’ responsibility to purchase lesson books for
          their child.
     Beginning Band will use Accent on Achievement, Book I as our primary lesson book, supplemented with others materials. In addition, all 5th and 6th grade brass and woodwind students are required to have Accent on Achievement, Book II.  All percussionists must also have a copy of Accent on Achievement-for Combined Percussion, as well as Book I  Rubank Elementary Method for Drums.
Instrumental repair, rental, and supply resources:
        Hesse Music, Inc.(Owner makes weekly sales/service visits to Oneonta) -sales,repairs, rentals, music - 240 Main St., Johnson City - (607)-797-7192
        Floyd Hebert - flute / clarinet repair, sales, lessons - Oneonta - 432-5084     
        The Guitar Clinic  - music, supplies, etc. -224 Main St. Oneonta, 432 1073 
        Walton Music House - sales, repairs, rentals, music - Walton - 865-5670      
        Joe Sax - repairs, etc.- Walton - 865-8088         


Greater Plains Beginning Band Performance Schedule for 2006-2007
Attendance at all concerts is a requirement for band membership.

            Thu.    April  19, 2007, 7:00 p.m. - Spring Concert -Beginning Band / Recorder  Ensemble
            Wed.    June   20, 2007, 11:00a.m. -6th Grade Graduation
          

Concert Dress Code:
Girls: Colorful dress clothes - slacks, blouses, skirts, or dresses. Dresses or skirts must extend 3" below the knee - ankle length preferred.
    Boys: Colorful dress clothes - dress slacks, dress shirts with collars, ties, dress shoes.
  


Greater Plains Concert Band Performance Schedule for 2006-2007
 Attendance at all concerts is a requirement for band membership.
            Fri.        December 15, 2006,2:00 p.m.   -    Holiday Concert -Concert Band / Chorus
            Thu.      May          31, 2007, 7:00 p.m. -     Spring Concert - Concert Band/Chorus
            Fri.         June          1,  2007, 1:45 p.m.  -     Spring Concert - Concert Band/Chorus
            Wed.      June          20, 2007, 11:00a.m. -    6th Grade Graduation 

Concert Dress Code:
    Girls: Colorful dress clothes - slacks, blouses, skirts, or dresses. Dresses or skirts must extend 3" below the knee - ankle length preferred.
    Boys: Colorful dress clothes - dress slacks, dress shirts with collars, ties, dress shoes.
I teach at Center Street on Monday,      10 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
                                         Tuesday,      8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
                                         Wednesday, 12:30-3:00 p.m.,
...and at Greater Plains on  Wednesday,  8:30-11:45 a.m.
                                          Thursday ,  8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
                                           Friday,       8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Parents may call me at Center Street, 433-8271, or at Greater Plains, 433-8272



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This page was created by Charles W. England,  and was last updated 10/06.