Q: How often do the children come to music?
A: Classes meet for one forty-minute period each week.
Q: When does the band program begin?
A: Fourth grade. Part of my job at the primary school is to prepare the students for participation in the band program by providing meaningful musical experiences that form the groundwork for later exploration and a lifetime of learning.
Q: When should my child begin playing an instrument?
A: The answer to this question is different for each student. As parents, you know better than anyone else where your child is at developmentally. The urge to start our kids off early can sometimes have unintended consequences, like making music seem like work. Learning an instrument requires literacy, mental focus, and gross and fine motor skills as well as the discipline to practice. MUSIC SHOULD BE FUN. Some students may be ready for the challenge early, but like reading, early advancement levels out over time.
Q: Will there be a musical or a play?
A: One of the great thrills of parenting is to watch your children perform in a school musical. At this age performance is secondary to experiencing and acquiring the skills necessary to perform. Performances are very time consuming and can take away from valuable class time. However, typically there is one grade level performance for each grade. Some teachers may do individual class performances as well. These may or may not involve rehearsal during music class.