5th Grade
Beginning Instrumental Music Exploratory
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Join the SUSD Beginning Band and Beginning Strings and see what all the buzz is about! Join a community of students, parents, and teachers who will support you through a dynamic and comprehensive program all the way through high school. Where can you start? It all begins here!
Interested in seeing the various ensemble trajectories of each part of our program? Click on the image below to learn more!
(click to view)
Our success in offering instrumental music in Saratoga does not happen without your generosity and support, and while SEF donations support our district's "General Music" program, SUSD's band and orchestra programs at SMB-support. Please head here to find the Saratoga Music Boosters SUSD Music Program Contribution Page.
General Handouts & Resources
Announcements
(Performances and extracurricular practices are currently on hold for this year.)
Confirm practice times and performance events by checking our calendar.
More announcements and detailed info for events and performances can be found here.
Confirm practice times and performance events by checking our calendar.
More announcements and detailed info for events and performances can be found here.
Back To School
2021-2022 Beginning Instrument Music Exploratory has arrived! This is the first time that we have been able to offer the instrumental experience of both band AND strings during school. Please find more information below.
** Please do not purchase/rent any instruments yet! Wait to reference our orientation presentation for more information.
Download the announcement below and bookmark this page to check back for more updates and they are announced!
** Please do not purchase/rent any instruments yet! Wait to reference our orientation presentation for more information.
Download the announcement below and bookmark this page to check back for more updates and they are announced!
| Beginning Instrumental Music Exploratory Packet 2021.pdf |
Handouts
| "Be A Part of the Music" Parent Flier.pdf |
FAQs
- How will I know what to play? • Students will be taken through an instrument fitting and selection process during the first few classes of each semester. As each instrument has its own unique characteristics and is played differently, the fitting process helps us determine which instruments are better suited for success, and which ones should be avoided. This process includes mouthpiece trials and listening activities and evaluations. Students will let us know of their top two instrument choices, which will in turn allow us to narrow down their final instrument assignment.
- What else do we need to know? • We will have a prerecorded (~10 minute) orientation/informational video released soon with an accompanying informational packet and information on a drop-in Zoom session to answer any particular questions that families may have. Join us to get an overview of the program, learn about instrument rental options and meet the teachers! *Do not rent or purchase instruments before attending this orientation!
- Is one practice a week enough to learn an instrument? • Particularly with group lessons, this option is intended to expose students to a small sample of the beginning instrumental process, but is in no way intended to be a comprehensive experience. Once students join us at Redwood and we are able to work with them each school day, then the real magic begins!
- What instruments are included in the Instrumental Music Exploratory option? • For band, students would be able to learn either the euphonium/baritone, trumpet, clarinet, or flute. For string orchestra, students would be able to learn either the string bass, cello, viola, or violin.
- What if my student already knows how to play a band and/or string orchestra instrument? • That’s fantastic! We would love to have them join us! Do note that this is a once-a-week survey of the instrumental ensemble music experience, starting from the very beginning. This is not a traditional daily band/orchestra experience. To keep the experience challenging and engaging, students in this position should try an instrument that they do not yet know how to play.
- My student plays the piano and/or guitar. Could they join the Instrumental Music Exploratory option? • We welcome all students! While piano and guitar are not included in band or orchestra, many of the skills involved will transfer over to the new instrument. Students with prior music backgrounds often find it easy to pick up another instrument due to their ear training, knowledge of music reading, familiarity with good practice strategies, and self-discipline.
- What are the expectations of student responsibility? • Musical instruments are expensive and often-fragile pieces of equipment ranging from $400-$1500 per instrument in addition to other materials such as reeds, grease, oil, etc. Students are expected to properly care for and maintain their instruments after each practice session. This takes special care and dedication!
- What are the practice expectations? • Instrumental music is fun and exciting to learn, and also CHALLENGING! We ask that your student spend some practice time with their instrument each and every week. Think of it as musical homework, but much more fun! Instrumental students should practice at home between weekly classes. Like any physical skill, this requires consistency, independence, and discipline to develop complex physical coordination and translate theory into instantaneous instrumental performance! Playing an instrument during in-class meetings only is not sufficient to ensure success. Students typically do well with short practice sessions (ideally starting at 5 minutes a day) this year. Students must also be responsible and remember to bring their instruments to school on music days.
- Would there be any extracurricular practices associated with the Instrumental Music Exploratory option? • No. Our intention is to keep the experience entirely during students’ existing in-school 5th grade music time.
- Are there performances? • Usually there are! Due to these interesting and everchanging times of COVID, however, we are currently planning on just class time instruction at this point. We will certainly notify all families of any changes in the future!
- Anything else that I should know and/or consider? • Of course, learning a musical instrument successfully requires an investment of both time and money. While money is never a barrier to a student’s involvement in our music programs, there are some requested contributions to help cover the costs of any instrumental music program in any school district (and we are no different!). For our programs, your contributions support bringing in professional specialists on each instrument. These coaches will provide students with the highest quality of instruction possible to ensure the most successful experience for your child, particularly with group instruction occurring just once a week. We will have more information and details shortly.
- When should I get an instrument? • Not yet! When it comes to musical instruments, brand names, quality design, and specialized details matter. There are many cheap and positive-rated instruments for sale online that are, to put it bluntly, no good! We will have more information on instruments in the fall, and also can offer school-owned instruments to use for the year for an affordable suggested contribution. We also invite and encourage quality instrument rentals from reputable local stores. This helps us ensure availability of school instruments to those students and families who truly need them, too.
- What COVID protocols will be in place during music time? • We are sure that some creativity and flexibility will be required, and look forward to working with each school site, our district office, and our county to prioritize student safety. Band instrument instruction will be held outdoors and distanced (on days with inclement weather or precarious air conditions, class will be moved indoors with other, non-playing content being covered). String instrument instruction will be held indoors with masks.
- What if the instrument(s) that my student learned this year seems like a mismatch? • This year’s experience is meant to be a very small sample of the entire process. If students think that their 5th grade instrument might not have been for them, they can definitely try a different one in 6th grade! Every switch does require some catch-up, however, but the process and discipline of learning an instrument remains the same. We also know that there are many reasons that a student and an instrument don't mesh and are happy to discuss to determine the true root of the challenge.
