Welcome new Wildcats!
All band classes have common requirements and expectations:
All band courses are part of the student’s regular daily class schedule and are year-long courses. Schedule changes from band to another elective during the academic year are not possible.
Public and in-class performances are a natural outgrowth of the study of music in this setting. All students will be required to perform informally (during class, for their peers and teacher) and formally (for the public).
Students will be assigned homework. Homework assignments will almost always require practicing their instrument.
Assignment list (IPS):
The “Fair-share” monetary commitment for the coming year will be $100 per student and is due at the beginning of the school year. The budget for the coming school year is $34,861. PBMS opened in 2006 with only a few school-owned instruments, a non-existent music library and inadequate storage. Our projected band enrollment is 257 and our population is growing. We must replace deteriorating equipment, expand our musical instrument inventory, provide more instrument lockers/shelving/storage, and enhance our music library. The fair share payments along with other fundraising efforts will allow us to meet the lofty goals of a facility, equipment and materials that meet the standard of an exemplary band program that meets the needs of students.
Parents are responsible for providing a quality musical instrument with needed supplies/materials. At this time, the only musical instrument available to rent from PBMS are the larger, more expensive instruments such as tuba, euphonium and f horn. There are local band instrument retailers that specialize in instruments for rent or purchase that make the band experience affordable for most families.
Course information:
Beginning Band (M/J Band 1) for incoming 6th graders only, limited enrollment, lottery system for placement. This class is for students with no previous band experience. Students will learn about all beginning band instruments in order to select the one they feel most comfortable playing. Beginning band instruments are: Flute, b-flat clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, f horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba and percussion. Students who choose percussion will play the mallet (keyboard) percussion instruments until they have reached a pre-determined level of music literacy. After that time, percussionists will begin experience with drums. Percussionists should be aware this course of study is “orchestral percussion,” not drum set or marching band playing. Students who are interested in playing the saxophone will start on clarinet, and then transition to saxophone in mid-year of beginning band after evidence of hard work and high performance standards on clarinet. Students will be selected for saxophone based on their performance on clarinet.
Information from the Florida Department of Education:
http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewCourse/Preview/13583
Beginning band parents please note: There are local music stores that specialize in renting/leasing band instruments at affordable prices/monthly installments. Most offer an introductory discount and used instruments as well. The average monthly rent-to-own cost for most instruments was $29.00 per month after an introductory rate as low as $2.00 for the first two months’ rental. Some companies offer the introductory rate because they understand parents purchase a music stand, instructional text and other supplies to get started, which adds to the start-up cost.
If your child is interested in band, please enroll, regardless of your financial situation! We are looking forward to seeing your child succeed in music.
Please be aware space is limited. Students will be selected by a lottery system and beginning band classes will reach capacity.
Thank you for you interest in band at Pacetti Bay!
Mr. Sellers
