Band Try-It Nights!!!

Last week, the South Area Band Team went to all of our area elementary schools to help students try instruments and we had such a fun time! If your student would like to try an instrument again you can still RSVP to one of our Try-It Nights below!

If your student is confident in what they want to play in 6th grade then all that is left is to sign-up for 6th Grade Band when the enrollment forms come out!

The South Area Band Staff invites you to a Percussion Try-It Night!!

In the South Area, beginning percussion starts in 6th grade. In order to find students who best fit with percussion instruments, we will host two Percussion Try-It Nights on February 9th at Prairie Star Middle School and February10th at Blue Valley Middle School from 6-8pm.

In the South Area, percussion instruction goes beyond just drums. Our educational philosophy is to teach “total percussion”, which includes learning to read rhythms and music notation. Our curriculum includes mallet percussion (marimba, xylophone, bells, etc.), snare drum, and timpani. It then branches off to the auxiliary instruments such as bass drum, cymbals, etc. While drum set is obviously a percussion instrument, it is mainly used in our extra-curricular middle school jazz bands and high school jazz band. We want all students and families to be fully aware of this when making a decision to play percussion in school band. Additionally, prior piano experience is helpful and recommended, but not required.

Our Try-It Nights will be organized as a baseline evaluation of skills that will allow for greater success among our students. Assessment will cover the ability to read and copy rhythmic patterns on both pitched (keyboard-style) and non-pitched instruments, eye-hand coordination, note and note-name recognition, the ability to keep a steady beat independently, and student focus / ability to stay on-task. It is important to note that we do have a limited amount of instruments and space in our band rooms, so percussion will be limited to eight positions at each middle school.

Please use the links below to sign up for a time slot for one of our Try-It Nights.

February 9 from 6-8PM at Prairie Star Middle

February 10 from 6-8PM at Blue Valley Middle

You and your student are invited to participate in one of our Try-It Nights where you can meet your band teachers, try instruments, and get excited for band in 6th grade!

Instruments students can try at these try-it nights include: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, & Baritone

January 25 @ Prairie Star Middle School Gym from 6-8pm

January 27 @ Blue Valley Middle School Gym from 6-8pm

• My student already tried instruments with a band instructor, do we need to come to a Try-It Night? No, but if your student wants to try an instrument again or try a new instrument we highly recommend that you attend one of the Try-It Nights!
• How do I sign my student up for band in 6th grade? When the enrollment forms come out, put down that your student wants to do band and indicate which instrument he/she prefers!
• My student is already in strings/choir, can they do both? YES! Students have room for more than 1 elective class and can do both band & another music class
• Do I need to purchase an instrument to join band? Many area music stores have rental programs where families can rent an instrument for a monthly fee.

Ben Strain: bstrain@bluevalleyk12.org

Paul Aubrey: paubrey@bluevalleyk12.org

Paul Bessetti: pbessetti@bluevalleyk12.org

BV South Area Band Team