Vocal Music

Vocal Music Opportunities - Stacy Gregoire

6th Grade Band News

          Band is open to all 6th graders who have an interest in learning how to play a band instrument and to students who are not already involved in the string program.

September:

Week one: During the first week of school, all 6th grade students attend a demonstration performance in which the different instruments of the band are introduced and played.  The demonstration is intended to help interested students better decide which instrument they would like to play. At the conclusion of the demonstration, students are given a chance to ask questions about the different instruments. A letter is sent home to parents concerning this opportunity for their child.  

Week two: Interested students and their parents are then asked to return the registration form at one of six informational meetings. Parents receive information about the instrument selection process and how to secure an instrument. The dates for this year’s 45 minute meetings are: Monday, September 11 th 4:30 & 7:30 p.m. at Osseo Senior High, Wednesday, September 13th 4:30 & 7:30 p.m. at Maple Grove Junior High and Thursday, September 14th 4:30 & 7:30 p.m. at Park Center Senior High

Week three and four: After students return the registration material, a conference is held with each student to select an instrument.

October-December:

Band meets once per week each Friday during the school day starting in October.  Students have lessons in small groups of like instruments.  Our goal is to have our first full band rehearsal in December. Later in the year band students from several elementary schools will combine to perform an evening concert.

Practice time outside of school is very important.  Students are asked to practice at least 20 minutes a day 4-5 times a week.  This is quite a commitment on the part of the student.  Students that practice 2-4 hours per week throughout the entire school year make the most progress and have the most fun with their instruments.           

January-April:

Students will see a few changes in lesson material as the second half of the year in band begins.  We begin to include full band music as part of the lesson assignment while continuing to work in our lesson book. Students will be working on 7 full band songs to prepare for concerts here at Basswood and at the All-District band concert.  

April will be an important and exciting month for our 6th grade band students as they combine with students from Rush Creek, Basswood, Oak View, Rice Lake, Edgewood, and Cedar Island to practice full band music. There will be 2 rehearsals after school on Thursdays in April at Oak View. The dates for these rehearsals will be April 12 th from 4:15-5:30 and April 26 th from 4:15-5:30.   These rehearsals are intended to help us prepare for the District Elementary Band Concert which takes place on Monday, April 30th at 8:00p.m. at Osseo Junior High.  This concert is an amazing sight to witness.  It will likely be the largest band the students will ever be part of.  Some 300 students are expected to participate.

May:

The Basswood 6th grade band will perform an afternoon program on Friday in mid May in the cafeteria for the 4 th-6 th graders. The concert will feature songs from the All-District concert, as well as songs played by the individual sections of the band. Parents are invited.

The last day for lessons at Basswood is the end of May. For sixth grade students at Basswood , the first year of band will come to an end. Next year, band is a regularly scheduled class at the junior high and band students will meet every other day.   

Wade Schroeder
Elementary Band Teacher
BG,OAK,BW,EB
schroederw@district279.org
763.391.7200 x 27515

BASIC INFORMATION:

The ExCEL teacher will also coordinate the following activities:

CML (Continental Math League) - grades 2-6. Selected math students are given instruction in problem solving techniques by the classroom teacher or the ExCEL teacher and then take part in a national competition.

Testing Services - The ExCEL instructor coordinates the following testing/observation activities to facilitate the identification of students for service:

SOI - Structure of the Intellect testing for grades 1-2 in the spring and grades 3-6 in the winter.

HP - Grade 6 High Performance testing in the winter for possible inclusion in the junior high HP classes (English, math, science and social studies).

Consultation Services - The ExCEL teacher can help provide materials and teaching strategies to parents and classroom teachers, thus helping to meet the needs of talented learners.

Important Terms:

·        TAG : Talented and Gifted

·        ExCEL : Extended Curriculum for Elementary Learners

·        Core Group : Students who were identified for service through testing (IQ, SOI or standardized) in the top 3-5% of the general population. They may choose the seminars they wish to take.

·        Talent Pool : Students who were identified through testing or observation in the top 6-10%. They have no guaranteed services but get the first look when there are openings in seminars after core group registration.

QUESTIONS ???

Marji Olson (763/494-3858, olsonmarji@district279.org) or

Beth Carpenter, Supervisor of TAG programs (763/391-7089, carpenterb@district279.org)