Instrumental Lessons
WHAT INSTRUMENT CAN MY CHILD PLAY?
In selecting an instrument with your child,
we recommend consideration in each of the following areas:
1. Most children prefer the sound and/or shape of a particular instrument. This preference is usually based on the child’s familiarity or past exposure to those instruments.
2. Balanced instrumentation is needed to maintain a good overall sound in any band. Our school particularly needs more students to play the trumpet, alto saxophone, French horn or Eb alto horn, viola, cello and string bass.
3. To a minor degree, the physical characteristics of each child needs to be taken into account when selecting and playing a band instrument.
4. Students may study both a band instrument and piano/keyboard.
WHEN WILL MY CHILD START TO PLAY?
Students who played an instrument last school year will have their first lesson the third week of school.
Students who are just starting to play a band or string instrument will begin private or small group lessons the week of September 16th. Individual or group lessons on band instruments will meet for one 30 to 45 minute lesson each week, the day and time of which will be conveyed to you by Mr. Rappoldt so your child may bring his/her band instrument to school on that particular day. As your child becomes more experienced, he/she will be asked to join the band for various extra-curricular rehearsals and performances.
HOW and WHEN CAN I GET MY CHILD’S INSTRUMENT?
A student wishing to begin playing a band or string instrument will have a “tryout lesson” with Mr. Rappoldt in early September or whenever they start playing during the school year. At this lesson, your child will have the opportunity to “tryout” his/her first choice of an instrument or choose/tryout another instrument if desired. There is no charge for this lesson.
It is recommended that no student wishing to begin a band instrument secure
an instrument prior to the tryout lesson.
Quality instruments may be obtained from Menchey Music Service. To learn more about Menchey Music, their rental and purchase programs, and how to obtain an instrument, use the Internet and visit www.mencheymusic.com. By obtaining a new or used instrument in this manner, you will save a lot of time since all your musical needs will be filled by Menchey directly at CCS: they visit the school once a week. Menchey Music will also service any industry standard band or electronic keyboard instrument regardless of where and when it was obtained. For other information on ordering instruments and accessories, see the attachments on the Menchey Music page here.
A limited number of “loaner” instruments are available at no charge. Several "loaner" baritones and one Eb alto horn is available. A “loaner” alto saxophone is also available for a nominal repair fee of about $99. Students who commit to playing these instruments will be given them on a “first come, first served” basis, so it is important to complete the online registration form as soon as possible. If your child wants to play a baritone, your family may wish to be responsible for two instruments (one kept at home for individual practice; the second kept at school for use during small group lessons and band rehearsals). This is helpful if the instrument is considered too large to be safely or easily transported on the school bus. Some districts are very picky about this, others are not. Baritones (euphoniums) may also be rented, leased or purchased from a music store.
All other instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, all battery or mallet percussion, violin, viola, cello and string bass)
need to be obtained by the band student's family. These instruments may be rented, leased or purchased from a music retailer, such as Menchey Music, for an initial trial period of several months. Families who choose to lease/purchase a baritone may enjoy the convenience of the rented/leased instrument kept at home and the use of a “loaner” instrument kept at school, if desired. When deciding where to obtain an instrument, please keep in mind that many instruments available at non-music stores are not manufactured to industry standards and consequently, when even minor adjustments are needed, music stores in the area will not even consider doing the repairs because of the poor quality of these instruments. If your family has an instrument that has been passed down from one generation to the next or given to you by someone, please have your child bring that instrument to school as soon as possible so that Mr. Rappoldt may check its quality. Older instruments are sometimes better in quality and condition than more recent models.
The cost of lease/purchasing any band or string instrument from Menchey Music may be found on their website, under the heading “Products & Services/instrumental Rentals.” If you have additional questions, please feel free to call Menchey Music at 1-888-MENCHEY. During the initial three or four month trial period, you and the child’s band teacher will gain a true perspective of your child’s desire to play and his/her chances of success. After the trial period is over, monthly installments are paid to Menchey Music through a lease/purchase agreement.
IF MY CHILD IS INTERESTED or IS CONTINUING TO PLAY, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
If your child is interested in beginning or continuing to play a band instrument:
1. Please complete an online form or a form that your child may receive at school at the Instrumental Recruitment Assembly. Do this as soon as possible. Early returns are encouraged since this will allow the music teachers and rest of the CCS staff to arrange a schedule that will meet the needs of all students, regardless how long the child has played the instrument. Students may start playing an instrument any time during the school year, however, most students begin playing in September or October.
2. Lessons for students already playing a band or string instrument will begin the third week of school. Lessons for piano students who studied last year might begin their lessons as the same time, or shortly thereafter.
3. Sometime in early September, Mr. Rappoldt will meet individually with each new band or string student whose family has completed an online registration form (or has returned a survey form to school) for his/her “tryout lesson.” On that day, the student will bring home a note recommending what instrument would (probably) best suit that child. The note might also be emailed to the parent/guardian.
4. Lesson books are required for all band, string and piano students. Menchey Music will provide the appropriate lesson book if they are told to do so when you obtain your child's instrument. Piano students will need to have their parent/guardian purchase the book or books desired by the child's instructor. If purchased through Menchey Music, the piano, band and string books will be delivered to CCS.
5. Each individual band and string student must have a music stand. Beginning band students need to purchase this item when an instrument is first obtained. All music stores sell folding music stands for about $15 - $20. If your child obtains his/her instrument through Menchey Music, ask them to include a music stand when they deliver the instrument to CCS so you don't have to worry about getting a music stand at a later time.
6. Payments for all lessons may be made weekly, biweekly or monthly and are payable directly to your child’s instructor, preferably in advance. The customary fee for weekly lessons is $17 to $20. Due to the economic situation of our times, this fee may be altered if an agreement has been reached between your child's private teacher and the parent/guardian who is paying for the lessons.