Each year the Ankeny Elementary Schools offer the opportunity for every 5th grade student to participate
in beginning band. We are very excited about our instrumental music program and
eagerly look forward to this new group of young musicians!
Please take time over the summer to discuss the possibility of participation in band with your child. We will deal with the specifics when school begins in the fall.
Every parent wants the best educational experience for their child. Band
offers an understanding and practice of many skills other than the technique required to play a particular instrument. Learning an instrument requires the discipline to practice, commitment to attend rehearsals,
and cooperation and teamwork. In short, band teaches skills that are valuable
and contribute to success in many areas.
A child’s participation in band can also benefit the family in many ways including family music making, attending
musical performances together, and providing a sense of accomplishment and pride for the entire family.
We want you to be aware of some specific information regarding our beginning band process and instrument selection. The schedule will be as follows:
1. Spring of fourth grade- We will schedule a time to speak with all of the fourth grade
classes. At this time, we will explain the basics of the band program
and answer any questions the students have.
2. First two weeks of school- Students will have an opportunity to try the band instruments. We will try each student on the two or three instruments
that interest them the most. This is the most important part of the process. We
want to find an instrument that your child will enjoy and find natural to play.
3. Second week of school- You will receive a letter from your band director with an instrument recommendation on it. This is usually based on the child’s first or second choice after trying the instruments. We will have an Instrument Display night for your elementary school.
At this time, we will have a short meeting discussing the specifics of our program.
Rieman Music will have instruments available to rent and books and supplies to purchase. You may also choose to secure instruments from other sources. We
will have a list of used instruments available in the fall. Our goal is to mail
this list with our fall mailing. We will also have used instrument lists available
at the instrument display. When buying used instruments, instruments from catalogs,
discount stores, or the internet, it is a good idea to ask a teacher’s advice to make sure that the instrument that
you are looking at is a good quality instrument. We do have a list of recommended
instrument brands that we will provide to parents.
4. The day following the instrument display- We will have our first meeting with the students.
At this time, we will show the students how to assemble, care for, and produce a sound on their instrument. It is preferable, but not absolutely necessary that students have their instrument for this initial meeting. We will begin our regular lesson schedule after this first meeting.
5. Late September - We begin band rehearsal, which meets at 7:15 AM, twice during the 6-day cycle.
Information about flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone:
If your child chooses one of these instruments, you will need to rent or purchase an instrument. For
most students it is best to rent an instrument at first to make sure that the instrument is suited to the student before purchasing
it. If you choose to purchase an instrument, either new or used, it is a good
idea to consult one of the band teachers to make sure that you are getting a good quality instrument. If you already have an instrument that your child plans on playing, it is a good idea to have it checked
out during the summer to make sure that it is in good playing condition when school starts.
Rieman’s repair shop often has a long waiting list in the fall because of the large number of beginning band
students in the area. The Ankeny Music Center (in front of Target) also does instrument repair work.
Information about percussion:
It is strongly recommended that all percussionists have a piano background. We suggest one year of
piano lessons prior to starting percussion instruments. In addition to learning drum technique, students are also required
to learn keyboard percussion. Piano lessons prior to starting percussion instruments
will help insure success. Due to the technical requirements of these instruments, students who wish to play percussion will
be given a written test and a rhythm clapping test during the instrument selection process.
Information about tuba, and baritone:
We have a limited number of these instruments that can be rented from the school. Baritones can also be leased from Rieman Music. If your child is interested in tuba, he/she should also
have a second choice in mind, in case there are not enough of these instruments available to accommodate everyone who is interested
in them. In the event that we do not have enough school owned baritones or tubas to accommodate everyone, we will put students’
names on a waiting list and parents will be contacted as these instruments become available.
Recommended Instrumental List
Here is a list of reputable instrument brands for those of you wishing to shop for instruments over
the summer. Please contact one of the band instructors if you are looking to
purchase an instrument that is not on this list.
Flute
Gemeinhardt, Yamaha, Selmer, Armstrong, Jupiter
Clarinet
Yamaha, Vito, Selmer, Buffet, Artley, Normandy, LeBlanc, Noblet, Bundy
Sax
Yamaha, Selmer, Vito, Bundy, LeBlanc
Trumpet
Bach, Yamaha, Holton, Conn, Jupiter, Getzen
Trombone
Yamaha, Bach, King, Getzen, Jupiter
Percussion Kit
CB 700, Yamaha, Pearl, Ludwig, Vic Firth
Please feel free to call us anytime with questions. We can be reached
at:
Mary Harris, NW/Westwood/Terrace 965-9690
Heather Conley, E/NE/SE 965-9660
Rachel Urban, Crocker/Parkview 965-9710
