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Band Home FAQ The Instruments

Pacetti Bay Middle School Band Beginning Band Updated on July 27, 2011 Welcome to the Pacetti Bay Middle School Beginning Band MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR: It is my honor to welcome you to the Pacetti Bay band program. It is always so exciting to welcome a new group of beginning band students each August. If you are new to band or this is your first child to join band, you may have many questions. As school begins, each child will be given a copy of the Pacetti Bay Band handbook. Click here to download a copy of the band handbook. Please be sure to take a few moments to read through this manual or syllabus. It will outline the expectations and guidelines for your child's participation in our band program. There will be a number of opportunities for parents and familiy members to get inovlved with the band parent organization at Pacetti Bay. Please be sure to provide to become familiar with the CHARMS website. CHARMS is a web based program that many music programs are using to facilitate parent communication and register parent volunteers. The band students can also upload recordings of their practice for me to listen to and evaluate. This is a wonderful tool and proves to be very useful for the students, parents and the director. Click here to access the CHARMS page. This web page is where you can find detailed information about the beginning band program at Pacetti Bay. Many of your questions and concerns may be addressed on this web page. Please feel free to contact me with additional questions or concerns. The best way to reach me is by email. Charlie C. Rankin Band Director Pacetti Bay Middle School rankinc@stjohns.k12.fl.us Let's get started. The first step in the beginning band experience is called INSTRUMENT MATCHING. This process is described in detail below on this web page. Be sure to take a moment to read through the information provided regarding the instrument matching process. Once instrument matching is complete, we will have an INSTRUMENT RENTAL evening. This event is described in detail on this web page. Please take a moment to read through the information provided before attending the instrument rental event.   At Home Practice... This is the key to your child being successful in music. Each band member is required to practice on a daily basis outside of band class. The skills and lessons taught in class must be reviewed and regular practice must occur if students are going to reach their goals as beginning musicians. 15 to 20 minutes of practice per day would be a good place to start as a minimum. Some students will be more aggresive and practice quite a bit more than this. Lights, Camera, Action... Yes, performance is a part of the Beginning Band experience. Your student will be performing in two concerts while in the beginning band.You wont want to miss a moment of these concerts. The band members work very hard to prepare for their concerts and we hope you will be in attendance to experience the fun. The members of beginning band are required to perform in their band concerts and attendance is reflected in the student's band grade. Beginning Band concerts are held in the PBMS auditorium on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 pm. Details regarding the uniform for performances are listed below on this web page. Winter Concert: December 7, 2011 End of the Year Concert & Awards: Date TBA Other Oustanding Opportunities to consider... Florida Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessment Location: Creekside High School Dates: February 10 and 11, 2012 (students can request a preferred date if necessary). Times: Determined by Florida Bandmaster's Association (2 weeks before event) Registration Fees: Solo* - $10.00; Ensemble - $20.00 total Piano accompaniment is required for all solos - in general pianist fee is $20.00 (paid directly to the pianist). Limitations/Guidelines: Students performing in solo and ensemble must be a member of the band. 1) Student(s) must complete a solo/ensemble registration form and pay registration fee before Thanksgiving break. 2) Student(s) must perform the solo/ensemble for Mr. Rankin prior to Christmas vacation for approval. 3) A student can perform in no more than four events 4) A student can not perform on the same instrument in the same type of event (2 solos on the same instrument or 2 duets on the same instrument, etc.) However, a flute student could play a flute solo, a flute duet, flute quartet and woodwind chior. Please check with Mr. Rankin about other specific questions related to solo and ensemble. PRISM Concert Field Trip: Presented by the Florida State University College of Music Date: TBA (Early December) Destination: Tallahassee, Florida Transportation: Charter Bus Spots Available: 140 students; 20 chaperones Cost: TBA Curious, why FSU? The PRISM concert field trip was recieved with great reviews by band students and chaperones. Ask any student or chaperone that went on this field trip and you can bet that they will be signing up again this year. The PRISM concert is a non-stop, over the top band performance. Each instrument in the band is highlighted and featured as the college students and professors show their stuff. The finale is overwhelming as the FSU Marching Chiefs surround you and play selections from their current repertoire. The concert is held in the newly renovated Ruby Diamond Auditorium which is located in the iconic Wescott Building on FSU's Tallahassee Campus. Spring Band Field Trip to Orlando, Florida Beginning Band students will be invited the spring band trip to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. THE INSTRUMENT SELECTION PROCESS Click here to read about the Beginning Band Instrument Selection Process Click here to read about the instruments that you can play at Pacetti Bay INSTRUMENT MATCHING PROCESS & BEGINNING BAND PARENT ORIENTATION Instrument Matching/Beginning Band Parent Orientation will be held on: TBA There will be twp 90 minute sessions available *NOTE: At least one parent should plan to attend the Beginning Band Parent Orientation meeting. This meeting will occur while your child is trying out the instruments. During the meeting we will discuss the band program, the band parent organization and how to help your child find success in when learning an instrument for the first time. There will be time for questions. After the meeting parents are encouraged to watch as their child tries to play the various instruments for the very first time! INSTRUMENT RENTAL EVENT -  TBA The Music and Arts Instrument Rental Evening will be held in the Pacetti Bay multi-purpose room. The Music and Arts representatives and helpers will be ready to assist you with your instrument rental needs starting at 6:30 pm. There will not be a formal meeting, just stop in between 6:30 - 8:00 to take care of all of your instrument rental needs. Method books. mouthpieces, and other accesories will also be available. Your child's instrument and all equipment and accesories ordered from Music and Arts Center will be delivered to PBMS. DOWNLOAD AND PRINT BEGINNING BAND WORKSHEETS DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE BEGINNING BAND WORKSHEETS - REQUIRES ADOBE PDF READER WIND INSTRUMENT WORKSHEET AND CROSSOWORD PRINT, COMPLETE AND BRING TO CLASS PERCUSSION WORKSHEET AND WORDSEARCH PRINT, COMPLETE AND BRING TO CLASS NOTE NAMES TREBLE CLEF PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS NOTE NAMES BASS CLEF PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS NOTES AND REST VALUES PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS TIME SIGNATURES PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS FLAT, SHARP AND NATURAL PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS TIE, TONGUE AND SLUR PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS MUSICAL SIGNS AND VOCABULARY PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS MORE MUSICAL SIGNS AND VOCABULARY PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS THE BAND UNIFORM For all beginning band performances the students will wear the following: PBMS band polo shirt (shirt must be tucked in) Tan khaki pants (no shorts/no jeans) Dark dress shoes (no sandals/no tennis shoes) AT HOME PRACTICE Practice time (out side of class time) is required for all band students. This requirement can be met at home or at school. Students should be practicing 15 - 20 minutes per day outside of band class. Please remind and encourage your child to bring his/her instrument home on a daily basis for at home practice. If your child plays a large instrument please consider a car pool or car pick-up so that your child can take the instrument home. Or, consider picking up your child at 3:00 pm which would allow your child to practice after school in the band room. Please notify Mr. Rankin if this option is necessary. *NOTE: Students who are not meeting the expecations for at home practice will be asked to complete an at home practice log to improve at home practice habits. DO YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR INSTRUMENT? If you need help with your instrument please contact the Music and Arts store by calling this number: (904) 292-9705. They can help you take care of your rental needs over the phone. Or stop by their store which is located on San Jose (south of I-295) near the Wal-Mart shopping center. Please be sure that your child has his/her instrument and necessary accesories (reeds, moutpiece, neckstrap, etc.) each day in class. Students who do not have their instrument/supplies/music will lose their participation points for that day.