Lolo School Band

I am looking forward to another year of Lolo band and so excited to have your child join!

Please complete these steps to get your child signed up and ready for band:

• Read through the band handbook (sent home with students in paper form and attached to this newsletter)
• Look through this newsletter for specific information on start dates, materials, instruments and more.
• Fill out the google form to say you have received the information and to sign your child up for band.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Ms. Gustafson

sgustafson@loloschools.org

• Tuesday, September 12th: 5th-grade band informational student meeting during school.
• Friday, September 15th: 6th-grade band informational student meeting during school.
• Monday, September 18th: 7th and 8th grade band informational meeting during school.
• Tuesday, September 19th: First day of 5th grade band!
• Thursday, September 21: After School Band for 5th-grade percussion students 2:20-3:10.
• Monday, September 25th: First day of 7th and 8th grade band!
• Thursday, September 28th: First day of 6th grade band!
• Thursday, September 28th: After School Band for 5th-grade Flutes, Clarinet and Saxophones. 2:20-3:10.
• Thursday, October 5th: After School Band for 5th-grade Trumpets, Trombones, Baritones, and French Horns 2:20-3:10.

These items can be found at Music & Arts, Music Medics or often can be ordered online.

(Links below.)
Let me know if you have trouble finding or cannot purchase any of these items. Any child who wants to be in band should be able to, so we will do what we can to help make it happen.

Supply List by Grade

5th & 6th Grade:

1. Your Instrument - Own or rented (more information below)

2. Method Book - Essential Elements: Book 1

3. Instrument-Specific Items- Check bottom of this list!

Supply List by Instrument many of these items are included with instrument rental or purchase.

Reeds will always need to be purchased separately and are essential for students to have the first day of band if they are playing saxophone or clarinet.

Flute

1. Cleaning rod (should be included with rental or purchase)

2. Flute cleaning cloth

Clarinet

1. Silk or cotton clarinet swab

2. 2-4 Rico reeds size 2 (5th and 6th grade) or 2.5 reeds (7th and 8th grade) Students must purchase their own reeds prior to being able to play their instrument, this is not something they are able to share or borrow so make sure to have reeds before the first day of band.

Saxophone

1. Silk alto saxophone swab

2. 2-4 Rico reeds size 2 (5th and 6th grade) or 2.5 reeds (7th and 8th grade) Students must purchase their own reeds prior to being able to play their instrument, this is not something they are able to share or borrow so make sure to have reeds before the first day of band.

3. Neck strap (should be included with instrument rental but double check)

French Horn

1. Rotor oil

2. Tuning slide grease

3. Water cloth

Trumpet

1. Valve oil

2. Tuning slide grease

3. Water cloth

Trombone

1. Trombone slide cream

2. Small spray bottle filled with water

3. Tuning slide grease

4. Water cloth

Baritone or Tuba

1. Valve oil

2. Tuning slide grease

3. Water cloth

Percussion:

1. Practice Pad

2. Drumsticks- I recommend Vic Firth SD1 general snare stick

Instruments that your child may study in band are flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, or percussion. There are some informational videos below if your child is still trying to decide on an instrument. The percussion section is limited depending on how many students are in band so if your child's first choice is percussion, make sure they have a second instrument choice in mind. If too many percussion students are signed up, we will hold auditions to ensure a balance in the band. I want all students to have an instrument and a book by their first day of band class if possible.

It is crucial that each student has a quality band instrument. An instrument must be in good working condition for a student to succeed. Because Lolo School usually has around 100 band students and owns a limited amount of instruments for our band program, I encourage students to provide their own instruments for band class if possible. There are a couple of music stores in Missoula that offer rent-to-buy plans, which means that the money you spend monthly on renting the instrument will go toward the purchase of the instrument unless you decide not to purchase the instrument, in which case you can cancel the rental at any point. I highly endorse this method of obtaining an instrument. Here are a couple of music stores in Missoula that offer instrument rentals:

Music and Arts (formerly Morgenroth)- 406-549-0013

https://stores.musicarts.com/mt/missoula/music-store-2440.html

1105 W Sussex Ave. Missoula, MT 59801

Music Medics- 406-549-0889

http://missoulamusicmedics.com/

333 SW Higgins Ave. Missoula, MT 59803

If you plan on utilizing an instrument you have already obtained, I recommend that you have the student bring that instrument to me or to a music store ahead of time. I would be happy to assess the instrument's condition and ensure it is in working condition and doesn’t require repair.

If you are unable to rent or find an instrument, I do have some instruments available here at the school. There is an instrument rental contract I will email you once I have secured an instrument for your child and a yearly fee of $35 for these instruments, which goes to the office. If your child is planning on using a school instrument, we will do our best but I cannot guarantee they will get their first choice of instrument because we have limited numbers, priority will go to 8th-grade students, then 7th, etc. Make sure they have a second choice of instrument in case their first choice isn't available. Any child who is interested in band should be able to participate, so if you are concerned about being able to obtain an instrument or supplies because of finances or other reasons, please let me know about these concerns, and I will do my best to help, we do have scholarship assistance for that as well as some materials that can be borrowed from the school. In addition to instruments, students in 5th grade will also need a book and some other supplies (See supply list above.)