Beginning Band Low Brass

Staley Band Families,

This has been a unique semester with some students meeting with band directors as early as January, others not meeting until last week, and others still needing to try instruments. To help our counselors set the schedule for the 2024-2025 school year we had to place students in a band period. If the instrument listed below is not what you wanted to play, we will offer additional screening times and schedule changes the first full week of school in August. If the instrument below is what you chose- congratulations! Now it is time to start gearing up for the start of school and all the information you need is below.

Welcome to the Tuba/Euphonium class!!! This is usually just listed at Tuba on the schedule, but we have different instruments enrolled under this heading. This newsletter has everything you need to know for the start of the school year. Please let us know if you have any questions and we look forward to working with your family next year!

Your teacher will be Mr. Wood- woodc@friscosid.org

Thank you,

Mr. Wood, Mrs. Webb, Mr. Carter

All band students are welcome to come to the Staley Band hall for an end of summer bash! No instruments or supplies needed as we will have games, team building activities, and go over some basic information for the start of the school year. The first part of this event is for students, parents are encouraged to drop off, but are welcome to stay if needed. Snacks will be provided! Parents we will have a brief meeting and stay to answer any questions you have starting at 6:00. We hope to see you there!

Friday, August 23 4:00-6:00 pm in the Staley Cafeteria

We would love to meet your whole family! We will have a FREE family picnic and provide hotdogs and a chance for the students to have fun! We will have a Band Parent Association meeting starting around 5:30 if you can make it. The SMSBPA is our 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization that support the Staley Band and allows us to travel and do so many great things throughout the school year. If you would like to serve on the board please visit www.staleyband.org/nominate.

Private instruction is a highly encouraged program that supports what your student is doing in the classroom. Private lessons can serve as an advanced program as well as tutorials all in one!

• Lessons that will occur face to face either during your child's band class or before or after school (the schedule is set by our lesson staff)
• The instructors are highly qualified professionals that have anywhere from 1-3 degrees in performance on their instrument.
• Background checked, fingerprinted and approved instructors through Frisco ISD
• $25 per week and paid directly to the instructor.
• There is some scholarship money available on a first-come first-served basis so please reach out if you would like more information. We would LOVE for everyone to be in lessons, so please reach out if you need assistance!

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT OUR INTEREST FORM!

Euphoniums & Tubas are school owned instruments and you will only need to purchase a mouthpiece and general instrument supplies.

• Music 1st: www.music-1st.net; (469) 362-7171 - This is the music store right off of main street.
  

• Music & Arts: www.musicarts.com; (972) 668-1176 - Closest location is at Preston and Gaylord in Frisco.
  

School Owned Instruments- We automatically reserve these instruments for you once you are selected for the class. There is no need to do anything other than wait for us to contact you when it is ready!

As mentioned above- we will supply the instrument but you will be expected to provide the remainder of the supplies. If this is a problem please let me know.

• Euphonium: School owned instrument
  

• Mouthpiece: Schilke 51D Mouthpiece

• Band Book: Traditions of Excellence Book 1 for Euphonium
  

• Music Stand: Wire music stand

• Cleaning Supply kit: There are many different kits available (like this one). Just be sure it includes oil, slide grease, a polishing cloth, and at least a mouthpiece brush

• Optional: Korg Tuner with Mic Cord

Tuba and Euphonium supplies are very similar, but note that the have a different mouthpiece and book.

• Tuba: School owned instrument
  

• Mouthpiece: Conn Helleberg Mouthpiece

• Band Book: Traditions of Excellence Book 1 for Tuba

• Music Stand: Wire music stand

• Cleaning Supply kit: There are many different kits available (like this one). Just be sure it includes oil, slide grease, a polishing cloth, and at least a mouthpiece brush

• Optional: Korg Tuner with Mic Cord

The Staley Band is proud to offer financial assistance through the Staley Middle School Band Parent Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Any student can be in band no matter what their financial situation is. Families that qualify through FISD for free and reduced lunch (f/r) are automatically enrolled in our financial aid program. This reduces the band, uniform, and instrument fee by half! Since all our financial aid is through the SMSBPA it is suggested that every family join for $10. This is not a requirement for financial aid, but we would hope that every family joins this group as they are a huge part of our program!.

Band is one of the most active organizations on campus. Because our students work so hard we also have additional rewards and trips not available to other classes. Between rewards and other expenses band has additional costs. We are committed to making band possible for everyone- no matter your financial situation. If you are concerned about money please let us know as we are eager to work with everyone's unique situation. We are happy to say that we will continue to have the lowest fees in the district!

Band Fee- $50 ($25 f/r ) and is used to help offset the cost of materials, contests, and other events throughout the year. The average fee for FISD is $100 so we are happy that we are able to be at HALF what other schools charge. Families may pay once at the start of the year or $25 each semester.

Uniform- $10 ($5 f/r) We have a band t-shirt that students will be required to wear multiple times throughout the year.

Band Parent Association Membership- $10 This optional fee is to join our band booster club. The Staley Middle School Band Parent Association (SMSBPA) is the primary reason we can stay so active. Please consider not only joining, but volunteering!

School Owned Instrument Fee-$100 ($50 f/r) The district has an instrument usage fee of $100 for the year of use. If you are on free/reduced lunch this cuts the fee in half.

Mr. Chad Wood- Director of Bands: woodc@friscoisd.org

• Beginning Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, & Tuba
• Symphonic Band (Band A on schedule)

• Any general questions about band, the BPA, or financial aid

Mrs. Andrea Webb- Assistant Director: webband@friscoisd.org

• Beginning Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, & Saxophone
• Honor Band (Band B on the schedule)
• Concert Band (Band C on the schedule)
• Any questions about private lessons, weekly newsletter items, and canvas

Mr. Jacob Carter- Percussion Director: carterja@friscoisd.org

• Percussion Lead for Memorial High and it's cluster (Staley, Trent, & Maus)