We Begin Playing Monday

This is a final reminder.

We will have music stores in the cafeteria this Thursday, August 24th. Parents should attend this evening any time between 6:00pm and 9:00pm to talk to the various stores about arrangements to get an approved instrument, mouthpiece, cleaning supplies, metronome, Essential Elements Band Book. We will begin playing on Monday the 28th. Keep in mind that students who play school-owned instruments (Horn, Euphonium, and Tuba) should also attend this evening to buy their Essential Elements Book, mouthpiece, cleaning supplies, and metronome.

If you are unable to make it that evening, please go to http://www.sfdr-cisd.org/, click on San Felipe Memorial Middle School (6^th Grade), and click on the SFMMS Band web page. Scroll to the bottom of the page and download a copy of the SFMMS Recommended Instrument List. You should use that list as a reference when you make outside arrangements for the instrument and mouthpieces.

We hope to see you there!

Band Instrument Night

On August 24th, we will have some music stores setting up at SFMMS. They will be available to discuss renting or purchasing a district-approved instrument and accessories. All beginning band students should attend this evening any time from 6:00 until 9:00pm. The location of the event is tentatively scheduled for the SFMMS Gymnasium. Finalized information will be announced in class next week.

We ask that all students make every possible effort to come by sometime during this three-hour event. Even if they have an instruments, students should make arrangements to get proper supplies (reeds, valve oil, slide grease, drum sticks, metronomes, etc.) as well as the proper Essential Elements 2000 Beginning Band Method Book. Students who are unable to attend this evening should make arrangements with one of the music stores to rent or purchase an instrument. As previously mentioned, all students are expected to get instruments that are on the SFDRCISD Approved Instrument List.

What To Bring To School

I know that as the school year begins, many parents rush out to buy a new instrument for their students. We would recommend not doing that if you can at all avoid it. The San Felipe Del Rio CISD has a recommended instrument list that we have thoroughly researched and include an assortment of instruments that are made by reputable manufacturers that are known for high quality workmanship.

Often, when students come to band with instruments that are not on the recommended instrument list, they have problems with valves, slides, keys, pads, or screws. These problems can sometimes be easily solved, but there are many cases where we have seen these problems compound and parts are unavailable for the repairs, so the students often end up being unable to play their instrument for weeks at a time. As a result, we highly recommend buying an instrument (specific manufacturer and model number) that is on the list.

That will be made available at the beginning of the school year, and may also be obtained by emailing joel.wagner@sfdr-cisd.org and asking for it. We will not be playing instruments in the first couple of weeks of school, and so an students do not even need to bring instruments until they are instructed to do so in class.

On August 24th, we will have some music stores setting up at SFMMS. They will be available to discuss renting or purchasing a district-approved instrument and accessories. All beginning band students should attend this evening any time from 6:00 until 9:00pm. Location will be determined at a later date.

The only thing that students will need for band during the first week of school will be a 1" 3 ring binder.