GS Lakie Middle School
Fine Arts
50 Blackfoot Rd. West
Lethbridge, AB T1K 7P7
Dear Parent(s),
Your son/daughter has signed up to take band in grade 6 at G.S. Lakie Middle School this year. In most cases, Mr. Ponech met with them at their grade 5 schools during the last month of the school year. Together we tried some different instruments that are available to play in these courses. Students and parents should be aware of the instrument assigned for grade 6. This information was sent home near the end of the 2014-15 school year. In some cases, I was unable to meet with some students and was not able to assign them an instrument. If you are unaware of the instrument assigned or need to discuss the assigned instrument, please contact Mr. Ponech as soon as possible. Email is the best form of communication for me.
Instruments that families must rent or purchase privately are: flute, clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. Clarinet and sax players should buy a swab (cleaner) and at least four #2 reeds to begin with. Trumpets should buy valve oil and trombone players should buy slide oil. Instruments that students can rent from the school are: bass Guitar, bass clarinet, Bari Saxophone, French Horn, baritone and tuba. The rental fee for those instruments will be added to your school fees. Reeds and valve/slide oil are available for sale from Mr. Ponech throughout the school year.
Instruments not available from the school can be rented from Long & McQuade music here in Lethbridge (323-8th St. S, 380-2130) or from St. John’s Music in Calgary. St. John’s music will be hosting a rental evening on September 8th at 7pm. This event will take place in the band room at GS Lakie. Parents can leave with a rented or purchased instrument on that evening if they choose. Both Long & McQuade and St. John’s stores carry quality brands of instruments. Most parents choose a new or used rental/purchase package from a music store, but some choose to buy a new or used instrument. If you already own an instrument, it would make sense that your child should choose that instrument. Be very cautious of buying instruments from other locations (drug stores, pawn shops, retail outlet stores) and the internet. A quality instrument is a good investment that gives the best chance of success for students. They also have good resale value. Please call if you are unsure about an instrument or be certain that you can return it if unsatisfied.
There are 2 very important dates in September for students:
St. John’s Instrument Rental Night on September 8th at 7 pm if wanting to rent from St. John’s.
Thursday, Sept. 17th, 4:00-6:00 pm. University of Lethbridge HEADSTART CLINIC
This workshop at Lakie school will have our students learning the basics of playing their instrument in small sectional groups with U of L experts. A fee of $27.00 accompanies this workshop. The 2 hours of beginning instruction is very valuable and it will take much extra help to catch up if a student misses this workshop. It has been my experience that a student who misses this workshop is weeks behind the rest of the class on the very next day. Please reserve this very important date. The Thursday, September 17th workshop will conclude with a short concert for parents at 5:50 pm.
Supplies: Besides a quality working instrument (please have by September 17th), students will need a 3-ring binder and a pencil. You may bring your instrument before then to make sure that it is ready to go.
Learning an instrument is a very rewarding and worthwhile pursuit. The self-discipline required often spills over into many other areas of life and is often associated with greater success in academics. It is very important that parents and students know that a minimum of one hour per week of at home practice time is required for a student to succeed in playing a musical instrument. The concepts and skills being learned in class must be reinforced individually at home. Beyond instrument rental and the Headstart workshop early in the year, there are no extra fees for these courses. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Ponech
I am looking forward to teaching your son or daughter this year at GS Lakie Middle School.
Sincerely,
Mr. D. Ponech