Katie BatchelorJeremy KitchensLee Willis
Director of BandsBand DirectorPercussion Specialist
281-245-2382 Band Office281-245-2073 Band Office281-245-2594 Band Office
August 17, 2017
Dear Band Parents and Students,
Welcome to the Fairview Falcon Band Program and the 2017-2018school year! We know that you have lots of questions about what your student will need and do in the next few weeks so here goes!
This first two days and some of the next week of school we will be involved with school orientation and reviewing/introducing the music theory skills that will make learning new instruments possible. Your student will not start instruction on their instrument until Thursday, August 24th. During the course of thistime, we will be instructing your students on assembly and care of their new instruments. We will also be instructing your student on holding their instruments, forming their faces (embouchures), mouthpiece placement, breathing, posture and first sounds. These processes are very important to the foundation of your student’s band success. We will not be allowing your student to take home their instrument until they have an understanding and can show us how to do this on their own. It is very important that they continue/extend what is going on in the classroom at home. Students should not expect to bring their instruments home until September 6th. Percussionists will be taking their instruments home earlier as they have had training during a summer session that has introduced these skills.
Please read through the Beginning Band Handbook as it provides a wealth of information to help your student do his or her best. There is also a calendar of Beginning Band events so please mark these important dates in your calendars. Both of these documents are available through our school website. Alvinisd.net, then Schools, click on Fairview, then click on “Katie Batchelor”, toward the bottom of my homepage you will find links to all of the items that pertain to the beginning of the year.
If you are still trying to purchase an instrument or the supplies, please try to stay with the recommended brands and models. Be very wary of Internet deals that look too good to be true because they probably are. There are quite a few instruments out there that look great and have a good price but will be nothing but trouble and frustration for your student. Please call us if you have any questions. We know that you are not sure that your student will continue with the Band Program and that is why you might want to go this route. Please try to give your student the best opportunity to be successful. All students will need to have their instruments and supplies by September 6th.
To Receive Text Messages about Important Upcoming Events and Deadlines-Please enroll in this REMIND Account
Enter this number: 81010 and TEXT this message: @783a3f
Upcoming expenses:
Band T-shirt $16.00 strongly encouraged!
Band Polo $23.00 a required purchase as this is part of our Band Performance Uniform
Due by September 18th -Please make checks payable to Fairview Junior High
Looking forward to a great year with your students!
Thanks,
Katie Batchelor,Jeremy Kitchens, and Lee Willis, Directors