Greenville

ELEMENTARY School

Instrumental Music

Student/Parent Manual

2011-2012

Mr. Sorrells, Instrumental Music Teacher and All Around Nice Guy

Dear Students and Parents:

Welcome to Greenville's Instrumental Music program for 2011-2012. I am looking forward to working with all of you in this musical adventure.

Thank you for taking the time to carefully read this manual. Please take note of the schedule and items that need to come to school, as well as what and how students should be practicing at home. When a music student is successful, support at home is the number one reason.

Communication between students, teacher, parents, school and home will be vital during the school year. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or comments. You may set up an appointment to meet with me, by contacting the school, or by email (preferred).

I am looking forward to working with you and your child this school year. Together I believe we will have a successful and incredible learning experience.

ENROLLMENT:

Students who begin the year are asked to remain in the program for the entire school year. Working through the difficulties is what makes one successful. Becoming proficient on a musical instrument takes commitment, as well as consistent and continual practice. Because of the time missed for music instruction during regular class time, it is also important that students maintain academics by keeping up with missed lessons and homework. ACADEMICS ARE THE PRIORITY AT GREENVILLE SCHOOL, AND STUDENTS MUST MAINTAIN A “C” AVERAGE OR ABOVE TO REMAIN IN MUSIC INSTRUCTION.

GETTING STARTED:

Instrument:

There are a very limited amount of instruments available to loan from the district. Because there are so few, we highly recommend that you purchase, or rent an instrument from a reputable dealer such as Jims Music in Tustin or the Music House. These music stores have quality instruments and great service! Please do not purchase instruments from the swap meet or other “Discounted” stores (Goodwill, Wal-Mart, Costco). In the end, you get what you pay for and more often than not these instruments are inferior, cheap, and do not last very long. Many of them are such poor quality that they cannot even be repaired. Ebay does offer “some” quality instruments, but you need to be careful and knowledgeable about what you are buying. If you decide to purchase an instrument I highly recommend that you buy it from a reputable local music store that “specializes” in band and orchestral instruments.

Some local recommended Stores for rentals/ purchasing/ repairing instruments

1 Jims Music – Tustin – (714) 669-2600

2 Music House – Costa Mesa – (714) 957-1090

3 Sheet Music Shop - Santa Ana (714) 641-6440

4 Pedrini’s – Orange – (714) 538-9315

5 Anaheim Band – Anaheim (714) 999-5015

Music Book

Supplied by Music teacher (2.00 replacement charge if lost or stolen)

Small notebook and pencil

To track daily assignments/announcements

Strong nametag for instrument case

Tie or buckle strong tag to case handle

Folder with pockets

Organize charts, communications

PLEASE LABEL ALL THE ABOVE WITH:

Name/Grade/Classroom Teacher Name/Room #

Optional (but recommended):

Music stand for home practice

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC SCHEDULE:

TUESDAY:

10:30 – 11: 00 / Beginning Band
11:30 – 12:10 / Beginning Strings
1:15 – 1;45 / Advanced Strings
1:45 – 2:20 / Advanced Band

THURSDAY:

10:30 – 11:00 / Beginning Clarinet and Flute
11:30 – 12:10 / Beginning Trumpet
12:30 – 1:00 / Beginning Strings
1:00 – 1:45 / Advanced Strings
1:45 – 2:20 / Advanced Band

Please check my district webpage for updates, information To access it follow these steps

  • Go to the official Santa Ana Unified School District web page
  • Select your school site -Edison, Greenville or Lincoln
  • Find and Click on Teachers
  • Find and click “Sorrells” listed under “S," my site should immediately pop up!

BEGINNING WOODWINDS AND BRASS:

Students should practice putting the instrument together carefully, getting the sound, playing rhythms and songs as assigned in the book. They should either stand or sit on the edge of a chair with their feet flat on the floor (15-20 minutes daily).

BEGINNING STRINGS:

Students should be standing or sitting on the edge of a chair with feet flat on the floor. For the first part of the year, violins should be playing the instrument in guitar position. We will begin using the bow when we have established note reading and finger positions and patterns (15-20 minutes daily).

ADVANCED BAND AND STRINGS:

Students should practice scales and rhythm patterns daily. When they are practicing songs in the book, they should play slowly with a steady beat and work until the notes are correct. Difficult places in the music should be worked on separately. Listen for a good sound. The music should sound pleasant and recognizable. They should also be either standing or sitting on the edge of a chair with feet flat on the floor (30 minutes daily).

PRACTICE DOESN'T MAKE PERFECT...

PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!

DAILY PRACTICE:

WHY?

Reinforce the lessons intellectually

Retain/develop rhythm and note reading

Develop muscle memory and strength

Gain mastery of beginning skills, then keep on making progress.

WHERE?

Students need a quiet place to practice where younger children will not be interfering or touching the instrument. (It is usually a younger child that causes damage to instruments at home.) A music stand is an excellent idea for those who can find a good buy or request as a gift. It helps with establishing good posture and playing positions.

WHAT?

Assignments will be written in student's notebook. Look there for a list of items to work on.

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD SPEND 3 MINUTES PER DAY GAINING SPEED ON NOTE READING BY PRACITICING SAYING THE LETTERS.

INSTRUMENT CARE:

Four things that instruments do not like:

  • Sun/Hot Cars/Heaters
  • Air Conditioners
  • Moisture (especially flute, clarinet, strings)
  • Being tossed around

Four things to avoid doing at home:

  • Washing an instrument or putting furniture polish on it
  • Removing a stuck trumpet mouthpiece
  • Repairing an instrument you do not own
  • Leaving Instrument sitting out of case

One great way to keep instruments safe:

Prevent others in the family (or outside the family) from having access to the instrument. The instruments are expensive, and repairs can be costly, so it is the student's responsibility, but they need support from family at home.

ONLY TWO PEOPLE SHOULD TOUCH THE INSTRUMENT: THE STUDENT AND THE TEACHER!

REHEARSALS AT SCHOOL

Students are responsible for bringing instrument, music book, notebook, and folder to class for every rehearsal. Without their equipment, they will not be as successful. If some equipment is forgotten, the student must still come to practice, but will be given a consequence assignment, as well as a detention. Continually forgetting an instrument can result in being dismissed from the program.

CONCERTS:

Music students are expected to participate in ALL school concerts (no excuses). Part of growing as a musician is learning how to perform. All instrumental students will have the opportunity to perform one concert in the Spring, Also, Advanced students will perform in December, (please let me know in advance if participation in the holiday performance is an issue because of religious reasons). Note: For all concerts, students will be asked to follow the school dress code.

HONOR GROUPS:

The district has special honor performing groups. Students that excel will be allowed to audition. There are special rehearsals and performances which will be announced at a later date.

PARENT SUPPORT OF PERFORMANCES

Besides bringing your child to evening performances, I do desperately need parents to help with pre and postproduction performance set up (setting up and tearing down). I can’t do it all myself. I need assistance with decorating, moving equipment and stands, and with running PowerPoint. There are two performances: Christmas/Holidays: Thursday, December 15

Spring Performance: Thursday, May 31

MUSICAL QUOTES AND PROVERBS:

Katie Greenwood

Music isn't just learning notes and playing them, You learn notes to play to the music of your soul.

Anon

A real leader faces the music, even when he doesn't like the tune.

Joseph Addison

Music, the greatest good that mortals know, And all of heaven we have below. Henri Frederic Amiel Mozart has the classic purity of light and the blue ocean; Beethoven the romantic grandeur which belongs to the storms of air and sea, and while the soul of Mozart seems to dwell on the ethereal peaks of Olympus, that of Beethoven climbs shuddering the storm-beaten sides of a Sinai. Blessed be they both! Each represents a moment of the ideal life, each does us good. Our love is due to both.

Sir Thomas Beecham

There are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together.

Thomas Carlyle

Music is well said to be the speech of angels; in fact, nothing among the utterances allowed to man is felt to be so divine. It brings us near to the infinite.

George Jellinek

The history of a people is found in its songs.