Band parent to be-any advice?

[hereyago]

Hi
Well today, dd11 had her 6th grade orientation. She was going to have Exploratory courses-art, living skills, drama,etc. But after going to orientation, she has decided she wants to take beginning band.
We talked with the band teacher and no experience is necessary. Not sure yet of which instrument. I know she wants to take percussion, however they don't start that part until October and the teacher will see who can keep time, etc. So she could be starting out with Clarinet, Flute,etc.
So band parents, what should I be getting ready for? A music store nearby had a flyer about the rentals. I know she will definetly have to practice at home, which I totally support. My DF was a musician, so I am quite used to hearing someone practice.
Any advice would be appreciated. I took Chorus in High School, never dabbled in instruments, the only thing I can play is the radio TIA

 

[momof1princess]

my 6th grade DD just started beginner band as well. she is playing the clarinet, and i got a rental for 2 months for $25.00 plus $8.00 insurance and the beginner band book her band director requires for $9.80 from a local music store. i ordered a box of Vandoren reeds and a reed case from woodwind and brasswind (wwbw dot com). nothing else has been needed so far. when she practices the two notes she knows, it sounds like cows are dying in her room, but i guess that's to be expected at this stage. good luck! lol

 

[golfgal]

Most beginning band directors will help your child select an instrument, largely by having them try one and if they can make a sound, they can pick that one (very technical ). Some mouth shapes lend themselves better to playing different instruments.

To be honest, flute and clarinet are very popular instruments so I would go with something less popular like the trombone or french horn. Defiantly do the music store rental program which is typically 3 months for a low fee then a monthly fee for the next however many years then you own the instrument. We have a trombone player and two saxophone players that are all very involved in band. It is great for them to learn an instrument and many, many, many studies have shown that kids that are involved in music score better on tests, especially math.

 

[monkey68]

I'm not a band parent, but I do have extensive experience in band. My advice... buy earplugs, or soundproof a room in your house, lol. I would go for a less common instrument, she'll have more chance for solos, and if she decides to continue into high school and college, less competition. I'm a bit biased towards the oboe.

 

[hereyago]

when she practices the two notes she knows, it sounds like cows are dying in her room, but i guess that's to be expected at this stage. good luck! lol

Note to for myself: buy ear plugs

The flyer from the music store had first 3 month rental 19.99 so I guess that is not bad.

She is excited, so I am excited that she is excited.

 

[nskjerven]

I was a band (geek) played from 4th grade thru sophmore year in high school, DH played too. Our DD 12 is now on her 3rd year of flute and LOVING it.

I agree with the pp advice on choose something unique. Every band needs those to fill themselves out, and sometimes (like with our band) those instruments are available to borrow from the school. That way you can see if she likes it for FREE

Good luck

 

[HunnyPots]

Long-time band mom here!

Rent before you buy!!!
Only about 50% of beginning band students will continue after one year, at least in our district. Looks like a lot of fun, turns out to be a lot of work.

Encourage, encourage, encourage!!! I can't stress that enough! There was a night and day difference between our band students who had active parental support and those who's parents simply allowed it.

It will get tough and at some point in time she will want to quit. Be prepared!

 

[babytrees]

We have multiple instruments in our house (though we have always owned our instruments outright)..you should hear when the girls are practicing different pieces. The euphonium seems to be an easy instrument to pick up (me I sing...that's it) My 8th grader has been playing that for 5 years...we also have a piano-flute-piccollo-lap dulcimer.

Don't harp on rehearsing-I have found that the girls want to rehearse and those kids I've heard parents harping to about rehearsing have dropped instruments like hot potatoes.

 

[LSURyan]

I am a middle school band director. Maybe I can help.

Your director should be able to help your student find the instrument that is right for her. I do not pick percussionists until later in the year as well. There's lots of reasons, but trust me, as a percussionist myself it is the worse instrument to start on. I only allow beginners to start on Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Trumpet and Trombone. Those instruments set the students up for success. Later I'll choose students to have the opportunity to play Tuba, Percussion, French Horn, Euphonium, and percussion. I hand select those students who I feel will be able to handle the responsibility and have the work ethic to play those instruments. DO NOT start on oboe or french horn...terribly difficult instruments...not for beginners!!

I recommend renting the instrument as well.

BTW, If more than half of the first year band students do not sign up for band the second year that's a red flag to me. Something doesn't sound right about that.

Good luck, PM me if you have more questions.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

My 2 kids started in band in 4th grade and both played all the way through college marching band. DS plays trumpet and it is not only for boys. There were more opportunities for him to go into jazz band, etc, than DD who plays clarinet.

 

[HannaBelle]

I am a newbie band mom too...DD11 is "playing" the french horn.

So far, my best advice is bring your check book! We have paid rental fees, activity fees, bought additional supplies, books, a band shirt, the higly recommend (aka your child will be laughed at b/c they wont play well if they do not take them) private lessons and now...guess what! We get to sell high end pens as a fund raiser.

I told my DH that I would prefer to use my complimentary "Walt Disney Resorts" pens...I am going to be heart broken if they run out of ink before we get back to the world! I refuse to pay $16 for something I can get for free.

 

[Shmily1]

Oh, do I miss those days... DS19 was in the middle school and high school band playing the French Horn and the Euphonium (sp?). There is not one day of it that I regret. No matter the cost, he learned more about dealing with people, enjoying life, and making friends in band more than any other time in his school life. I cried so bad at his last concert that his pictures are so blurry all you can see is a blob of him. I didn't cry at all at his graduation. When it would rain at the football games and he was still sitting there, I would be sitting in the rain too. If he didn't have an umbrella, I didn't have one either. I was in the stands when he marched on and left the stands after he left the field so I could see him go out. I'm crying sitting here writing this!

At the schools here, the French Horns are owned by the school and we paid a yearly rental fee (like $100) at the beginning of the season. DD18 played the clarinet for a few years (not really into it like DS was) and we did the rent to own with hers for about $39/ month.

 

[golfgal]

Oh, do I miss those days... DS19 was in the middle school and high school band playing the French Horn and the Euphonium (sp?). There is not one day of it that I regret. No matter the cost, he learned more about dealing with people, enjoying life, and making friends in band more than any other time in his school life. I cried so bad at his last concert that his pictures are so blurry all you can see is a blob of him. I didn't cry at all at his graduation. When it would rain at the football games and he was still sitting there, I would be sitting in the rain too. If he didn't have an umbrella, I didn't have one either. I was in the stands when he marched on and left the stands after he left the field so I could see him go out. I'm crying sitting here writing this!

At the schools here, the French Horns are owned by the school and we paid a yearly rental fee (like $100) at the beginning of the season. DD18 played the clarinet for a few years (not really into it like DS was) and we did the rent to own with hers for about $39/ month.

Our high school has each senior write a mini-bio of their high school years and where they will be going on to school after graduation. ALL of the band kids list something associated with band as their favorite memory in high school. It is very nice to read those and see what just being in the band meant to those kids. I know that our DS17 will write something about his trip to China with the band. What an experience and opportunity for those kids!

 

[Galahad]

To be honest, flute and clarinet are very popular instruments so I would go with something less popular like the trombone or french horn.

Clarinet teacher here. This might be true for younger grades but as they get older, there is a serious shortage of Clarinet players. Not sure why that is - a lot of it is clarinet players changing to Sax.

In either case - I don't think it ought to be an entirely random choice. If they like a brass instrument, go for it. If they like a woodwind, go for that no matter how popular it is unless it really doesn't matter to you whether they give it up early.

 

[jen0610]

DS14 is in his 3rd year of band. When he signed up in 6th, the school had a night where the student and parents came into the school and the kids got to try several different instrument options that the local music store had there. He didn't like any of the brass options, but seeing as he could make good tone on the clarinet, that is what he went with. We are doing a rent to purchase with the music store.

He is super excited for this years class. The school owns several instruments, ones that the kids don't generally choose, and in 8th grade band at the direction of the teacher, they can choose to play one of these instruments. The teacher has asked him to play bass clarinet this year. It'll cost us $20.00 for him to play it all year and the cost of reeds. He can't wait for the first concert.

 

[golfgal]

Clarinet teacher here. This might be true for younger grades but as they get older, there is a serious shortage of Clarinet players. Not sure why that is - a lot of it is clarinet players changing to Sax.

In either case - I don't think it ought to be an entirely random choice. If they like a brass instrument, go for it. If they like a woodwind, go for that no matter how popular it is unless it really doesn't matter to you whether they give it up early.

You can borrow some of the clarinets from our band, there are generally 2 full rows of clarinets in each of the 8 bands at our high school .

 

[Galahad]

You can borrow some of the clarinets from our band, there are generally 2 full rows of clarinets in each of the 8 bands at our high school .

That would be great. You really should have 12-15 clarinets in a band - more if possible.

 

[mckryan]

DD started with flute in 6th grade and played and marched through high school. She's a college freshman this year, and she's marching with the college band. Just encourage her to keep practicing, and she'll do well! Renting is perfect for beginning students!

 

[Shmily1]

Our high school has each senior write a mini-bio of their high school years and where they will be going on to school after graduation. ALL of the band kids list something associated with band as their favorite memory in high school. It is very nice to read those and see what just being in the band meant to those kids. I know that our DS17 will write something about his trip to China with the band. What an experience and opportunity for those kids!

That is awesome!! I totally understand. Our school doees that with a few sentences in the local newspaper. My part from DS was Thank you for always being there for me--even in the rain. That's when I knew I had done it right

 

[mickeyfan1]

My son started band in 6th grade, he started on snare drum. At the end of the year he said it was too boring and he wasn't taking band again. I said sorry son. I spent almost 300 bucks on your drum and you are not quitting. Now at age 32 he has played in several bands, cut 2 CDs, he did a youth orchestra playing tympani, he absolutely loves music. I do know that it didn't come easy to him, he isn't a natural talent. But he worked hard and learned even the musical percussion instruments (xylophone, marimba). I hope your child has a great time in band. I did, my husband did, and my son did.