kids starting band...

[mykidsand_i]

OK, next year my dd will be in 4th grade and has the option to take band. She's very excited. I am too, because she's very musical and loves everything about it.

I just found out that in order to start band in 4th grade, they need to have had at least 1 year of piano. Is that normal? My DD has just started piano, so it's no big deal for us really, but I'm wondering if that's normal?

A lot of people are upset about it if they want their kids in band. Isn't that kind of what the beginning of 'starting band' is all about? Learning musical notes, rythms, beats??? At least that is what I remember. I started band in 6th grade and the first month we didn't even touch our instruments.

These 4th graders have a band class all together- not with more advanced or older grades.

I'm not really MAD about it, just confused. It almost looks like the band teachers here are starting to get lazy. I mean, SURE- it's great for kids to know notes, rythms and things when they START- it gives them an advantage...BUT TO MAKE IT REQUIRED???

Maybe I'm just not 'in with the times' I guess. I'm just interested to see how it's done elsewhere.

 

[monsterkitty]

I take anyone in my band classes, regardless of past experience. In fact, of the 100 or so beginners I get this year I will have maybe 5 kids who have taken piano lessons.

So, to answer your question, I do not think this is common at all. However, if she wants to play percussion, oboe, or French horn, many teachers do require either previous piano lessons or experience on another instrument. I don't but other do.

 

[scrapquitler]

When my DD was in elementary school, they were able to take an instrument starting in 4th grade, and they were allowed to join 'band' in 5th grade. But in our situation, 4th grade was just lessons once a week, and in 5th, lessons once a week, plus "band" which meant that everyone who took an instrument lesson got an extra practice on Friday afternoons. So probably not the same as what you are saying...but it sounds like they just want the kids in 'band' at your school to have some previous experience. Lessons first, then band. Makes sense to me.

 

[dejr_8]

I take anyone in my band classes, regardless of past experience. In fact, of the 100 or so beginners I get this year I will have maybe 5 kids who have taken piano lessons.

So, to answer your question, I do not think this is common at all. However, if she wants to play percussion, oboe, or French horn, many teachers do require either previous piano lessons or experience on another instrument. I don't but other do.

My son is starting band this year in 6th grade. No requirement for piano lessons.

 

[momof1princess]

my DD12 started band last year in 6th grade, and there were no previous piano lessons required. her BFF is starting this year, in 7th grade, and has no previous musical experience either.

on a side note, DD came home WITHOUT her clarinet today, saying someone else must've picked up her case by mistake and taken it home. OMG i'm SO freaked out! i'm responsible for that thing, and there's NO id on it (the name tag broke off the case last year). it does, however, have a distinctive repair from about a month ago, so hopefully, if the other student doesn't realize their mistake, DD can examine it and prove its hers by explaining the repair.

 

[luvthatdisney]

I work in a public middle school. Our band program starts in the 6th grade and there are no requirements, except the desire to learn. I could see if there was an abundance of kids wanting to participate that there may to be some restrictions applied, but I have never seen it.

Both of my kids (now 16 and 20) played in the middle school band, but had no desire to play the piano (then or now). I think it was a good experience for them - I do think one got more out of it than the other

 

[marcyinPA]

Both of my boys started a band instrument in 4th grade. Neither of them had piano lessons prior. Not a requirement here.

 

[yellowlabforever]

Nope, not a requirement here. We couldn't start band until 5th grade, and it is just basic band. The basic note-reading music is taught by our elementary music teacher around 3-4th grade, and she had us play on various sizes of bells. It was fun and we were learning notes for band (It wasn't a requirement for band though).

 

[Chelley00]

Wow. I think that's unfair. What happens with kids who have parents that can't afford piano lessons?

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm guessing that band is for 5th and 6th graders, but are making exceptions for 4th graders. If this isn't a new policy, I'm sure people have been complaining for years now. I don't see a problem with it (and my kids don't take piano lessons).

 

[Anne34]

Our band also starts in 4th grade. We don't have any requirements for piano lessons prior.

 

[golfgal]

The only piano requirement I have ever heard of is requiring kids that want to take percussion to have had at least one year of piano but never for EVERY instrument. That is one sure way to make sure no one takes band I guess . Is this something you heard from the band teacher or through a rumor? If it is rumor I bet it is for percussion.

 

[Allison]

In our area, the piano lessons are only required for kids who want to play percussion.

 

[AristocatFan]

I have 3 kids in band; sax, percussion and flute. They all started at 6th grade with no requirements and they also were never required to take lessons. Not even my drummer who has taught himself piano.

 

[stm61]

band starts in 6th grade here, no piano requirement. The have band as an elective, every day, for the entire school year. They can also choose to start band in 7th grade, but I don't think beginning band is available after 7th.

 

[ajk912]

Here band starts in 6th grade BUT all kids have a beginning understanding of music from playing the recorder for two years prior (in music class at the elementary school).

 

[dznyscrapper]

No piano requirement here, either. They start in 5th gr here. At the end of 4th gr, the band director goes around the the rooms and lets the kids try out with the different instruments. The next week he comes back & tells them if they made it into band or not. Unfortunately my dd is one that did not get into band. She was quite upset because she was really looking forward to joining band.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Is this a new music teacher who recently graduated from college? When DS was in college, majoring in music, ALL music majors had to take a full year of piano lessons, including music ed majors. Perhaps the music teacher needs to be reminded who he's dealing with, young children being introduced to music, who'll hopefull learn to enjoy it, not college music majors. Or from a former math teacher's viewpoint-at this age, they're arithmetic, not calculus.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

In our school system band starts in 4th grade with no piano requirement. Band is voluntary but everyone takes recorder in third grade.

 

[jme829]

In our area, the piano lessons are only required for kids who want to play percussion.

Yep ,here too. Our kids start in 4th grade with an orchestra instrument only. They don't have to sign up, but if they do they are required to stick with it until January, then they can quit or continue.

They can switch to band in 6th grade , but need the piano if they choose a percussion instrument and then there is still no guarantee they get to play percussion. I think they only take 10 per year. They can also stick with orchestra, sign up for choir .

DS is starting 4th grade playing cello. DD11 is heading to middle school and has played violin the last 2 years and is sticking with that and also choir this year.

DD17 has never done any music program.