Welcome to the Noble Middle School Band Program! If you are considering joining band, you are about to begin a very exciting journey. I know this can be a confusing time for new band students and parents. To help answer your questions, please check out the frequently asked questions below.

If you have any questions that are not answered here, please feel free to e-mail me.

• What if my child doesn't know how to play an instrument or read music?
• That's okay. We start from the VERY beginning and learn everything together, from how to open the case properly and assemble the instrument, to how to hold the instrument and make sounds.

• How and when do we get an instrument?
• We will spend the first few days of school learning about the instruments and trying out mouthpieces in order to make an educated decision about what your child will play. Once that decision has been made, I will send home detailed information about how to obtain an instrument. It is up to you whether to purchase an instrument, participate in a "rent-to-own" program through one of our local music stores, or obtain a horn from a friend or relative. If you feel there may be financial difficulty in obtaining an instrument, please communicate this to me individually; a student should not be denied the opportunity to play in band because of financial reasons. If you are thinking about purchasing an instrument outright, please check on recommended brands. You can find instruments for low prices at pawn shops and online, but remember -- you get what you pay for. These instruments are inexpensive initially, but may end up costing you more money on repairs later on. Off-brand instruments are usually made of inferior materials and certified repair technicians won't work on them.

• Is band a year-long class?
• Yes. Learning to play a band instrument is a process that works best when it happens on a continual basis. There are cognitive and physical aspects of learning to be a musician that must be practiced daily throughout the year. If your child decides that band is not for him or her, s/he will have to wait until the end of the semester to have a schedule change. Due to the nature of the class, once a student drops band, it cannot be picked back up the following year or in 8th grade.

• Are there any after-school requirements for my child in band?
• Yes, but only a few. We have an informal performance, a.k.a. an "informance", just for 6th graders and their parents in October. There are two formal concerts during the school year, one in December and one in May. The formal concerts involve all three grade levels, and a specific uniform is worn. Each performance is worth 25% of the final grade for the marking period. Performances are usually less than an hour long.

• Does it cost anything to be in band?
• There is a cost factor to being in band. Just like participating in a sport where your child would need to provide certain items in order to play (cleats, glove, shin guards, etc.), there are supplies necessary for your child's instrument. In addition to the cost of the instrument (if there is any), there are things like valve oil (brass) and reeds (clarinet) that are necessary for the instrument to work properly. The method book costs less than $10 and will be used all year. The band shirt costs $20, but will be worn the entire time in middle school band.

• Can anyone be in band?
• Yes! As long as students begin band in 6th grade, anyone can join. Learning to play an instrument is fun, but it takes committment from the student and the parents. In order for a band student to be successful, it is important for the parents to be supportive of the need to practice, provide time and space for their child to practice, and show an interest in their child's progress. Most of the band grade is based on the student's level of participation in class, which includes effort. Students are expected to practice about 30 minutes each day outside of class.

• What are the instrument choices?
• Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, and Trombone. Students interested in playing Alto Sax should start out on Clarinet. Clarinet is less expensive than Alto Sax, and Alto Sax players that begin on Clarinet tend to have a better tone quality (not to mention the ability to play both instruments!). Per New Hanover County Schools Policy, no sixth grade band student is allowed to start on percussion (drums), even if they have drums at home or have played them at church or other organization. Students must start on one of the instruments listed above, and then participate in percussion auditions after the first semester in order to be considered for the percussion section.