Saint Agnes School - Catholic Elementary School Advanced Band

Catholic Elementary School
Advanced Band
Miss Susan Wells, Director

Catholic Elementary School Band

Activities - News -Events
October 15, 2007

BAND PROGRAM REVISIONS
2007-2008 School Year

On May 25" the principals of Blessed Sacrament, Little Flower, St. Agnes, St. Al.'s, and St. Joseph's met with me to discuss the future of the band program. Below are the revisions made at that meeting.

1. The schedule will be changed to one lesson per week and the tuition will be lowered to $15 per lesson. You will have the option of paying $15 weekly or paying by the month. You do not pay if the student is ill or if there is a family emergency. If I am absent, there is no charge. You must pay for any other lessons missed.

2. All city band will be changed from an evening rehearsal to a 3:30-4:30 rehearsal at St. Agnes Parish hall on Tuesdays. This rehearsal is included in the $15 per week lesson fee.

3. Students will miss a maximum of 30 minutes of class one time a week. The principals will aid me in deciding the best time for their school. Teachers will be directed by the principals to work with this new schedule in a positive way to help the students. As many students as possible will have lessons before or after school. No lessons will be scheduled on Mondays and Fridays as far as possible to avoid school holidays and to allow me time for other work.

4. All tuition will be paid directly to me - NOT ST. AGNES. The schools will no longer provide this service and no longer provide any benefits. If tuition is not paid promptly, the student will not receive lessons until they are paid. Make all checks payable to Susan Wells.

5. I.E.S.A. solos and ensembles contest in March will be offered to students from all schools according to their ability to perform. It needs to be a positive experience for them. Parents will be responsible for the entry fees and for transportation to contest.

6. Performances for the year will include a Christmas concert; Christmas performance at one additional venue such as the mall or Festival of Trees; a spring concert; and a spring mini-tour to participating schools.

7. A field trip will be planned for sometime in May as a reward for those who earn it.

8. Eighth graders who no longer require the lesson time may enroll for only the Tuesday full band rehearsal. The cost is $100 for the year payable at the beginning of the year.

Please review all this information and then decide whether your student will be participating this year. Thank you to all of you who have already responded to me. I strongly urge you to enroll your child so that we can continue to build a good band program for your schools. Remember how important the arts are to their education. Also remember that a student can do both sports and the arts with a little compromise by the adults involved!

Please call me if you have questions. Susan Wells.

BAND INFORMATION

1. The cost for band lessons is $15 payable at each lesson or as one payment at the beginning of each month. Make checks payable to Susan Wells.

2. If a student is absent because of illness or family emergency there is no charge that lesson. If Miss Wells is absent there is no charge for that lesson. No make up lessons will be scheduled. If there is no school on lesson day there is no charge. All other' absences must be paid for.

3. I ask that you make a commitment for one semester minimum. After that if the student needs to withdraw the parent must send me a note or email or call me to notify me so that we can discuss the reasons.

4. Instruments can be rented at any of the local music stores or acquired from people you know. Please make sure the instrument is in good working order. For clarinets you should have at least 5 #2½ reeds. For saxes you should have 5 medium or #2 reeds. Drummers should have size 2B sticks and a snare drum kit. All students should have a Yamaha Advantage Book 1 for their specific instrument. For percussion you may purchase the snare drum book only and not the larger auxiliary percussion book. It is also suggested that you purchase a wire music stand.

5. Students are expected to practice one and a half hours per week preferably a short time each day rather than a long practice period. Try to set a specific schedule for this practice time. It helps!

6. I will communicate with you periodically by email mostly. If you have not filled out a registration form then make sure that I have your email address. Mine is sjessicawells@,yahool.com and my phone number is XXX-XXXX. Feel free to call me with questions but call before 9PM please.

7. The students will play at the band concert at Christmas and in the spring. If they make sufficient progress they will also be included in the mini tour at the end of the year.

8. I appreciate all the support. Let's work together to make this a positive experience for the kids. They are what it's all about!!

9. See the schedule for lesson times.

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