5th Grade Band Notes
Mr. Meyer's Monthly Update for Schiesher Band News
Lessons Are In Full Swing!
This month's newsletter includes some helpful practice suggestions for home, information about after-school rehearsals starting in November, and some exciting upcoming concerts you may want to attend! Just a reminder that www.lisleband.com is a helpful resource for your student and for you!
Practice Tips
Consistent, frequent, and deliberate practice is the key to your student's success in this first year of band! Simply put, if they do not practice, they will not really get better. One 30-minute small group lesson each week is an incredibly short amount of time, and it is imperative that your student take the exercises, tools, and techniques I give them in their lessons and apply them at home.
My expectation is that students practice for 15 -20 minutes 5 days per week. Doing much more than that isn't necessary for beginners (but don't discourage them if they're eager to play more!); doing much less than that won't be enough for them to see much improvement. Here are a few helpful tips about practicing at home that will make a huge difference in supporting your student's progress!
- Frequency is far more important than duration. It is better for your student to practice 15 minutes each day for 5 days than to practice once for an hour the night before their lesson. Technique, strength, and retention are built up in small, steady doses over time.
- Establish a regularly scheduled time for your child's practice. First thing when they get home from school, immediately before/after dinner (make sure they brush their teeth before playing!), or as part of usual "homework time" can all work well. Having that routine increases the likelihood that practicing will happen.
- Consider setting aside a corner of your home as a "Practice Space." Make sure it has a sturdy chair, and leave their music stand set up with a pencil on it. Also, make sure it is free of distractions (TV, phone, siblings, etc.). The more convenient and special practicing is, the easier it is for them to be motivated to put in the work.
- Though your student's playing may be a little rough on the ears, especially at the start, don't send them out to the garage or put them in a closet to practice. It communicates a message that they don't want to be heard. If they're somewhere more visible, they'll feel more supported (and you can keep an eye on their focus too!).
- Ask your child to perform for you often! They will love getting to show their work, and it communicates your investment.
The following video offers some great additional suggestions and visuals to guide you and your students.
NEW! October Lesson Calendar
After-School Band Rehearsals Start Tuesday, November 6th!
After the rehearsals, two 5th Grade Band buses will take students to appropriate neighborhood bus stops. If your child goes somewhere other than your home address after school (after-school care at Schiesher, grandparents' house, etc.), please email me at pmeyer2@lisle202.org and let me know as soon as possible so I can set up an appropriate route.
You are also welcome to pick up your student from LHS after rehearsals. Since the bus routes are relatively large, this option will provide your student a bit of a faster trip home.
These rehearsals are incredibly important to each student's musical development as playing in a full band is a significantly different experience than a small group lesson. Students are required to be at all rehearsals.
Starting in November, your student will need to begin bringing his/her instrument every Tuesday in addition to his/her usual lesson day. I'll send out an email reminder the week before about after-school rehearsals, but if you have any questions, please contact me!
The St. Olaf Band On Tour!
The two nearest performances are:
Tuesday, October 16th
7:30pm
Blizzard Theater - Elgin Community College Art Center, Elgin
Thursday, October 18th
7:00pm
DeKalb High School, DeKalb
The evening will be well worth the drive. More information and tickets are available here. I cannot recommend these performances enough.
Upcoming Lisle Performances
Benedictine University Football Stadium
The LHS Marching Band performs their final Pixar-themed halftime routine of the football season!
Wednesday, October 24th - 7:30pm
Lisle High School Auditorium
6th Grade Concert Band and Lisle High School Band Fall Concert