Harpeth Middle School Band!
6th, 7th, and 8th
Weekly Newsletter for the week of September 20th!
I wanted to take the opportunity to advocate for music education. I have been teaching band for eleven years and it is literally the best job I have ever had. The opportunity to teach music and to share my passion for music is always a gift for me everyday I wake up. If you, the parent, had the opportunity to learn music or were apart of the band during your school years, please share your experiences to your child or to me! I want to promote the history and pride of Harpeth Middle School Band to everyone in our community! Here are eleven interesting facts about music education:
1. Music improves memory. Even when students are playing while following sheet music, students are constantly using memory skills to perform. Memorization is a skill that will serve you for the rest of your life.
2. Music helps develop language and reasoning skills. The area of your brain that deals with language and reason also deals with music, actively using that part of the brain keeps your skills sharp. The left side of the brain is better developed with regular musical training when you are young.
3. Increased coordination. Music is like sports in that it can improve hand eye coordination. Music and sports both help children develop their small motor skills when they are playing.
4. Students develop higher standards in their work. Learning music requires practice, it promotes craftsmanship. Students strive to create great work instead of mediocre work. This is a work ethic that can be used in every area of study.
5. Music students learn self discipline. Kids who master a musical instrument learn valuable lessons in discipline. Every day time must be set aside for practice and learning or creating new music. Kids must exercise self discipline to master their instrument.
6. Kids are engaged in their education. If kids like music and they are getting music classes in school they are engaged in their education. Student who like music are far more likely in to stay in school, and they achieve success in other subjects.
7. Students have better SAT scores. Studies have shown that students who have a musical education score higher on the SATs. Some reports indicate the scores are as much as 63 points on the verbal portion and up to 44 points higher on the math portion.
8. Music builds teamwork. It is not just sports that teach children the value of teamwork, music does as well. Kids who perform in orchestras or bands need to work together for musical performances. They learn the value of working together and build camaraderie and friendships along the way.
9. A strong sense of accomplishment. Learning to master a new piece of music is a difficult but achievable goal. Even the smallest piece of music leaves a student proud of their accomplishments.
10. Music develops creative thinking. Children with a background in the arts learn to think creatively. This is a life skill that can help in every aspect of your life, solving problems without visible solutions and the prospect of more than one answer.
11. Music develops a child’s imagination and intellectual curiosity. Teaching children music while they are young helps create a positive attitude towards learning. Children become curious about learning new music and this is adapted to learning other skills as well.
Learning music is not a waste, but a gifted opportunity. Let's build on your child's work ethic that they can share to other students why they enjoy learning music.
Thank you for reading
Christopher Vaughn
Here at Harpeth Middle School, we encourage our 6th grade beginning students to have the option to rent their instruments from our local music store called Bandwagon. In early years, 6th grade beginning band students would have the opportunity to meet Bandwagon at our band parent meeting after school, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have to make adaptations. I highly recommend Bandwagon for our child to rent their instrument from. If it is not possible, we will try to find a school instrument, but they are limited to the number of students we have in our band program. If you have any questions about getting an instruments, please don't hesitate to call Mr. Vaughn at 731.487.2677 or by email, chris.vaughn@ccstn.org. Below is information about the Bandwagon Rental Program.
Renting with Bandwagon
We are proud to offer brand-new Yamaha instruments for rental. These instruments are high-quality, long-lasting, and the perfect beginner instrument.
Our rentals are on a month-to-month contract with a three-year rent-to-own option. You are able to return the instrument at anytime to cancel your contract but if you continue to rent for 36 months, you become the owner!
All rentals are have a monthly maintenance fee which covers any issues (except extreme personal neglect or intentional damage) that may arise. All repairs are done in-house with priority given to rental instruments, so you'll have your instrument back in hand quickly, usually while you wait.
Another fantastic advantage of renting with Bandwagon Music & Repair is our industry leading early payoff option. If at any point in your rental past the first three months, you may choose to purchase the instrument at only 50% of what is remaining in your 36-month rent-to-own term.
All instrument rentals come with the instrument, mouthpiece, hard plastic case and ID tag. We highly suggest that you purchase a care kit which contains all the cleaning supplies to go along with your instrument. You will also need whichever method book is requested by your director.
Lastly, all rental customers receive a 10% discount on purchases in the store. This includes all of your supplies and new and used instruments.
We have worked hard to bring you the best value in rental instruments. If you have any additional questions before renting, don't hesitate to reach out by phone (615-721-2263), email (info@bandwagonmusicandrepair.com), or even Facebook messenger (bandwagonmusicandrepair).
Thanks for allowing us to be part of your musical journey!
HMS Band Pictures of the Week!!
Congrats to our Athletic Band Students!
Sarah Collier - Volleyball
Kensley Gipson - Soccer
Mylea Hall - Soccer
Kira Burns - Soccer
Congrats!!!
Future Band Student Spotlight
We are doing our HMS Band Students Spotlight! On Schoology, we want our students to send a picture with their instrument so we can showcase them! The Student Spotlight will be broadcast on Wednesday!
Keep on the lookout parents!
Schedule for week of September 20th
Here is what the HMS Band will be working on this week plus ANNOUNCEMENTS!!
HMS Band Students.....Let's learn those beautiful scales! 7th Grade Band will be focusing on the Bb Scale this week! I am excited about this scale because we have learned the scale in March. We have to remind ourselves the fingerings and notes.
8th Grade Band.....Let's keep working on that Star Spangled Banner! We are learning the Star Spangled Banner, BUT this version is different from the one we performed last year. Please 8th Graders, look all the notes including the middle part of the Star Spangled Banner.
6th Graders....Lets focus on Articulation! We will be working on the even numbers of #1-10 in our Essential Element Book. Reminder....who can figure out what #14 is in the book? What is that tune?
After School Lessons are available this week! Here is the sign up for the lessons this week
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e4ba4a92aaafd0-private2
6th Grade Band
Monday - Reviewing Treble Clef/Bass Clef Notation/Testing for InstrumentsTuesday - Reading Rhythmic Notation (i.e. quarter notes, whole notes)
Wednesday - Boom Learning Quiz Notation
Thursday - Essential Elements #1-10
Friday - Essential Elements #1-10
7th Grade Band
Monday - Focus on Bb Scale/Essential Elements Orange Belt Studies/Rhythmic/Star Spangled BannerNotation/Schnibbles Duets #1-10
Tuesday - Same as Monday
Wednesday - Boom Learning Musical Quiz as a group
Thursday - Same as Monday
Friday - Same as Monday
8th Grade Band
Monday - Focus on Eb and Ab Scale/Essential Elements Book 2 #1-10/Rhythmic Studies #1-10/Scnibbles Duets #1-10/Sightreading Timber/Star Spangled BannerTuesday - Same as Monday
Wednesday - Boom Learning Musical Quiz as a Group
Thursday - Same as Monday
Friday - Same as Monday
Cheatham County School District Updates
Beginning Monday, Sept. 28, students in grades 5-6 at Cheatham Middle School, Harpeth Middle School and Sycamore Middle School will return to the traditional schedule (in-person learning five days a week).
This means the hybrid schedule (a combination of both in-person and virtual learning) will no longer be available for students in grades 5-6.
Students in grades 7-8 will remain on the hybrid schedule.
This decision will allow our middle schools to navigate the logistics of eventually bringing all students back into the building for in-person learning.
Students in grades 5-6 who are currently all-virtual may continue as all-virtual.
As students in grades 5-6 return to the classroom, we will continue daily monitoring of data in hopes of reinstating the remaining middle school students as well as high school students to in-person learning after fall break.
As a reminder to our families, we have ordered laptops for students in grades 5-6. We are in constant communication with our vendor about our receipt of the devices and it is still to be determined when they will be delivered. Once they are received, they will be distributed to the students.
If we experience cases of COVID-19, we will contact trace and quarantine based on Tennessee Department of Health guidelines. We will continue to respond as quickly as possible so that we can minimize the spread and keep students in school for as long as possible.
Additionally, you can help us out by not sending your student to school if they are sick.
Please remind your students of the following mitigation strategies so that we can help to maintain a safe environment for all:
● Continued adherence to our mask requirement
● Daily screenings, including temperature checks
● Social distancing as much as possible
● Strategic movement of students
● Frequent hand-washing and hand sanitizing
● Cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces throughout the day
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we move closer to having all students at school while also navigating the COVID-19 situation.
Assignments and Messaging on Schoology
Assignments will be through Schoology this year. If students need to contact Mr. Vaughn, they can do that through schoology. Also, we are using Conferences on Schoology for our Virtual Learners. If you have any questions, please contact the HMS Tech Department to help you.
Thank you
Virtual Band vs. In Person Band
So how do we have band working this year???
First I would like to say welcome back to Harpeth Middle School. With the ongoing situations we are in, we are doing our best as teachers to accommodate our classroom and resources for making everything safe and under the county guidelines in procedure. As you know Band is a different class comparing to a Math or core curriculum subject, so there are a few new steps that we need to take! If you read below, I will post the HMS Band Covid-19 Mitigation Plan where you can read the steps we are taking in our band program.
Band is a hands on experience, that's a fact. Learning an instrument takes alot of work and patience where the teacher needs to guide the student to be successful. Band is definitely in our curriculum at HMS and I am creating the resources to make sure that your child still have a great Band Experience at any needs possible. If you are a hybrid student, you will be attending school two days a week, but if you are a virtual student, you will be remote and listening/learning from your own area of comfort. For all of our students, we have made the accommodations for band to continue in our class through playing assignments, online assessment, discussion board questions, etc. Schoology is the county platform all teachers are using so my assignments will be posted there. The assignments are still for a grade and I will be communicating with students via Schoology.
Attendance is highly required for students in band (virtual or hybrid). Even though band is hands on with playing instruments, there will be times where I will be lecturing about music theory or have important announcements. For virtual students, attending band could be a matter of 10 minutes or 45 minutes. I will communicate with students about the agenda on band if it is required to attend or not. For virtual students, if you read below, there is a great opportunity for you to have one on one lessons with Mr. Vaughn that you can schedule.
We are all new to this platform and circumstances we are in, but as your band director, I will do my best to help parents and students feel comfortable in our classroom. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me by email or phone.
Thank you
Christopher Vaughn
Director of Bands
Harpeth Middle School
731.487.2677
Upcoming Calendar of Events
2020-2021
August 13th, 2020………………First Day of School
September Fundraiser……………….TBD
October 12th-16th, 2020……………Fall Break
HMS Band Veteran’s Day Concert Livestreamed………..TBD
November 4th-19th, 2020…………………Butter Braid Fundraiser
November 25th-27th, 2020………….Thanksgiving Break
HMS Band Holiday Concert (Live Streamed)……………..TBD
December 18th- January 4th, 2020…………Winter Break
March 22nd-26th, 2020……..Spring Break
HMS Band Spring Concert……….TBD
May 26th, 2020………….Last Day for Students
Your Band Directors
Mr. Chris Vaughn
Mr. Noah Taggart
Signing up for One-on-One Lessons
I am taking the opportunity for your student to sign up for one on one lessons with Mr. Vaughn. Doing band virtually can have their pros and cons, but I would like to give you the best experience a student can have WHILE at a safe distance and virtually. So how will these lessons look for my child?
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e4ba4a92aaafd0-private2
The link above is a page called Signup Genius where you can reserve a lesson time with Mr. Vaughn. Lessons will be 30 minutes. Lessons will take place outside at HMS. I understand that your choice for doing virtual and the sake of safety for your student is the upmost important factor for you, so if we did lessons they will be outside in the front parking lot. Mr. Vaughn will provide a stand and chair. Mr. Vaughn will be 6ft apart from your child and will have a mask/gloves equipped. Lesson times are Monday through Thursday 3:30pm to 7:00pm. I care for all of our students in our program and I want to do the very best as a teacher to give them the proper instruction to become better on their instrument and as a person. If you have any questions or concerns about the Private Lessons, please do not hesitate to contact me.
The Socially Distant HMS Band Room
HMS Covid-19 Plan
Here is a look of our band room that goes with our CCSD Guidelines for Covid 19. Students are spaced 6ft apart in our classroom and we have tape that signifies placement for stands and chairs. The green boxes will be areas where students will release their water from their instrument. All students will be assigned a chair/stand number and brass players will have microfiber towels for their water. Below is the HMS Band plan:
Mr. Vaughn believes it is essential to the physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being of HMS Band students across the school that they will have the opportunity to have music instruction. The Covid-19 pandemic created challenges and opportunities that were unforeseen when the 2019-2020. As we develop plans for the new school year, the health, safety, and security of our students, faculty, and staff is the predominant consideration. As a result, we are faced with preliminary procedures to continue the use of band in the classroom.
· The study and test among researchers is that the aerosol dispersed in the air when playing an instrument is the same or less when people are talking in a normal volume. This is because the aerosols emitted from the musician are still contained in the musical instrument. Social Distance is the preferred option to minimize the effect of aerosols. Currently that distance is 6ft by 6ft foot space around each student with the student sitting in the center. We will be in straight lines in the band room to enhance the use of social distancing.
· Trombones should have an additional three feet of distancing making their space 9x6. The player should be seated three feet in front of the back line, leaving an additional six feet in front of them to the extended nature of the instrument and slide that can be in extended position.
· Bell covers are highly recommended as “masks” for the instruments. Bell covers will be made of multi-layered high denier nylon material and provide a barrier for aerosols. Each student in the band program will be assigned a bell cover for their instrument.
· Masks/Face Shields should be worn by all students prior to entering the band room. Each student in the HMS Band will be assigned a face shield provided by the band. The masks/face shields will stay in the band room in their storage locker. Masks should continue to be worn until all students are seated and ready for instruction.
· Brass Players…..Spit valves will be emptied on a microfiber cloth provided by the HMS Band. At the beginning of class, brass players will pick up their microfiber cloth to use for dispersing water from their instrument. At the conclusion of class, students will move their towels to a sanitized area to be cleaned.
· Students will be assigned a chair/stand number for the year and will be responsible (as well as the teacher) to clean their area.
· When students need repairs, Mr. Vaughn will be wearing gloves and mask to keep the instrument clean and sanitize.
· Woodwind players…..Reeds are not to be shared or loaned to! Students are responsible for their own reeds in the classroom. Mr. Vaughn will be selling reeds in the classroom or you can go to our local vendor Bandwagon.
· Percussionists are required to purchase their own personal snare drum sticks. Vic Firth 2B sticks are the most common to have. Mallets will be assigned to percussionists from the band room. Percussionists will not rotate from instrument in the classroom. They will be assigned to their particular instrument the entire class period.
HMS Band Website!!
Woodwind Reeds!!
Students who play instruments that require reeds should have 3 good reeds with them at all times. If your student is running low on reeds, please contact Bandwagon Music to order a box (clarinets and saxes) or individual reeds (bassoon and oboe). Brand and strength of reeds are listed below for your convenience:
Clarinet (6th grade)
Vandoren 2 1/2
Clarinet (7th and 8th grades)
Vandoren 3
Bass Clarinet
Vandoren 2 1/2
Alto Sax (all grades)
Vandoren 2 1/2
(7th and 8th grades may use strength 3 if desired)
Tenor Sax (all grades)
Vandoren 2 1/2
Bari Saxes (all grades)
Vandoren 2 1/2
Oboe (6th grade)
Lescher medium soft
Oboe (7th and 8th grades)
Lescher medium
Bassoon (6th grade)
Danzi medium soft
Bassoon (7th and 8th grades)
Danzi medium
Bandwagon Phone Number 615.721.2263
Bandwagon Website
Music Instrument Donations!
The value of the arts in education is something that the Harpeth Middle School Band Program takes very seriously. The district feels that every child deserves the chance to play a musical instrument. Studies have shown that it makes kids smarter, improves the quality of their education, and helps to teach them the skills necessary for success later in life.
In times when instrumental music programs are shrinking and being threatened due to budget constraints, the program at Harpeth striving. Students are enjoying the positive educational benefits of playing in the band. Participation is at an all time high and the programs continue to grow exponentially each year.
This unprecedented success also has its challenges. Acquiring instruments for eleven schools during these tough economic times is difficult. Not all students can afford to rent or buy an instrument and our inventory in the district is quickly shrinking with additional participation. Help keep music alive for everyone in our schools and consider donating an instrument for our students!
Perhaps you have a saxophone or trumpet in your attic that hasn’t been used in awhile. Maybe you know someone who has a violin gathering dust. If you have an instrument that we could put to use, please click on the attached form from the email and fill out the required information to schedule a drop off of the instrument.
I will send you a thank you letter documenting your donation and you will be giving the gift of music to a deserving student. Playing in the band or orchestra may have shaped who you are today. Please help us allow our students to have that same experience.