ELCO Middle School Band FAQ
Information for Incoming 6th Graders and Their Parents
Greetings!
ELCO Middle School Band FAQ
The last period of each day is known as enrichment. Full group band and chorus rehearsals take place during this special period. The middle school follows a six day cycle schedule. You would have band rehearsal during enrichment on two of those six days. As a sixth grade band member that would be day two and day five.
2. If I am in the band can I also sing in the chorus and will I have time to study?
Of course, in fact we encourage it. If you choose to be in band and chorus you will have four of your six enrichment periods spoken for. For the other two cycle days, you will be assigned to an enrichment class where you can work on projects, do homework, and visit teachers for help. Yes, you absolutely can be involved in music groups and still have time to get the academic help you need. I can always work with you if you are struggling in a class and need to see a teacher during band time.
3. If I am in the band can I still play sports?
Yes! This is another thing I encourage. I want my students to be well-rounded. Athletics for sixth graders really are not impacted by band at all as they take place after school hours. When a student is in 7th or 8th grade and plays for an ELCO team they still can participate in band. The coaches are great to work with and understand that students can excel in the classroom, in the band room, and on the field.
4. How do band lessons work?
You will have one band lesson each week, nine lessons per quarter. Like in the intermediate school, you will leave class to attend the lessons. Lessons are 20-25 minutes in length so you will still have time to return to your class and get any work you missed. I make every effort to not schedule sixth grade lessons during math and science class. I also try to avoid language arts but with the double period of that class it can sometimes be hard. We have three different lesson schedules: Blue, Gold, and White. We rotate among the three each week. This way you never miss the same class two weeks in a row. This helps to limit the impact on the class you leave your lesson for. The rotating schedule can be confusing at first but most students pick it up pretty quickly. Lesson for sixth graders do not start until the third week of school to help them get used to the middle school and its schedule.
5. I don't own my own instrument and borrowed one from Mr. Swift. What do I do?
As of now you should hold onto your instrument and use it to practice over the summer. Sometime before the start of school or during the first week or two of school we may ask you to bring your instrument in and trade it out for a middle school instrument. Due to Covid-19, we will make sure all school instruments given out to students are throughly cleaned and sanitized. We will also practice healthy habits with our instruments when we return to the school building.
6. Do I have to practice?
Yep! Although I have some ways to make that fun for you. Just you wait.
7. I'm not sure I want to keep playing in the band. What should I do?
I strongly encourage you to make a commitment to playing in the ELCO Middle School Band. However, I know that sometimes things happen and minds get changed. We all walk different paths and yours may take you away from your instrument. We ask that students who start the school year play through the Holiday concert in December. If you decide it isn't for you, you can stop at this point. If you want to continue past the holiday concert you will have the opportunity to stop at the end of your sixth grade school year or continue on to 7th grade band. Try it, I know you will like it!!!
ELCO MS Band Opportunities and Benefits
- Participate in our awesome holiday and spring concerts.
- Be a member of the ELCO Middle School Pops band. This special band meets one day after school each week and is made up of mostly 7th and 8th graders but also sixth graders who work really hard and know their stuff. We play music you hear in movies, television, radio, video games, and jazz music. This past year we were working on music from The Avengers, Disney movies, Crocodile Rock by Sir Elton John, and the song Shallow from the movie, A Star is Born. Each year the Pops Band travels to the Intermediate School to play a concert. You might remember that from last year. We were looking forward to doing that again this year until we had to leave school.
- Trips to play outside of school.
- Fun activities in band such as music games, band escape rooms, lame jokes by Mr. DeVore and much, much more.
- Epic games of band kickball and capture the flag.
- Year end celebration parties.
- Again, the opportunity to be a part of something. We have so much fun and learn so much. It really is like a family. Your band classmates will be some of your best friends.
Come Zoom With Me
To attend the meeting you will need to have Zoom downloaded on your device. Click the link for the meeting you wish to attend on or near the time for the meeting to start. Enter the password when prompted. You will be placed in a waiting room and I will admit you to the main meeting room. Please have your mic muted unless you want to ask a question. You can turn video on or off at your own discretion. If possible please have the name on your Zoom screen be that of your child’s so I know which students are present.
Meeting 1: Tuesday, June 2nd 2:00pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89255822389?pwd=enh2UGZIL0RvS0ZIZTBEWkNyU2VpUT09
Password: 4KAsnV
Meeting 2: Tuesday, June 2nd 7:00pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81746745935?pwd=WGJNSmwwVVFpTThUMGRGT0w2RENaZz09
Password: 7iYssL
ELCO Middle School Band
Email: cdvevore@elcosd.org
Location: 60 Evergreen Drive, Myerstown, PA, USA
Phone: 717-866-6591