Riverside Unified School District
Elementary Music
Band Information Packet
1.
Enrolling in Band
Band is open to any fifth- or sixth-grade student. Students must return to their band director a completed enrollment
form (signed by a parent or guardian) in order to attend band class. Students need to have their instruments and books
on the first day of band class. If this is not possible, please contact your child’s music teacher.
2. Instruments Offered
Instruction in the following instruments is offered at all elementary schools:
Flute ● Clarinet ● Alto Saxophone ● Trumpet ● Trombone
Most elementary schools do not offer instruction in percussion (drums). Instruction will not be provided in band for
piano, guitar, recorder, accordion, keyboard, or violin. A strings program (violin, viola and cello) is available at
selected schools and district transfers may be requested. For additional information, please contact your child’s music
teacher.
3. Choosing an Instrument
These guidelines are intended to help you and your child make an informed decision when choosing an instrument.
Your child is more likely to be successful learning the instrument he/she really wants to play. Braces on students' teeth
should not pose a problem when playing any instrument. All of the instruments are appropriate for either boys or girls.
Flute
 Patience is important when learning to play the flute.
 Good hand-eye coordination is essential.
Clarinet/Saxophone
 Good hand-eye coordination and a good sense of pitch are helpful.
Trumpet/Trombone
 These are great instruments for just about everyone.
 A good sense of pitch is helpful.
4. Finding an Instrument/ Cost
Most families choose to rent or purchase an instrument from a local music store (see the yellow pages or do an internet
search for a list of music stores and their locations). Some stores have “rent-to-own” programs in which part (or all) of
the monthly rental fee is applied toward the purchase price. There are also several reputable online retailers that sell
musical instruments. Monthly rental prices for flutes, clarinets, trumpets, and trombones range from $20 to $30 per
month. Saxophones range from $40 to $60 per month. Purchase prices vary by retailer, but can range from as low as
$150 to $500 for a good used instrument to $500 or more for a new, student-model instrument. There are also occasional
incidental costs for supplies such as reeds, cork grease, valve oil, etc. Please contact your child’s music teacher if you
have further questions.
5. Selecting a Good Quality Instrument
The following is a list of brands that have performed consistently and maintained their quality over the years for
students and teachers: Yamaha, Selmer, Bundy, Conn, Artley, Armstrong, Gemeinhardt, Bach, Holton, Jupiter,
Buffet, Vito, Eastman, Emerson, King, and Leblanc. There are both high and low quality brands of instruments
available at music stores and pawnshops. It is recommended that you rent an instrument from a store that specializes in
musical instruments and instrument repair.
A quality brand will last for many years and is made of better materials with better workmanship. Less frequent repairs
will be necessary if the instrument is properly cared for. Unfortunately, there are many poor-quality instruments on the
market. They are much cheaper to rent (or even buy), but often are in need of repair immediately. Many repairmen
won’t even attempt to fix these brands, as they are of such poor quality. Please contact your child’s music teacher if you
have further questions.
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6. Equipment
The following equipment is required for the care, cleaning and performance of each instrument. An inexpensive music
stand is highly recommended for home practice. Students need to have a three-ring binder for their music sheets.
Flute
Soft, 8-inch-square swab for cleaning instrument
made of thin material such as knit cotton
Cleaning rod
Method Book
Clarinet
Cork Grease
Four (4) Reeds
Clarinet Swab
Method Book
Alto Saxophone
Cork Grease
Four (4) Reeds
Saxophone Swab
Method Book
Trumpet
Valve Oil
Tuning Slide Grease
Mouthpiece Brush
Polishing cloth
Method Book
Trombone
Slide Oil
Tuning Slide Grease
Mouthpiece Brush
Polishing cloth
Method Book
Percussion
Please see your child’s band director
7. Method Book
In addition to an instrument, all students are required to have their own band method book, which costs approximately
$10.00 and is available at most local music stores. Students should have this at their first class meeting. Method books
are specific to each instrument (a book for flutes, a book for clarinets, etc.). Your child will be using one of the
following books (the correct choice is marked):
□
Accent on Achievement, Book 1
□ Tradition of Excellence, Book 1
□
Standard of Excellence, Book 1
8. Band Schedule
Band generally begins in October. Elementary band meets twice a week for thirty minutes each session. Students are
pulled out of their regular classes and are expected to make up all work missed during the band time. Your child’s
classroom teacher will receive a schedule from the school band director as soon as it is available.
9. Attendance
Students enrolled in band are required to attend all band classes throughout the school year. Please make sure that your
child brings his/her instrument and method book to school on days when band is held.
10. Performances
Students in band give at least one evening performance during the school year. Your child’s band director will send
home detailed information before all performances.
11. Homework: Practice at Home
It is expected that a regular practice routine will be set up. Fifteen minutes daily or thirty minutes every other day is
recommended.
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12. Music Standards
The Riverside Unified School District offers an elementary band instructional program that is based on the California
State Content Standards for Music Education. Content standards were designed to encourage the highest achievement
for every student by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level. The
elementary instrumental music teachers chose standards from the state list that are appropriate for our program and that
will provide each participating student with a solid musical foundation. The goal of the program is that participating
students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
Read, write, and perform simple rhythmic patterns, using, eighth notes, quarter notes, half notes, dotted
half notes, whole notes, and rests.
Describe music according to its elements, using the terminology of music.
Read, write, and perform simple melodic notation in treble clef in major and minor keys.
13. Grading and Report Cards
Your child will receive a report card for each full trimester he/she is enrolled in band (beginners will not receive a firsttrimester report card). Report card marks are based on your child’s individual performance on his/her instrument and
on his/her scores on short, standards-based written trimester assessments.
14. Music Teacher
Your child’s music teacher is:
 Mr. Andrew Jones
ajones@rusd.k12.ca.us
(951) 788-7388 x56049




Mr. Chris Watts
cwatts@rusd.k12.ca.us
(951) 788-7282 x51023
Mrs. Pamela Jones
pjones@rusd.k12.ca.us
(951) 788-7388 x56013

Mrs. Gail Watts
gwatts@rusd.k12.ca.us
(951) 687-4380 x52022
Mrs. Janet Terry
jterry@rusd.k12.ca.us
(951) 788-7501 x55057

Mrs. Jennifer Jackson
jnjackson@rusd.k12.ca.us
(951) 788-7350 x54050
Mrs. Susan Olsen
seolsen@rusd.k12.ca.us
(951) 789-8181 x57072
If you have any questions about the Riverside Unified School District’s instrumental music program, please contact
your child’s music teacher.
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