King, Keller, Martinez, and Scott Elementary School Bands
Band is EDUCATIONAL!
Band is IMPORTANT!!
Band is FUN!!!
Dear Parents:
As your child begins 5th grade, he or she has an exciting opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument in
BAND.
DID YOU KNOW…
 UCLA tracked 25,000 students over ten years with U.S. Department of Education data and discovered
that students in band consistently outperformed non-musical peers on achievement tests regardless of
socioeconomic groups.
 A 2009 Florida Department of Education study found that the more school music classes taken, the
higher the student achievement in all measures regardless of socioeconomic level or ethnicity and the
less likely a student is to drop out of school.
 Students in band consistently perform better on college entrance exams, especially in the areas of Math
and Science.
 Research reveals strong correlations between quality music education in school and academic
achievement, healthy social development, preparation for the 21st century workplace, and the quality of
a young person’s life.
BAND PROGRAM
 Classes meet two days per week.
 Students will need to have their instrument, books, and materials at each class.
 Students should practice 15-20 minutes 5-6 times per week.
 Students are expected to make a commitment for the entire year and are expected to keep up will ALL
missed classroom assignments.
 Students are required to perform at the scheduled school concerts (day and evening). Concerts are
equivalent to final exams. Students who do not participate in these concerts will receive a lower grade.
The only excuses permitted are sudden illness and family emergency.
The Concert Dates are:
Keller: Dec 16 and May 12,
Martinez: Dec. 5 and May 8,
King: Nov. 21, and May 13,
Scott: Dec. 10, and May 6,
INSTRUMENT SELECTION NIGHT: Martinez Elementary Gym, Thursday, Aug. 22, 4:00-7:30pm
Before a student enrolls in BAND, Mrs. Kincaid, or one of her colleagues that assist with the instrument
selection process must interview him or her. They will help each student choose an appropriate instrument
based on the student’s aptitude, preference, physical development, background and the availability of that type
of instrument, while trying to maintain an appropriate balance of instruments within the BAND.
Mrs. Kincaid will be available for the instrument selection process at Martinez Elementary Gym on Thursday,
August 22, 2013 between 4:00-7:30pm. It is not necessary that everyone arrive at 4:00pm. The process
should take about 10-15 min and will be completed on a first come, first served basis. We will have several
people to assist, and will do our best to get everyone taken care of as quickly as possible. If you have any
questions, please email Mrs. Kincaid at kimberley.kincaid@d11.org
Instrumental Rental
Graner Music and Meeker Music will be available at Instrument Selection all evening to answer any
questions regarding instrument rental. They will also have most of the materials required for
participation in the band program. You may also contact them at one of their local stores at your
convenience.
Graner Music
4460 Barnes Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80917
(719)574.2001
Meeker Music
113 E Bijou St
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 471-8940
The school has a limited number of school owned instruments available to students. I will work with any
student who wants to be in band to help find an instrument solution, but I must ask parents to provide most
instruments for their students. Instruments rented from local music stores include insurance, repair plans, are
often newer, and allow students to upgrade instruments as they develop. I recommend that parents rent
instruments from a local music store for the first few months before investing in a permanent purchase. Most
stores have a rent-to-own plan which allows us the flexibility to change instruments if it is appropriate without
causing additional expense. Rental fees are based on the type and age of the instrument, but most instruments
(flutes, clarinets, trumpet, trombones) cost around $30 a month to rent, and saxophones run $60 or more a
month.
Let The Buyer Beware!
While I can’t specifically recommend where you should or should not purchase a musical instrument, I would
like to share some experience and expertise. In my professional opinion, I have found that there are brands of
musical instruments that have been around for many years that offer high-quality, reliable instruments that are
sold locally through school musical instrument dealers.
I would also like to suggest that you consider the advantages and disadvantages of where you purchase the
instrument. Does the store have knowledgeable, professional staff to help you with your instrument selection? If
something were to go wrong with the instrument, can you get service and repair locally and conveniently?
Here are some things to consider when looking at new instruments: the quality of materials and workmanship is
directly reflected in the price; not all instruments are well-suited for beginners because not all play easily or in
tune; not all instruments are durable; not all are easily serviceable (some local musical instrument repair
technicians won’t service or guarantee their work on certain brands of instruments); often times, the money
saved at the initial purchase is used up many times over with repair and shipping costs, not to mention the time
a child spends without an instrument to play and the frustration they feel by trying to play instruments other
than name brands.
Often, you can find quality used brand-name instruments in pawn shops, the classifieds or online, but just like a
used car, they the “buyer beware.” Please contact Ms. Kincaid, or a musical instrument repair expert to ask
about the quality and have it checked over before you buy.
Brand Names of Reliable Band Instruments
Conn, Selmer, Artley, Armstrong, Vito, Yamaha, King, Besson, Olds, Fox
Well Known brands of clarinets:
Vito, Le Blanc, Selmer / Bundy, Yamaha, Buffet, Artley
Well Known brands of trumpets & brass instruments:
Bach, Blessing, Selmer, Olds, Bundy, Conn, King, Holton, Yamaha