Dear Parents/Guardians,
I would like to welcome you to the Rye Junior High School Band program. I am very excited about the upcoming school year and the great things in store for the RJH Bands! Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, comments, or concerns. I want this to be a positive experience for every child in the program.
Sincerely,
Duy Bui, Music Director
Email: dbui\@sau50.org
Phone: 603-964-5591
Required Materials
1. Instrument in good playing condition.
2. Care Kit for your instrument.
3. Standard of Excellence Book 1 (book 2 and 3 will be provided by the school.)
4. A 1-inch 3-ring binder and a pencil.
USE OF SCHOOL OWNED INSTRUMENTS
We have a very limited number of school owned instruments. Our inventory includes instruments such as, euphonium, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, a French horn, and percussion instruments. If your child is fit for one of these instruments, the following conditions apply.
1. Every effort will be made to insure that school owned instruments are in good playing condition before being issued to the students.
2. All instruments are to be checked in at the end of the school year in the same condition as when they were checked out.
3. Students are responsible for routine maintenance (oil valves, cleaning, etc.), breakage, and repairs.
4. Students observed abusing school instruments will forfeit their privilege to use a school owned instrument and that student will be required to pay the cost to repair the instrument.
PRACTICING
Students are required and expected to practice their instrument at home. I ask that all students practice a total of 60 minutes (1 hour) each week at home. This may be done in 10 minute increments 6 days a week. Please do not attempt to cram all your practice time into 1 or 2 days. The brain retains information and works better when a task is spread over several days and in smaller doses.
Grading Policy
Tests (playing and written tests) = 80% of the trimester grade.
Written Test = 20% of the trimester grade.
Playing Test = 60% of the trimester grade.
Classwork = 20% of the trimester grade.
You may retake written or playing tests to improve your grade but you must do so before the end of the trimester.
Classwork: You start at 100 points. Classwork is how you perform in class. In order for you to perform well, you must be prepared; you must practice at home and you must have your music and your instrument for class. If you do not have your instrument, 10 points will be deducted from the class grade for that day. If you do not have your music, 10 points will be deducted from the class grade for that day. If you do not have your music and instrument, 20 points will be deducted from the class grade for that day.
CONCERT ATTIRE
White top, dark bottom, and dress shoes. No jeans or sneakers.
CARE OF INSTRUMENTS
Handle with care! Your instrument is made of breakable parts, so be careful handling it. Do not let younger siblings handle your instrument. Always store your instrument safely in the case when you are not playing it. Before you pick up your case, make sure the latches are closed. Do not let the instrument get too hot or too cold. For example, avoid leaving it in the car for an extended period of time on an extremely hot or cold day. Do not drink (except water) or eat right before playing your instrument. If you do eat or drink something other than water, brush your teeth before playing. Flutes and reed instruments: Swab your instrument out after each time you play it. Clarinets should remove their reed after each playing and place it back in the reed case. Brass: Check valves and slides each day for proper oiling and greasing (Oil valves once a week). Using a mouthpiece brush, clean the mouthpiece out weekly.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
Help select a regular practice time and place for your child. Check your child’s Weekly Assignment in their agenda book or at the front of the Standard of Excellence book. Encourage your child through positive support. Listen to practice sessions on occasion. Everyone will probably require a ton of patience while the beginning musician squeaks, squawks, and moans and groans his/her way through the first several weeks. It will get better! With regular practice those noises will be replaced in no time with the wonderful sounds of music! The rewards are well worth the wait. Set aside our concert dates to be sure you and your child can attend. Help students care for their instruments (maintenance, keep others from handling/playing, etc.) Contact Mr. Bui at any time with any questions or concerns.
How to rent an instrument from Music and Arts:
1. Please go tohttps://www.musicarts.com/
2. Go to "Rentals" on the upper right.
3. Put in the Rye zip code, 03870 and select Rye Junior High School.
4. Click on the picture of the instrument you'd like to rent. (If you are not taking summer private lessons, you must select "Fall Delivery" to the school, Rye Junior High.)
5. "Liability Damage Waiver" page. Please read the LDW description.
6. All 5th and 6th grade students (and those starting on a new instrument ) are required to have the "KJOS Standard Of Excellence Book 1 Enhanced. Students should also purchase the Giardinelli Starter Pack.
7. Please read and complete the "Rental Terms and Conditions.*Instrument Rental with Music and ArtsQ & A*Q. What instruments are offered at RJH? A. Flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium/baritone, and percussion instruments (snare and bass drum, xylophone, and piano).
- How long should I practice each day?
- 10 minutes each day.
- Should I return my rent-to-own instrument at the end of the school year even if I plan on playing in band the following year?
- “All of our rentals are rent to own, so all the money parents pay goes toward the purchase, even though they aren’t obligated to finish the contract. Since parents rent at the beginning of the school year, they often think the rental is just for the year. But since it’s a rent to own, the contract really has nothing to do with the school year. So if the child is planning on continuing band the next school year, parents should keep the rental and continue the payments. Once a rental is returned, they lose all the rental credit they’ve paid into it and would have to start all over again from scratch.”