5th Grade Band
5th Grade Band is where the roots of our band program take shape. Students are taught to read and count music as well as how to play woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments. Students may choose between playing flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and percussion. Music theory, improvisation and history are introduced and students are given the opportunity to participate in chamber music and private lessons in addition to their full band activities.
Welcome to Band-2024-2025 letter
Please read through the letter below to learn more about the instrument selection process. You have a few steps to complete to finalize your enrollment.
Dear parents:
We have some exciting news! We are now approved to host an instrument selection night for current 4th grade students who are registered for our 2024-2025 beginning band class.
This message will outline the ZWMS Band instrument selection process, as well as give a timeline for when each step should be completed.
Step 1: Student Evaluation (Please Complete the form at the bottom of the website by Thursday, March 28)
Watch all the instrument demonstration videos on ZWMSbands.org
Please remember that having a balanced instrumentation for an ensemble is very important; for example, a band with 50 percussionists would not sound right AND we don’t have enough instruments at school to accommodate that many percussionists. Please keep an open mind about what instruments you are interested in playing. We need good musicians on all instruments to sound our best as a group!
Step 2: Complete the ZWMS Band Instrument Selection form (linked on Step 2 on the website.)
Fill out the “ZWMS Band Instrument Selection Form” linked at the bottom of the website page to indicate your first, second, and third instrument choices. These forms will be used to prepare for the Instrument Selection Appointments.
Step 3: Instrument Selection Appointment (please complete this step by Thursday, March 28th)
(Register on sign-up genius here for woodwind and brass appointments)
(Register on sign-up genius here for percussion appointments-only held on Tuesday, April 16th!)
Appointments will be held on Tuesday, April 16th and Wednesday, April 17th.
Each incoming band student and parent(s) will report to ZWMS West Hall (enter through Door 4) to have an opportunity to see different instruments and try mouthpieces to determine which instrument best fits their interests and physical characteristics.
Band directors and representatives from Paige’s Music will be available to answer questions about instrument rentals. You will learn how to obtain an instrument for your child and when you leave the meeting, your child will be officially enrolled in the band!
Step 4: Sign up for summer camp
We will host a ZWMS beginning band clinic for all incoming 5th grade band students July 22-26.
Some points to consider
Most of our band and orchestra families rent-to-own their children’s instruments through Paige’s Music, and some families decide to look for instruments elsewhere
If you decide to acquire your band musician’s instrument through Paige’s Music, then it will come with their band book, cleaning kit, and other required items
If you plan on acquiring your band musician’s instrument from somewhere other than Paige’s Music, please do not do so without consulting with a band director—this will ensure that your band musician’s instrument will be of good quality and will be worth your investment (when instruments are priced unbelievably low on Amazon or at Wal-Mart, Meijer, Sam’s Club, or Costco—it’s for a reason! These cheap instruments are very poorly made and will break and need to be replaced, and they are a waste of your money!)
If you are unable to attend the summer camp, don’t worry! We will help you get started during the school year.
If you are not able to attend an Instrument Selection Appointment, please contact Mrs. Granlund to learn how to proceed with the selection process
Now for the fun part! With your help, you get to be the “Sorting Hat” and figure out if your son or daughter is going to be in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin...but with instruments!
Put on your sorting hat and start completing Step 1 by watching the videos.
Kind regards-
Candi Granlund, Band Director, ZWMS
Avery Cox, Band Director, ZWMS
Step 1-Watch the Instrument Demonstration Videos
Please watch the videos below to help select an instrument to play. Please watch all of the videos-even those for instruments you are not as familiar with! We need a balance of all instruments in the band to sound good. After you have watched the videos, please fill out the form linked below.
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone-larger version of the saxophone which sounds lower than the alto
Trumpet
Horn
Trombone
Euphonium
Special note about percussion
Percussion is often a child's first choice because they feel that it will be "easy". Qualities of an outstanding percussionist:
Independent: often percussionists are the only ones in the band performing their individual part
Responsible: percussionists are responsible for performing on, maintaining, and caring for equipment valued at several thousand dollars and must be able to treat the equipment with respect.
Ability to self-regulate behavior: percussionists are always at the back of the rehearsal space, standing up during rehearsal, and often must be very patient while other sections work out issues with fingerings and tone production. They often spend less time playing during a rehearsal than other musicians.
Coordinated: Extremely high gross and fine motor skills are required to be successful on percussion. Just because you are always tapping on things does not mean you are a natural percussionist (drummer)!
Things parents and students don't always realize about percussion:
Percussionists MUST rent a xylophone for at home use. Simply having a pair of drumsticks is not sufficient.
Percussion students spend the entire first semester or longer learning mallet instruments only.
The study of percussion includes bells, triangle, tambourine, maracas, claves, among many other instruments. Drum set is rarely used.
Private lessons are recommended to ensure that percussionists can perform independently on multiple instruments.
Percussion-Please note that ZWMS percussionists will be required to learn all percussion instruments, not just "drums". Students will begin with a semester on mallets before testing to move on to learn snare.
Step 2-Instrument Selection form
Complete the form to indicate your preferences for an instrument.
Step 3-Selection appointments
Register for a woodwind or brass instrument fitting appointment on April 16th or 17th.
Is your child interested in percussion? If so, they MUST attend the percussion screening and register on this percussion screening link. Please DO NOT register for an instrument fitting appointment at the link above! Students will meet with a percussion specialist at the appointment and then will go to a separate area to try other instruments. All decisions of who will be permitted to play percussion will be made by late April.
Step 4-Register for summer camp
We will host a ZWMS beginning band clinic for all incoming 5th grade band students July 22-26.
Step 5-Obtain an instrument
Most of our band and orchestra families rent-to-own their children’s instruments through Paige’s Music, and some families decide to look for instruments elsewhere.
If you decide to acquire your band musician’s instrument through Paige’s Music, then it will come with their band book, cleaning kit, and other required items (Please order by Wednesday, July 10th, so that Paige’s can process and deliver your order to ZWMS in a timely fashion prior to camp).
If you plan on acquiring your band musician’s instrument from somewhere other than Paige’s Music, please do not do so without contacting Mrs. Granlund cgranlund@zcs.k12.in.us . She can provide very important information on what instruments to consider and which to avoid—this will ensure that your band musician’s instrument will be of good quality and will be worth your investment (when instruments are priced unbelievably low on Amazon or at Wal-Mart, Meijer, Sam’s Club, or Costco—it’s for a reason! These cheap instruments are very poorly made and will break and need to be replaced, and they are a waste of your money!)
Paige's Music makes it easy for you to provide your child with the best chance to succeed in school music. They do this by renting, selling and servicing teacher-approved band and orchestra instruments.
3 Easy Steps To Get Your Debut Beginning Rental
STEP 1:
Complete A Rental Package Application
You can do this at your school instrument display night, on our website, or in our store in Indianapolis.
STEP 2:
Your instrument is delivered to your school.
Your instrument, accessories, and all of your supplies for class are delivered to your student’s school with their name tag attached, reserved just for them.
STEP 3:
Make Monthly Payments
Rent your instrument until you own it, or return it, it’s up to you. You can return at any time or exchange to another instrument. 100% of all your payments will apply towards ownership.