Silver Creek Music Department
557 Renz Ave, Sellersburg IN 47172
Beginning Band and Choir FAQs
Why should they be part of the band or choir program?
Learning to play an instrument or sing in a group is a great way for a student to learn discipline, self-motivation, teamwork, cooperation, responsibility, hand-eye coordination, reading skills, comprehension, and listening skills – all while being in an environment that fosters a sense of self-worth and creative expression!
As students get older and more proficient on their instrument or voice, there will be options for various groups and events that they can participate in that have opportunities for travel and a huge variety of musical adventures!
But, I don’t know how to play an instrument and I’m not a “good” singer… can I still participate?
Definitely! As your band director and choir director, we will teach you. Both band and choir are learned subjects – meaning most band and choir members were not just “born with” the ability to sing and play instruments – we teach you how to do everything you need to be able to succeed!
Are there any after school practices?
No. There will be 2-3 required performances that will take place on a weekend afternoon, but there will not be any after school practices or rehearsals that are required. You will get a list of all concert dates at the beginning of the school year.
Will he/she still be able to have PE or study hall time if they are in band?
YES! PE is another elective class. Band and choir are year-long electives and take up one elective class period each. The rest of the elective classes (PE, Health, Art, FACS, Technology classes) are each one grading period long. So, if is a student is in band, then they can choose 3-4 other elective classes to do during the second elective class period.
Can he/she do both band and choir?
YES! The choir teacher and the band directors work closely together to make sure that students have the opportunity to participate in both.
Will band or choir get in the way of other activities such as sports, theatre, or other outside of school activities?
NO. All necessary rehearsals for band and choir take place during the school day. There are only a couple performances that take place outside of the school day, and those dates will be communicated by the first day of the school year. If there are conflicts with those dates, the teachers and coaches involved will work out a plan.
We are concerned about practice time – he/she is very involved in other activities and with those time commitments and homework, we are worried about having enough practice time.
As a beginner, the recommended amount of practice time at home is 10-15minutes per day. You cannot “bank” time and practice for an hour one day and none the rest. There are a LOT of muscles involved in playing an instrument, and it takes daily practice to train those muscles properly. Too much practice will hurt more than it will help – when muscles get tired, we tend to overcompensate and form bad habits. 10-15 minutes each day is ideal. J Most days the minimum for this will be accomplished in class time at school. But, additional practice is always good (in short spurts). “The more you play, the better you get. The better you get, the more fun you have. The more fun you have, the more you play….”
Do we have to purchase an instrument to be in band?
For many reasons, it is highly recommended that you do a rental program for your first instrument. Musical instruments are a large investment. It is important that you get a quality instrument and avoid the hard to know “knock-offs” that are very commonly found through online retailers. Please contact Mrs. Jochim with any questions or concerns about getting an instrument. We do have a few and limited school owned instruments available for use as needed.
Visit the band website at www.scband.net for a detailed list of recommended instrument brands. (Click on the Middle School tab).
Are there concerts? Are they required? And when are they?
Band and choir are performance driven classes. All rehearsals and practices take place during the school day as a regularly scheduled class, but concerts take place outside of school so that our parents, friends, family, etc. can come celebrate our achievements with us!
Performances are required as a part of the grade. We understand that people are human and things happen that may prevent attendance, and more details on grading will be sent home at the beginning of the year.