DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE BAND!!!

INCOMING 5TH GRADE BEGINNING BAND INFORMATION MEETING

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2023

6:30PM - 7:30PM in the Lucyle Collins Middle School Cafeteria

• Meeting the directors. 
• Learn how you can be a part of the award winning bullfrog band. 
• Learn about which instruments are available to learn in the beginning band. 
• We will cover basic information on how you can join the band and much more!!! 

he best time to join band is in 6th grade!

The way our band program is set up, all sixth grade students are in like-instrument classes and starting in 7th grade, your students will be in a full band class daily, with all of the other instruments.

If your student missed their chance in 6th grade and is a middle school student, it's not too late to join! Email Mr. Guerrero  mguerrero@lwisd.org 

If your student missed their chance in middle school and is now a high school student, Email Mr. Kading ckading@lwisd.org

If your student in any grade 6-12 wants to join the colorguard, email Mr. Kading

Frequently asked questions:

What do i have to know about music to join band?

Nothing at all and no experience is needed! Everything you need to know to play an instrument will be taught in beginner band. Any previous musical knowledge is a bonus, but not necessary for success!
 

How do i know what instrument i'll play?

Please do not buy an instrument before we meet with you! We meet with every student one-on-one and take some time to get to know them, as well as looking for facial characteristics that will help them be successful on their instrument. We will test out any instruments your student is interested in as well as some we may think are a good fit to find what suits your student best. The hardest thing about a lot of these instruments is producing a beautiful sound, and we are determined to help your student find an instrument they will be successful at and enjoy playing. Oftentimes, a student will be a GREAT fit for an instrument they didn't even think to try!

What instruments can my student learn?

When we do your student's instrument placement, we will look for characteristics that will help them be successful on our various band instruments and we will find the best fit for every student! You may be surprised at what instrument is a good fit for your child!

When do students join band?

The best time for students to start is at the beginning of their sixth grade year. The vast majority of our band members joined band as sixth graders. However, we have students every year who join our band family in either seventh or eighth grade! 

My student is very busy! Can they also be in athletics, uil academics, and other groups? 

YES. We encourage our band students to participate in athletics, UIL Academics and other school activities. Many of our band students are very successful athletes, as well as ACADEMIC leaders of our school! 

There are very few after-school commitments in beginner band (Typically 4-5 per year), and our 7th/8th grade students just have one sectional before or after school per week on a typical week. We will schedule these around your schedules in order to avoid as many conflicts as possible.

Who will be in band? 

Your student’s friends and fellow classmates will join them in what will be some of the most exciting and fun times of their school experience. The more friends, the most fun! With over 200 band students @ Lucyle Collins Middle School, the band is the largest organization in the district. Many of our students are the school leaders and among the most successful students at LCMS! 

What fun things will we do in band? 

The best reward is learning to play an instrument and make music! Your students will experience many parties, trips, concerts, contests & performances throughout the year!

My son or daughter didn't join band in 6th grade. Is it too late?!

No! We have had 7th and 8th grade students join us as beginners and all have been very successful! Please Mr. Guerrero for details!

My student has Asthma / braces / another underlying medical condition. Can they be in band?

Absolutely! There is a great instrument option for every student who wants to be in band. We've had many students with asthma, and many of our students get braces in middle school. Playing a wind instrument can actually be beneficial for students with Asthma as it helps strengthen the lungs! We'll make it work for any student who wants to be a part of our organization!

Benefits of musical instruction

Band is much more than a class to play an instrument. It is the development of a family of friends that lasts a lifetime and establishes some profound influences. These influences will determine much of your child’s success in all aspects of education, not just music. There has been a lot of research about the benefits of music, some of which are listed below!

A research team reports that early music training dramatically enhances children's abstract reasoning skills. These findings indicate that music uniquely enhances higher brain functions required for mathematics, chess, science and engineering.

            Neurological Research, Feb 28, 1997; Frances Rauscher, Ph.D., Gordon Shaw, Ph.D, University of California, Irvine

A two-year Swiss study involving 1,200 children in 50 schools showed that students involved in the music program were better at languages, learned to read more easily, showed an improved social climate, showed more enjoyment in school, and had a lower level of stress than non-music students.

            Der Musikalische Mensch, Weber, E.W., Spychiger, M. & Patry, J.L. 

The College Entrance Examination Board found that students involved in public school music programs scored 107 points higher on the SAT's than students with no participation.

            Profiles of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board

U.S. Department of Education data on more than 25,000 secondary school students found that students who report consistent high levels of involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school years show "significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12."

            U.S. Department of Education NELLS88 Database

A study at MIT concluded in December 2020 and published in the Journal of Neuroscience found:

"Musicians' brains were vastly more structurally and functionally connected than non-musicians, especially in areas of the brain responsible for speech and sound (especially the auditory cortices of both hemispheres). ... The musical group also showed stronger connections from the auditory cortices to other brain areas in the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortex known to be involved in the control of higher cognitive functions like memory, working memory, and executive functions.