Information for 5th Graders

NO! Any training in music that you might have will be helpful, but everything you need to know to play an instrument will be taught in BAND.  You just have to choose BAND as your 1st choice elective on your course selection sheet.

 

Your friends and fellow classmates will join you in what will be some of the most exciting times in your school days.  The more friends, the more fun you will have.  The band is the largest spirit organization at our middle school. Many of our band students are the leaders in academic achievement, school spirit, and club activities.  

 

You will have several opportunities to meet with a GISD band director.   At this time we will let you play on all the beginning band instruments and further discuss which instrument would be best suited for you.  Because of physical characteristics, you might progress faster on one instrument than another and the band directors will be able to steer you toward the instrument that is right for you.  

 

NO! The main cost is your instrument. Good new and used instruments are available from local music stores. Most students rent an instrument on a rental-purchase plan at a very low monthly cost.

 

Many of these instruments are made with low quality materials and parts that don’t conform to any industry standards. They may look nice, but can actually be detrimental to your child’s progress.  With many of these instruments not meeting any industry standards, they tend to be more difficult, and in some cases, impossible to repair.  When you rent an instrument from a reputable music store, they stand behind the quality of the instrument.  Most even have a maintenance/repair agreement as part of the rental contract where your child’s instrument can be repaired at little or no additional cost, with minimal downtime – most even offer loaner instruments while your child’s instrument is being repaired.

 

NO!  We have a representative from a reputable music store that will come to Granbury at a later date to offer their services to you.  You do not have to use this music retailer, but we do ask that you consider renting/purchasing from a reputable instrument dealer.