Just a reminder: All Grade 2 through Grade 5 students must bring a recorder to class starting in October. Please contact me if you need information on this.

Scheduling has begun for the Instrumental Music program. Due to the large number of interested students, wind instruments and drums will be scheduled first. Violins will be scheduled after that. Finally, if there is room for guitars, they will be scheduled last. Please do not register with Mrs. Maletesta for guitar until the guitars have been given a spot in the schedule. No guitars have been guaranteed a time slot yet. Thank you for your patience regarding this matter.
We have three basic groupings for wind/percussion instruments: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. I am also adding a "select" group of students who show maturity, instrumental skill, and good work/rehearsal habits. I will select students for this group as I see fit.
The Advanced Band requires an audition. This will be held the first week of October. All  wind instruments will be required to:
1. Play 4 Major scales, one octave in range, from memory. The scales for Flute, Trombone, and Bells are Bb, Eb, Ab, and F. 
The scales for Clarinet and Trumpet are C, F, Bb, and D.
The scales for Alto Sax are G, D, C, and F.
The scales for French Horn are F, Bb, Eb, and G.
The scales can be found in Essential Elements,  in the back of the book.
Drums must be able to perform paradiddles, flams, and a roll. Rudiments can be found in the Essential Elements book. They also need to perform an etude, "Stick With It".
Violins may be added as I see fit. They need to be able to do an F major scale and a Bb major scale, and perform an etude of my selection.

ALL interested students will be given an etude to perform, and they will  have to sight-read an advanced-level piece in the audition. I will be going over these requirements with the students .All students will be given the etude this week.
Good Luck!!

      I hope everyone had a great Summer! Just a few quick things here for your information - important dates coming up will be posted here soon.
      All students in Grades 2 - 5 will need a Soprano Recorder. These instruments are a great way to learn the basics of the woodwinds! I am planning on implementing the "Recorder Karate" program this year in General Music classes. The best recorders (in my opinion) are the 3-piece Baroque recorders made by Yamaha. They are available at Music and Arts in Midway Shopping Center, and are less than ten dollars. I will provide materials. I hope to see everyone with a recorder by the beginning of October! It MUST BE A SOPRANO RECORDER - other recorders will not "fit in" with group activities.
     The Instrumental Music program this year will offer instruction on: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone (Alto), Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone Horn, French Horn, and Drums/Bells. The program is open to students in grades 4-8. The students will also be placed in either a Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced Band. The Bands will meet once a week as a large group - usually after school, and the lessons are group lessons, which are during the school day. All students must be enrolled through the Business Office before they can be scheduled. Mrs. Malatesta handles registration/payment for the program.
     The Band instruments listed above WILL BE SCHEDULED first. Violin will be offered BY PERMISSION ONLY., and only if it fits in the schedule after the Band Instruments are scheduled. You need my "O.K." for your child to take Violin. DO NOT REGISTER for Violin before talking with me. Any registrations for Violin turned in BEFORE speaking with me will be returned to you.
     Once Band Instruments and Violin are scheduled, there MAY be room for Guitar. DO NOT REGISTER your child for Guitar until an announcement is made stating that we will be offering it this year. Any Guitar registrations turned in before this annoncement will be returned to you.
     Keyboard/Piano will not be offered during the school day this year.
     The Parent Meeting for Band will be announced soon - please make every effort to attend this meeting, it is important. Details on payment, rentals, scheduling, etc. will be discussed at this meeting.
     Feel free to contact me with any questions - rdivirgilio@sjbdel.org