Band

St. Paul Bands

Welcome Band to Band 2025-2026

Welcome to a year of wonderful music making in the St. Paul Band Program!  I truly love spending time with your students creating music–but I hope that band class goes beyond just learning music.  I’m excited to have 83 musicians this year!  I firmly believe that music helps students learn many valuable life skills, gives them an outlet to be creative and gives them a sense of confidence and accomplishment about doing something that’s not always easy!    

Ways to Encourage your students musical journey: You don’t need to know lots about music to encourage your students musical journey.  Here are some ideas:

• • Learning something new takes work.  Notice when they are working hard and encourage them.  We all remember the artwork we hung on the refrigerator and that our preschooler made.  A new note, a simple song they can muster to play–celebrate those successes too!  
  • Believe in your child’s potential.  Some days it’s hard for them to believe in themselves.  Help them see their small improvements and encourage them to keep working towards their next goal.  

• Encourage responsibility.  Help them along the way, but continue to give them ways to show they can be responsible without outside help.  Taking care of their instrument, remembering their supplies and instruments on band days, taking ownership in knowing their music for the concert, these are all life skills that will help them in all aspects of life. 

Class Meeting Days 

Band always meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Students should bring instruments with them to school on those mornings, and drop them off in the band room in their band cubby.  After school they should come get them and take them home.  Instruments should be traveling home so they can be practiced at home on evenings/weekends.  

Instrument Care & Supplies

Instruments are expensive but can last a very long time if properly cared for.  Instruments should be cleaned out or swabbed after playing.  Emphasize that instruments should be set down carefully in safe places and handled gently.  Reed instruments should make sure they have 2 extra reeds at all times.  A reed can break at any time so having extras is important.  Trumpets should always have valve oil on hand, although valves should be oiled at home not during band class.  White House of Music has a Student Store on their website where you can buy extra reeds and other supplies.  If you purchase something online here it will be conveniently delivered to St. Paul.  

Music

Besides the beginning band lesson book (Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Book 1) all other music will be provided for students.  Concert Band students will receive a 3-ring binder for all their music.  Beginning band students will receive a folder to keep their music and their band lesson book together and protected.  

Practice Expectations

As we all know the more you practice a new skill the faster you learn it and the more comfortable you become.  We will learn the necessary skills during class time, but reviewing at home goes a long way.  Students who are not reviewing at home tend to fall behind and feel less comfortable playing.  Small, efficient repetition goes a long way at home.  I encourage students to practice several times during the week, even if it’s only for 10-15 minutes.    

Jazz Band 

Jazz band will begin in October.  Students in Concert Band can choose to participate in jazz band which meets during recess on Thursdays.  We meet from October-December and March-May, and play at the Christmas Concert, and at the Spring Concert.  

Solo & Ensemble

Students in Concert Band will all work on a solo for their instrument during the second trimester.  It will be part of their weekly practice assignment.  Students are encouraged to participate in the Solo & Ensemble festival, which is usually held the last Saturday in February.  At Solo & Ensemble Festival, students perform their solo piece for an adjudicator, who will give them helpful feedback as well as a rating.  It’s a great experience.  This year it will be held at Port Washington High school on Saturday, March 14th.

Private Lessons

Taking private lessons can largely impact a student's proficiency on their instrument.  Private lessons are not required, but encouraged.  There is a list of nearby teachers available in the band room.  

IMPORTANT BAND DATES

Thursday, May 21th Spring Concert 6:30pm

Other days tbd Bands may occasionally play in school chapel

Concert Band play at Spring Pep Rally