I'm in Fifth Grade in Geneva: What Instrument Should I Choose?

Next fall, Geneva fifth-graders will have the opportunity to learn to play a woodwind, brass, string, or percussioninstrument in our fifth grade instrumental music program. They will also be able to participate in Fifth Grade Strings or Fifth Grade Band.

Here is information about the fifth grade instrumental music program, as well as what you and your child may wish to reflect on when choosing an instrument to play.

Studies have shown that a child who participates in instrumental music gains self-discipline and self-confidence, experiences cooperation and teamwork, and develops an appreciation of music.

How to Register for Instrumental Music

During the next few weeks, each interested student, with prior written parental permission, will have an interview with an instrumental music expert. During this interview, each child will have the opportunity to try one or two instruments.

Although many students will already have an idea about which instrument they want to play, a student may find that they are not physically well suited or they may not be able to produce a sound on the instrument they have chosen. For these reasons, it is a good idea to have a second choice.

After all the student interviews have taken place, there will be a registration night for band and strings. Representatives from the music companies which service the Geneva School District band and string programs will be available to answer questions about the instrument rental program.

Parents will have the opportunity to make financial arrangements to reserve an instrument, book, folding music stand, andother necessary accessories. These items will be delivered to each child's school in time for their first lesson.

Strings Registration Night— for violin, viola, cello and bass—will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18,at Geneva Middle School North

Band Registration Night—for flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, conet/trumpet, trombone and percussion kit—will be held form 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at Geneva Middle School South.

Instruction, Group Lessons, Full Ensemble

Students are grouped together in "like instrument" classes for a 30-minute class which meets once per week during the school day on a rotating schedule. These classes will begin to meet in September.

This meets in addition to the group lesson. Full ensemble combines all band students or allstring students from each school. Practice for this will begin in October and meets one day per week before or after school.

What Instrument Should I Choose?

 This is an important decision. The following is a brief description of the various instruments taught in the fifth grade instrumental music program.

The String/Orchestra instruments are:

• Violin —Smallest of the string instruments and the most popular. A large number of violinsare needed in the orchestra. Usually plays the high parts and most often has the melody.
• Viola —Similar in appearance to violin but slightly larger and lower in pitch. It is a veryimportant middle voice in the orchestra. Viola is a good choice for students who like the feelof a violin but prefer a deeper sound.
• Cello —One of the larger string instruments and very versatile in its range of notes and use inorchestra. It is known for its deep, rich sound and is the more popular low string instrument.
• Bass —The largest and lowest sound of the string instruments. It sometimes plays the melodybut most often provides the important bass line in orchestra music. Bass is also used in jazzbands.

The Woodwind/Brass/Percussion/Band instruments are:

• Flute—The smallest of the regular band instruments, usually plays the high parts and is animportant part of the upper register of the band sound. It demands good finger coordination.
• Clarinet—A mainstay of the woodwind section. A large number of clarinets are needed inband. Clarinet frequently plays the melody and has solo passages. From this instrumentcomes the possibility of changing in middle school to the oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, ortenor or baritone saxophone - all important color instruments which are added to band duringmiddle school.
• Alto Saxophone—A woodwind instrument that plays the middle voices of the band. Becausethis instrument is large and made out of brass, it tends to be heavy and awkward for manyfifth graders. Many students begin on clarinet and switch to sax at a later time. Only a fewsaxophones are needed in the band.
• Cornet/Trumpet—A mainstay of the brass section. Frequently plays the melody and has solopassages. From this instrument comes the possibility of changing in middle school to Frenchhorn, baritone, or tuba.
• Trombone—A very important low brass instrument, which is very prominent in the brasssection. Trombones are popular in concert, marching and military bands and in both jazzbands and popular music.
• Percussion—Two-years of piano instruction (with a signed note from the teacher) isrequired prior to starting fifth grade. The mallet/keyboard instruments including bells andxylophone will primarily be studied in fifth grade. A student must be well coordinated andpass both a pitch recognition and a rhythmic aptitude test during their interview.

This information is courtesy of Geneva School District 304.