Future Students (Grade 6)
1. When do I sign-up for the Music Program?
Signing up for the Music Program happens once the school year has started.
In the first week of school in September, grade 6 students will be given an overview of the music program which includes what classes are offered, how instrument selection works and how to sign-up. Students will come home with a physical handout that goes over all this information and includes links to our Introduction Slideshow and the Sign-Up Google Form. Our Introduction Slideshow is our way of outlining everything we want you to know before signing your student up for music (schedule, instrument selection, expectations, commitment, costs, etc.).
2. What classes are offered for Grade 6 students?
In Grade 6, students can choose to participate in: Band and/or Strings.
3. Why doesn't Lansdowne have choirs?
Lansdowne had a fantastic choir program for a very long time. However, the last three years our funding has decreased dramatically, we are stretched thinner and thinner at two campuses, and we are no longer in a position to offer choir classes.
When Lansdowne South opened, every aspect of our school received more funding, except for music. We were asked to work at two campuses, essentially running two music programs at two schools, work with way more students, teach more grade 6 classes due to our increasing enrolment, and do it all with the same funding.
In 2021, our school district and our board cut the budget of all middle school music programs by 5%. In 2022, it happened again, but this time by 20%. These cuts are a devastating loss to our students.
4. Is there a limit to how many music classes students can participate in?
No!
Grade 6 students can participate in Band and/or Strings. Many of our music students participate in both Band and Strings. Band and Strings happen at different times to avoid schedule conflicts.
5. What levels of strings do you offer?
In grade 6, students that played a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or double bass) in grade 5 can join Intermediate Strings 6. Intermediate Strings is the next step for students who have played for a year - the music gets more challenging, more interesting, and more exciting!
If a student has taken private lessons outside of school, they can participate in Intermediate Strings 6, or if they have considerable experience, Strings 7/8 at the North campus.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a Beginner Strings class this year to students with no experience playing a string instrument.
6. Does my child get to choose their instrument?
Band: Band 6 students will complete an instrument selection form after they are given an introduction to the Music Program, Students need to pick their top three choices of instruments and they need to choose at least one instrument from the brass and one from the woodwind family. 99% of the time, students get their first or second choice. We use this system because it allows us to create balanced, educationally sound bands. For example, a band with 50 saxophones and one flute is going to create a very poor learning environment.
Strings: Strings students that participated in Strings in Grade 5 are guaranteed to play the same instrument they already play. Most of our Strings students stay with their instrument into middle school. The new addition to Strings in middle school is the double bass and we will need 2-3 grade 6 students to switch to the double bass. There is also the opportunity for a grade 6 Strings student to switch instruments, but that will only be accomodate if it helps to create a balanced, educationally sound orchestra. For example, an orchestra with 50 double basses and one violin creates a very poor learning environment.
7. What instruments are available to Grade 6 Band and Strings students?
Band: Flute, Oboe*, Bassoon*, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn*, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba* and Percussion.
*Students interested in playing oboe, bassoon, French horn or tuba will require some private lessons outside of school due to the specialized nature of these fantastic instruments.
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass.
8. What is Percussion? Is it the same as Drum Kit?
Percussion are instruments that produce sound by being struck. In Band, Percussion is NOT drum kit. Percussion includes instruments such as snare drum, bells, marimba, xylophone, bass drum, timpani and many more.
9. Is prior experience required to participate in the Music Program?
No! 99% all of our Band 6 students are completely new to playing a band instrument.
Strings do need experience playing a string instrument to join Strings. Having said this, Lansdowne students come from a wide variety of elementary schools. Every elementary school has different music classes, so we go over all concepts from the beginning so our students progress together.
10. What does the music schedule look like?
Please click here to view our timetable.
Band 6 students will have two classes in the regular school timetable a week and one before school sectional on their instrument (days TBA)
Strings 6 students have class twice a week before school (days TBA).
11. What events happen for grade 6 music students?
Please click here to view our music program calendar.
The major events for grade 6 music students are our three concert series. In each concert series, we have two days of concerts. There are two concerts each day - one at 10:30am for students, staff, and family that can't attend the evening concert and one at 7:00pm for families.
Music students will also have opportunities to participate in other events such as our Musical Desserts Talent Show on Friday, February 16 (auditions take place in January).
Signing up for the Music Program happens once the school year has started.
In the first week of school in September, grade 6 students will be given an overview of the music program which includes what classes are offered, how instrument selection works and how to sign-up. Students will come home with a physical handout that goes over all this information and includes links to our Introduction Slideshow and the Sign-Up Google Form. Our Introduction Slideshow is our way of outlining everything we want you to know before signing your student up for music (schedule, instrument selection, expectations, commitment, costs, etc.).
2. What classes are offered for Grade 6 students?
In Grade 6, students can choose to participate in: Band and/or Strings.
3. Why doesn't Lansdowne have choirs?
Lansdowne had a fantastic choir program for a very long time. However, the last three years our funding has decreased dramatically, we are stretched thinner and thinner at two campuses, and we are no longer in a position to offer choir classes.
When Lansdowne South opened, every aspect of our school received more funding, except for music. We were asked to work at two campuses, essentially running two music programs at two schools, work with way more students, teach more grade 6 classes due to our increasing enrolment, and do it all with the same funding.
In 2021, our school district and our board cut the budget of all middle school music programs by 5%. In 2022, it happened again, but this time by 20%. These cuts are a devastating loss to our students.
4. Is there a limit to how many music classes students can participate in?
No!
Grade 6 students can participate in Band and/or Strings. Many of our music students participate in both Band and Strings. Band and Strings happen at different times to avoid schedule conflicts.
5. What levels of strings do you offer?
In grade 6, students that played a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or double bass) in grade 5 can join Intermediate Strings 6. Intermediate Strings is the next step for students who have played for a year - the music gets more challenging, more interesting, and more exciting!
If a student has taken private lessons outside of school, they can participate in Intermediate Strings 6, or if they have considerable experience, Strings 7/8 at the North campus.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a Beginner Strings class this year to students with no experience playing a string instrument.
6. Does my child get to choose their instrument?
Band: Band 6 students will complete an instrument selection form after they are given an introduction to the Music Program, Students need to pick their top three choices of instruments and they need to choose at least one instrument from the brass and one from the woodwind family. 99% of the time, students get their first or second choice. We use this system because it allows us to create balanced, educationally sound bands. For example, a band with 50 saxophones and one flute is going to create a very poor learning environment.
Strings: Strings students that participated in Strings in Grade 5 are guaranteed to play the same instrument they already play. Most of our Strings students stay with their instrument into middle school. The new addition to Strings in middle school is the double bass and we will need 2-3 grade 6 students to switch to the double bass. There is also the opportunity for a grade 6 Strings student to switch instruments, but that will only be accomodate if it helps to create a balanced, educationally sound orchestra. For example, an orchestra with 50 double basses and one violin creates a very poor learning environment.
7. What instruments are available to Grade 6 Band and Strings students?
Band: Flute, Oboe*, Bassoon*, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn*, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba* and Percussion.
*Students interested in playing oboe, bassoon, French horn or tuba will require some private lessons outside of school due to the specialized nature of these fantastic instruments.
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass.
8. What is Percussion? Is it the same as Drum Kit?
Percussion are instruments that produce sound by being struck. In Band, Percussion is NOT drum kit. Percussion includes instruments such as snare drum, bells, marimba, xylophone, bass drum, timpani and many more.
9. Is prior experience required to participate in the Music Program?
No! 99% all of our Band 6 students are completely new to playing a band instrument.
Strings do need experience playing a string instrument to join Strings. Having said this, Lansdowne students come from a wide variety of elementary schools. Every elementary school has different music classes, so we go over all concepts from the beginning so our students progress together.
10. What does the music schedule look like?
Please click here to view our timetable.
Band 6 students will have two classes in the regular school timetable a week and one before school sectional on their instrument (days TBA)
Strings 6 students have class twice a week before school (days TBA).
11. What events happen for grade 6 music students?
Please click here to view our music program calendar.
The major events for grade 6 music students are our three concert series. In each concert series, we have two days of concerts. There are two concerts each day - one at 10:30am for students, staff, and family that can't attend the evening concert and one at 7:00pm for families.
Music students will also have opportunities to participate in other events such as our Musical Desserts Talent Show on Friday, February 16 (auditions take place in January).
© 2018. All artwork and logos belong to the Lansdowne Middle School Music Program. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.