SGC Beginner Band Update

There is a lot of information in this update, so please use this as something to refer back to when needed. You and your child will receive a letter like this from us each week through the school year (usually on Sundays) so you can stay informed.

Since we do receive a large amount of emails daily, we ask that you PLEASE READ the latest update carefully BEFORE EMAILING us with questions. We are happy to help you as needed.

You can find more Sixth Grade Center (SGC) Band information on our 6th-12th grade band website at www.argyleband.com/sgcclasses

We will be distributing binders and assigning band lockers on the first day!

If your child has their instrument or supplies at home, please bring those up to school on the first day so we can get those into the lockers. You may leave the wire music stand at home.

We have received most rental orders from Bell's! Please give us time to process the instruments and supplies before emailing us. We will let you know if something is missing in the coming weeks.

Please contact Bell's Music Shop directly with questions:

Bell's Music Shop, Inc.

bellsmusicshop.com

817-337-7900

Band parent meeting ONLINE Thursday, August 15th

• There will be an online band parent meeting at 6PM on Thursday, August 15th (The 2nd day of school).
• A link will be sent out through email that evening for the meeting.
• Please watch the short (2 minute!) video linked below before the meeting, it will help put some things in context.
• This is ONLINE not in person! Please don't come to the band hall that night!

Band registration form

• We will send out a band registration link immediately following the band parent meeting. I want to make sure we talk through it all first!
• This is where we will distribute the band handbook, collect shirt sizes, get start of the year paperwork filled out, and collect band fees.

Below is a list of band fees that each member of the beginner band will need to pay this year. All of the information will be on our band registration link that you will receive on Thursday evening.

We will NEVER let money get in the way of your students participating in band. If needed, you can reach out to me confidentially and we will work out payment plans as needed.

The reason there is a separate set of fees for Argyle ISD and the Band Boosters is because these items all have to come from different budgets. I will talk more about fees once the school year starts at our band parent meeting! I know it can be confusing.

Band fee - $60

This will cover the cost of your child's binder, dividers, pencils, highlighter, competition fees, and smartmusic fee. Smartmusic is a website subscription that we will provide for every student. Students will use this regularly in class and at home.

School owned instrument fee $125 (ONLY Oboe, Bassoon, French Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, and Percussion)

Band Boosters fee - $40

The Band Boosters will order your child's band t-shirt, as well as take care of feeding your child on contest or concert days as needed.

If you as a parent would like a band t-shirt, you will have the opportunity to order those through the registration link as well for $15 each.

All of our events for this school year are already on the calendar! We use Google Calendar in the district. Please add the Sixth Grade Center Band calendar to your calendar and you'll always be in the loop!

August

Thurs. 15th - Online parent meeting, 6:00pm

Mon. 26th - Band Fundraiser kickoff during each class

Fri. 30th - Band Movie night outside at AMS for 6th/7th/8th grade band members, 8:30pm-10:00pm

October

Fri. 4th - Medieval Times trip, evening (more details soon)

Thurs. 24th - SGC BEGINNNER WORLD PREMIERE concert (Woodwinds @ 6pm, Brass/Perc @7:15pm)

December

Fri. 6th - SGC Winter Concert at AHS auditorium, 6pm

February

Tues. 4th - Percussion concert at AHS (SGC beginners also perform), time TBD

April

22-25 - one of these dates will be our NTFD competition with SGC "Select Band" (more details to come)

May

Sat. 3rd - SOLO CONTEST day

Wed. 7th - SGC rehearsal after school

Thurs. 8th - SGC SPRING CONCERT at AHS auditorium, 6pm

Thurs. 15th - NRH20 contest with FULL SGC BAND - afternoon to evening

We will be having a movie night Friday, August 30th at 8:30PM for all band students just outside the ARGYLE MIDDLE SCHOOL band hall under the stars! Students are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, etc. to sit in for the movie. We have not decided on a movie yet, we will ask your students for suggestions (G/PG RATED!). This is free and open to ALL band students.

Students may also bring snacks of their own! Please remind your students to clean up after themselves afterwards. We will remind them as well but the more people they hear it from the better!

Only band students are invited to this event, we cannot be responsible for non-band students or siblings.

The movie will end at approximately 10:00! Please be prepared to pick-up your children at that time!

Your child has the option of going to Medieval Times with the band students! This is just a fun band social event to give students an opportunity to know one another and make new friends. It's a blast each year we go and the kids really enjoy the experience! You can check out their website below to learn more:

https://www.medievaltimes.com/experience/the-show

6th/7th grade band members will go on October 4 (Payment due September 8, forms being sent Aug. 26th)

We will depart from AMS at 5:00PM and return after the show. We typically get back around 10:15. The cost of the trip is $65 and includes transportation, the meal, and the show. Your students do not need to bring any extra money on this trip.

Please see future band updates for the payment link.

We HIGHLY recommend private lessons for all students!

Private Lessons are offered through the band program and are available to every band student. The private lesson staff includes degreed educators that are handpicked by the directors and background checked by Argyle ISD.

One-on-one instruction is extremely beneficial. The private teacher is able to design an individual program that meets each student's needs. Professional teachers on each instrument will be available to teach these lessons during band class & before or after school.

Much of the individual success throughout the Argyle Band Program can be attributed to the private lesson program and the superior private lesson staff. The high number of students enrolled in the private lesson program in the Argyle Band has allowed a high standard of performance to be maintained. Supplemental lessons are strongly recommended for all students. Students who are in private lessons from the very start of the beginner year benefit from having that professional help them with correct muscle formation and playing habits that will continue for the entire year and beyond.

We will send out information on how to sign-up for lessons after school starts.

Lessons are REQUIRED for Oboe and Bassoon students due to the sophisticated nature of those instruments!

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THANK YOU to those who have graciously purchased items from our band wishlist! This is only our second year in this band hall, so we are still slowly getting established in this space. Every little thing helps and we appreciate all of the support in big and small ways!

Do you or someone you know own a business? Being a band sponsor is the easiest way to support our students, and there are many ways your business will become more visible in our community! Click below for more information!