questions and answers
CAN MY CHILD PARTICIPATE IN OTHER
ACTIVITIES AND BAND?
YES!!! - Not only is participation in other Cain organizations possible — it is highly ENCOURAGED!! However, it is important to remember that commitment to the band program and practice time is necessary. Many of the skills each student will learn in band (teamwork, group accountability, etc.) will be GREAT assets toward their participation in athletic programs or any other organization. In fact, many great athletes, actors, professional musicians, and Presidents were active in band.
WILL BEING IN BAND AFFECT MY CHILD’S GRADES?
YES—research shows that participation in band will affect your child’s grades for the better. On average, students who participate in school music organizations score 89 points higher on standardized tests like the SAT than students without musical coursework. Also, 70% of the nation’s major universities report that participation in a musical organization is a higher consideration than standardized test scores for admission decisions.
DID YOU KNOW… ...66% of college music majors who applied for medical school in 2007 were accepted while only 44% of biochemistry majors were?
HOW MUCH TIME WILL THIS TAKE?
As a beginning band student, there are three to four (required for a grade) rehearsals/concerts outside regular-school-hours. One concert is in November and the other is in May. Beyond that, students will participate in solo and small group recitals as well as private lessons. Students will also be required to engage in regular home practice routines like having homework from a “regular” class; however, our home practice requirements of only 20 minutes per day for 7 days leaves plenty of time for participation in other activities and schoolwork.
How much money will this cost?
There are several options for acquiring an instrument. The first option is to rent month-to-month from the music stores. This will involve a monthly payment that is the same every month. Most companies will allow you to rent to own. The bennefit of renting is that at the end of the rental period (or at any time) you can apply your previous payments toward a step-up instrument. Another option is to perchase an instrument from the beginning. Instruments in good condition do not depretiate in value, so they are a very good investment. Along with their instrument, students will need to buy any accesories and cleaning supplies that are required. They will also need to purchase a band book which is a minimal expense. At the beginning of the school year there will be a small amount of band fees for the students which cover their band binder, t-shirt and Smart Music software.