Letter From the Director


Dear Band Students and Parents/Guardians,
I am excited to welcome you to the band program this school year!  We have a great group of students entering and returning to the band, and I am honored to have the opportunity to work with them.  I would like to thank the parents for supporting their student(s) in participating in band, and recognize them for the role they play in our success.  A successful band program requires a true team effort.
Our band program has a history of success and has provided members with fun, positive growing experiences.  The mission of the program is to foster musical learning and growth while challenging and motivating students to develop as responsible, independent learners inside and outside of the music classroom.  Through participation in the band program, your student will have the opportunity to develop skills in musicianship as well as life skills, including discipline, responsibility, and communication.  Studying music has been shown to have positive effects on performance in other content areas as well as overall thinking skills.  Few other areas of study interweave cognitive skills, creativity, interpersonal skills, and character skills together so tightly.  For more information about why music is a crucial part of education, I invite you to visit this website: <http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/youngmind.html>
Even if you are not new to the band program, please take time to read the handbook.  The handbook reflects all procedures and policies that are in place to ensure the success of the band program.  It is a living document, which I update and adjust to meet the needs of our program at the beginning of each year.  It is also a contract between parents, students, and myself that is designed to facilitate communication and guide us down the path to success.  On the last page, you will find the Contract of Mutual Consent.  This document must be signed by both the student and parent and submitted to me before the student may be admitted to the band program.
As director, it has thrilled me to watch young musicians in our band grow throughout previous years.  I have grown and learned along with them, and am very excited about the opportunities in store for this year.  These include concert band/jazz band concerts, the annual marching band festival, and solo, small ensemble, and large ensemble festivals.  Also, state and district honor ensemble auditions (for concert band and jazz band) are always highly anticipated.  Last year, six band members participated in state-level honor groups at KMEA!
I am also pleased to announce that Mr. Jeremy Flinkman will join our marching band staff this season as the percussion director.  Mr. Flinkman has been teaching percussion in the public schools for five years, and we are very fortunate to have him.
Additionally, I encourage students to take private lessons from an instructor who specializes in their instrument.  There are several active private studios in our area.  By taking advantage of this opportunity, students can gain personal attention that they may not receive in the large group setting.  Individual musical growth also stimulates the growth of the band as a whole!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.  I am looking forward to a fun, successful year!
Sincerely,
Melanie Herd
Band Director
melanie.herd@usd555.edu
555.555.5555