Elementary Instrumental Music at Mason

Students should plan to attend class on all assigned days, even when they don’t have their instrument.

Absences are documented the same as any other class. If your child will be absent, please send us an email so we know they are safe at home. Frequent absences cause students to fall behind, so consistent attendance is essential.

Rehearsals are cancelled on all non-school days, early release days, and late start days due to inclement weather.

Before Class

Most parents drop their children off at Mason. The designated drop-off zone is a turn- out located on 29th Street (on the North side of the building.) Mason is a secure campus. Enter the building through the set of doors just past the 2^nd speedbump in the parent loop. For the safety of all Mason students, do not enter the staff parking lot to drop off your child.

Alternatively, students may ride the same bus that middle schoolers in their neighborhood use. Upon request, we can provide bus passes to those who plan to ride the middle school bus. We typically distribute them on orientation day. If you are unsure what route to take, schedules are found on the district’s web site and at Mason’s main office. Unfortunately, we cannot assist you with determining bus routes.

After Class

Shuttle buses will take students back to their elementary schools at 8:30. We escort students to the bus loading zone after rehearsal, and remain with them until the buses are loaded. If for some reason you need to pick up your child after rehearsal, park next to the bus zone on 28th street and wait for your child to be escorted out with the rest of the students.

General Supplies

Students will need an instrument in good working condition. Students may choose between flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, violin, and viola in 5th grade this year.

• Students do not need to purchase a book this year.  
• 3 sharpened no. 2 pencils

Instrument-Specific Accessories & Cleaning Supplies

Clarinet

• Strength 2.5 reeds - min. of 3
• Reed guard
• Cleaning swab
• Cleaning cloth
• Cork grease

Flute

• Cleaning rod
• swab
• Polishing cloth

Trombone

• Slide Oil
• Cleaning brushes and snake
• Slide grease
• Polishing cloth

Trumpet

• Valve oil
• Cleaning brushes and snake
• Slide grease
• Polishing cloth

Stringed Instruments

• Cleaning cloth (a piece of t-shirt is fine)
• Rosin
• Shoulder rest or shoulder sponge from a music store (violin and viola only)

Cleaning kits usually contain most of the maintenance supplies listed above.

Recommended Materials

• A wire music stand for home practice
• An inexpensive electronic metronome for home practice.

Where to Rent or Purchase Supplies

Where you buy or rent is your decision. Our concern is that you are informed in your decision-making process and that you get the greatest value and service for your dollar. We do not recommend purchasing a new instrument from any store that does not specialize in musical instruments. The following stores are closest to Mason.

Applebaum Violin Shop
1948 Pacific Ave
Tacoma, WA 98402
www.appleaumviolin.com
253-272-4754

Ted Brown Music
6228 Tacoma Mall Blvd
Tacoma, WA 98409
www.tedbrownmusic.com
253-272-3211

Lakewood Music & Arts
6111 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. #Q
Lakewood, WA 98499
www.musicarts.com
253-581-2926

Enhancing Your Child's Musical Experience

Be involved. Show support. Provide structure. Many parents who do not have a musical background feel they can’t help their child in their new endeavor, but your guidance and involvement is essential. These guidelines are designed to help you in giving your child the best support possible.

You can help by

• Scheduling a consistent, daily time for practice. Music achievement requires effort over time.
• Providing a quiet place in which to practice, complete with a chair and stand.
• Remaining nearby during practice times as often as possible.
• Praising your child’s efforts and achievements.
• Providing private lessons- although they are not required, private music lessons, taught by an expert on your child’s instrument are highly recommended. They are good for both the student who needs extra help and the students who want to advance more rapidly. We have information available for many private teachers.

What to do as they develop

• Try to get your child to make a minimum two-year commitment to his/her musical studies.
• Make sure your child’s instrument is always in good working order.
• Encourage your child to play for family and friends.
• Expose your child to a wide variety of music, including concerts and recitals.
• Allow your child to play many types of music, not just pieces from the lesson book.

What Not To Do

• Don’t use practice as a punishment.
• Don’t start your child on an instrument that’s in poor working order or condition.
• Don’t compare your child’s playing to others. Everyone develops at a different rate.
• Don’t make fun of mistakes or less than perfect playing.
• If you see your child losing interest in their music studies, don’t panic!
• Discuss the situation with your child to determine why their interest is declining. Many times it may have nothing to do with music. Playing a musical instrument can be challenging at times and will require some effort.Talk to your child’s band/ orchestra teacher and/or private teacher about renewing their enthusiasm.
• Encourage your child to stick with it for the agreed period of time. If children know they don’t have a parental “out” they are much more likely to stay on track.

There are no participation fees. Classes are free. The only costs involved are for renting instruments and purchasing the necessary materials. There is a scholarship program for students with free/reduced lunch to rent an instrument from the school district for $45 annually. More information on that will be sent to those who request it when the register.

Register An elementary Student for class

Yes! Breakfast service begins in the cafeteria at 7:20 a.m.

We have shuttle buses that take kids back in time to start their day. Please see Transportation section above.

Your child must remain supervised at all times while at Mason. Park next to the bus zone on 28th street (near the entrance to the staff parking lot) and wait for your child to be escorted out with the rest of the students after rehearsal at about 8:25.

We typically present two concerts per year, with our Debut Concert in February and finale at the end of the year Spring Showcase. Dates TBA.

No.  There are no online resources or requirements for elementary band and orchestra at Mason.  

We recommend visiting a local music store. See Materials section above.

Instruments come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, and prices. REMEMBER: You get what you pay for. We recommend that your students play on an instrument that will give them the best opportunity for success. Brand new instruments listed for under $400 are not a good choice.

Due to our past experience, we recommend certain brands of instruments over others, knowing they will function properly from the start, last a long time, hold their value better, and are easier to repair. Name brand instruments we recommend:

• Armstrong
• Bach
• Bundy
• Gemienhart
• Jupiter
• King
• Selmer
• Yamaha
• Conn
• Eastman
• Knilling

Your best option is to discuss the instrument and brand with your teacher if you are not sure.

Yes. Not all instruments are created equal. In fact, there are many out there that look nice and shiny, but are not made to last. They are made to sell. A clarinet for $100 is not a clarinet. It is what we call a clarinet shaped object. You should think twice about purchasing any new instrument listed under $400.

Unless you know exactly what you are buying and whom you are buying from, I would hesitate to purchase off the internet. There are many ways to buy instruments online, however you are not going to receive any service with your purchase. What you need now is a place that will provide service for you and your child’s instrument. It is very frustrating for a child to play an instrument that does not work. It is also frustrating for a parent to deal with an unknown music dealer or private owner. Please use caution if you choose to go in this direction.

Purchasing a musical instrument is an investment. You must think about it as if you were buying a car. Would you go out and look for the cheapest car you could find or are you going to look for something that will be dependable for years to come? Do not let price dictate the investment you make.