BRYANT WOODS ELEMENTARY
BAND AND STRINGS DEPARTMENT
410-313-6859
September 13, 2020
Dear Parent(s) of a 3rd, 4th or 5th grader,
Welcome back to the start of our virtual year for 2020-2021! I am pleased to inform you that your child has the opportunity to play (or continue to play) an instrument this year! Many of the skills acquired by studying an instrument are necessary skills for success in school and later in life. Choosing to play an instrument takes a willingness to work hard, but the feelings of success and accomplishment make it all worthwhile.
Students who participate in the BWES strings program will attend one twenty-five minute sectional per week and one twenty-five minute full ensemble lesson per week, unless there is a day off during that week. The sectional lessons will take place either on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, while the full ensemble lessons will be on Wednesday’s. Once the recruitment/sign up process is complete, I will be creating a schedule for all the students to follow, which will be placed on the Canvas modules as well as my website bwesbandandstrings.weebly.com. The time blocks that have been designated for each grade are as follows: 3rd grade 2:50-3:45, 4th grade 10:25-11:20, and 5th grade 1:50-2:45. A home practice session of 10-15 minutes per day is highly recommended.
If your child would like to participate in the strings program, please complete the google form attached and submit it by Wednesday, September 23rd (earlier if possible!). ALL students must complete the form even if they played an instrument last year. I will be sending out approval notices on Friday, September 25th that will confirm your child’s choice of instrument. Please do not obtain an instrument until your approval notice has been received. If you already have an instrument at home that you would like to use, please have it inspected to ensure it is in good working condition. Lessons will begin the week of September 21st, but the beginners will start without instruments since there is a time constraint due to the later start to the school year.
Some instruments are available to borrow from the school. We do the best we can to provide school instruments to our students who may present financial need. If your child would like to be considered for borrowing a school instrument, I will contact you regarding availability. I can be reached at my email, karen_zepp@hcpss.org. I look forward to working with your child and anticipate a great year of making music together!
Please go to my website as soon as possible to read and review the information provided, particularly the Band and Strings Handbook, so that you become knowledgeable about having your child participate in the band and strings program! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime!
Musically yours,
Ms. Karen Zepp
Band and Strings Teacher
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ui7JERNRgcwg1ck0ht1PyZG32nzknjstGXJa94P3hWc/edit