6th Grade Band Checklist

15 Minute Setup:

Rental, Communication, Band Guide

Beginning Band -

For Everyone

Welcome to Band!  

Your student is embarking on a personal and musical journey that will have life-long impact. Band students go on to be athletes, engineers, social workers, teachers, and anything else that they set their mind to. Through band, your child finds the foundation for their future: dedication, practice, and teamwork.  

Your student will be capble of amazing things by the end of their six year journey in our program. What starts as bad sounds at the end of this month will grow into award winning, scholarship earning, work ethic building excellence.   

We encourage you to connect with our social media, our newsletter, and our program at large however you can. Anyone is welcome to our high school band at 8:00 on a Tuesday night to watch and listen to our young adults do incredible things. Catch the band at a Panther football game. Talk to a more experienced band parent. This activity is most worthwhile when students and families are inspired by what’s possible in the future.  

This checklist lists everything you need for beginning band. Particularly in this first year, you are the most important adult in their musical journey. Your support in procuring an instrument, reminding them to practice, and encouraging them to continue with music is so valuable. We are so thankful for your trust in taking this first step in our program.  

Welcome to the Band Family!

Beginner Checklist

  • Get an Instrument

    • Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion:

      • Rent an instrument through Palen Music OR

      • Purchase a name brand, high quality instrument with director consultation.

    • French Horn, Euphonium/Tuba:

      • Return the Rental Agreement sent home with your student in later weeks.

      • This fee is due by October 15 (without prior arrangement).

  • Sign the Band Guide

  • Pay the Band Fee

    • Pay your band fee online here. (preferred)

    • Band fees can be sent in an envelope labeled with: Student name, grade, reason (i.e. “Band Fee”), check number (if applicable), and total $ sent. This money should be delivered by the student to the Band Room safe box, not the Intermediate School Office.

    • $45 - Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium Students

      • Covers a T-Shirt, Books, Binders, Music, and miscellaneous supplies.

    • $70 - Percussion Students

      • Higher fee covers a more expensive book and all the other instrument materials. This book lasts several years of band class.

  • Connect with the Program

    • Ensure contact information is up to date with the district.

      • Download the School Status Connect app and add School Status’ phone number to your contact list.

    • Follow Siloam Springs Bands on social media.

    • Read the Band Beat.

  • Connect with your young musician

    • Early in the year, help them study their note name flashcards.

    • Ask them to play for you what they learned in class that day. Have them teach you to make a sound on their instrument.

    • Set expectations for regular individual practice! Twenty minutes for five days a week of at home practice will put your student in the next league of ability.

 Frequently Asked Questions

  • Band Class is exclusively during the school day, with all students having the opportunity to take the class without sacrificing other class options.

    There are a limited amount of after school obligations, only two performances!

  • There are soccer players, cheer leaders. actors, and rocket scientists that graduate from the Siloam Springs Band Program. It is absolutely possible for your child to do everything they are passionate about with the addition of band.

    In sixth grade, there is no meaningful impact to your family’s schedule. Band does not conflict with any other elective offerings, such as art or choir. This out of school commitment remains low for the first several years of participation.

    In short: they should try it! They will love band for the same reasons they enjoy the other passions.

  • There is almost no evidence that points towards “natural ability” as an indicator of success! Most students haven’t received any specific training in reading music and playing an instrument, and we wouldn’t expect them to.

    All students, regardless of how poorly they sing to the radio, can succeed in band with good effort and attitude.

  • In their first year, our focus is on learning to operate the instrument and teaching music literacy to your students. Because of that, we typically perform a limited amount of times:

    Band Night - October

    • Celebrates the entirety of our 700 student program. Held in the High School Football Stadium. Performances from our 6th graders, Middle School Band, and High School Marching Band.

    Christmas Concert - December

    • A Christmas Concert of exclusively 6th grade band, which each instrument section featured. Generally during the school day.

    Spring Concert - April

    • A summative concert of all that your student has learned in their first year of band.

  • The primary cost of band is the rental or procurement of an instrument.

    We partner with businesses to provide low cost rental opportunities, starting at $30 a month. All rental programs are rent-to-own, meaning that these payments are an investment towards owning the instrument at the end of the rental term. Rental can be ended at any time if your student decides not to continue.

    Depending on your student’s instrument placement, the band program may loan an instrument for a low, one-time maintenance fee.

    Band is for everyone, and we want to facilitate all interested families. Please reach out to hodged@gosiloam.com with any financial concerns.

  • Excellent! Please note that information on the signup form. We can try our best to place your student on this instrument.

    If you have questions about the conditions of the instrument you already own, send an email (with pictures and description) to ostermant@gosiloam.com.

  • Students interested in percussion (the family of instruments including drums, xylophones, and other gadgets) will indicate so on this sign up form.

    Placement test for percussion is an ongoing process. These are more involved and will only be for students with a strong interest in percussion.

  • Instrument placement is a process that balances the physical aptitude of your student, their desire, and the needs of the band to have a balanced range of instruments.

    Instrument placement letters will come at the beginning of the summer time.

    Your student will LOVE band, regardless of the instrument they play.