On Wednesday, February 20, music students from Winnequah's Sixth-Grade Band, Choir, and Orchestra performed for the 5th-grade students at Nichols and Cottage Grove Schools. This presentation is designed to showcase the music elective classes offered at Winnequah so that 5th-grade students can make decisions regarding their music class selection for 6th-grade. The 6th-grade band students also demonstrated each instrument so that the 5th-grade students could see and hear all of the different options they have when choosing an instrument. At the end of the presentation the 5th-grade students were asked to write down which three band instruments interest them most.
(The 6th-grade band performing for the Nichols 5th-grade students)
For more details about our tour of the elementary schools, click here to go to Mrs. Stone's blog.
This is a good time for you to talk with your child about their band instrument choices.
Mouthpiece Testing
Within the next two weeks, Mrs. Stone, the 6th-grade band teacher, will be talking individually with students who may be interested in band, about choosing a band instrument. Students will play on the mouthpieces for the instruments for which they indicated an interest. (They also may try additional mouthpieces if they wish.) The students will be given basic instruction in producing a good sound on the mouthpieces and then will have time to try them out. Students interested in percussion will be asked to clap simple rhythms. Mrs. Stone will give the students feedback on their ability to make a sound on the mouthpieces that they selected, and then the students will select their top three instrument choices.
After speaking with all students and having them try instrument mouthpieces, Mrs. Stone will make the final recommendations for each child’s instrument. Instrument selection decisions are based upon the best mouthpiece fit for each student, the student's choices, and the overall Band Instrumentation. While every effort is made to assign students their first choice instrument, this is not always possible. However, students will be assigned one of their three instrument choices.
(Students who select an instrument with Mrs. Stone are not required to take band. Students go through this process so that they know what instrument they will play should they choose band.)
6th-grade Registration
During the first week of April, Mrs. Stone will return to the elementary schools to give a presentation to 5th-grade students about their 6th-grade schedule. Students will receive a 6th-grade registration form which they will use to select which, if any, music performance classes students choose for 6th-grade. All students must fill out the registration form and return it to school with a parent signature to register for 6th-grade.
If you have questions about the Monona Grove 6th-Grade Band program, please contact Janice Stone at:
221-7676 ext. 631
or by email: