[Msorchestra] Smartmusic and Private Lessons

[MacDonald, Colleen]

Welcome to WMS Band and Orchestra!  At this point your children should have come home with a WMS Band and Orchestra Handbook outlining the Middle school program for you.  I wanted to email you about two important things for middle school instrumental students:

1.  Smartmusic:  Here at the Middle School we use Smartmusic weekly, both in and out of class.  Every band and orchestra student will have a Smartmusic account, where they can submit musical assignments and check their grade status.  I will be giving them weekly grades so they can always know where they stand in class and what they need to improve on.  It is a phenomenal program!  Although some students do their assignments on our 3 school computers, it is not as easy to get the assignments done here at the Middle School.  I highly recommend purchasing a Smartmusic subscription for your home computer.  It is only $21.25 for a year's subscription.  I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the program.  I will also be going over Smartmusic with parents at Back-To-School night in  all grades.  Please help your child sign-up on your home computer.  If you have more than one student using the program, you only need to purchase one subscription per computer.  As many user accounts as needed are allowed under one subscription.  For details of how to sign up, refer to the WMS Band and Orchestra Handbook or visit www.smartmusic.com.

2. Private Lessons:  Private lessons are crucial to the development of instrumental music students in the Middle and High School.  We no longer see students in small groups, as was done in Field.  We only see your children in their large performing ensemble.  Private lessons allow a teacher to give your child individual attention and to help him/her develop strong technical skills on the instrument. Private teachers also help students with band an orchestra music in lessons.  An extremely high percentage of our instrumental students take private lessons starting in Middle School.   Please consider signing your child up for private lessons this year.  We have a fabulous staff of private teachers that teach both here and at the High School after school hours.  Attached is the private lesson sign-up form.  It's not too late to sign-up!

I look forward to another fantastic year with the Weston Middle School Bands and Orchestras!  Feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Colleen MacDonald