Donna Shepard Mustang Band

5th Grade Band Instrument Rental Contracts and Accessory Purchase Day is still on as of April 30. If there are any changes due to the swine flue threat, we will post that information here.

Stay healthy!
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We are in the process of doing try-outs for next year's Mustang Band, and should have everyone completed before May 16th.

ON SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2009, from 9 AM- NOON, representatives from Music and Arts Center in Arlington will be at Donna Shepard to set-up rental/purchase contracts for flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone and percussion, and for parents to purchase books, mouthpieces and accessories that each student will need.

This is a convenience we offer for parents so that you only have to come to school for about 30 minutes to get all your child's band material needs taken care of. You do not have to drive to the store and wait in long lines.

Please remember to bring your checkbook or a credit card. You will be purchasing accessories and making the first month's rental payment at that time. Instruments and accessories will be delivered to Donna Shepard in early August and we will issued them to the students.

PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF YOUR CONTRACT AND RECEIPT in case anything is missing or incorrect. Those problems, if they occur, can be easily solved.

Please click here for a list of Instruments and Accessories:

http://www.lunchcrab.com/band/preferredinstrumentlist.html

We recommend renting/purchasing a good quality instrument through Music and Arts Center. They offer the brands and models we prefer the children use in the program. Please DO NOT purchase an instrument off the internet or from a wholesale club. These instruments are often inexpensive initially, but are cheaply made with parts that often break easily. This is frustrating for the student and can cost more over time.

For some instruments and classes, there is a limitation on the number of students we can accommodate. Students will be selected for those instruments according to their rankings in the try-outs. As these students have auditioned for us, we have made sure they have a strong second choice.

• Oboe limited to 4-6
• Bassoon limited to 4-6
• Saxophone limited to 10
• French Horn limited to 16
• Euphonium limited to 10
• Tuba: limited to 10
• Percussion limited to 15

Oboe, Bassoon, French Horn, Euphonium and Tuba are school-owned instruments. There is a one-time $50 rental fee for the year, plus the purchase of mouthpiece, band books and accessories pack which can be ordered through Music and Arts Center
ON SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2009, from 9 AM- Noon. Contracts for these instruments will be issued to the students in ranked order according to their try-out scores during the week following the auditions.

Please notice again that we have a limited number of slots for these instruments. Therefore, we will make sure your child has a strong second choice that they will be successful on. The KEY factor is in getting the child on the instrument that fits them the best. Most students have at least 2 instruments that fit them well (some have 3 or 4), so usually their #2 choice will make them just as happy as their first.

Further information on the Donna Shepard Band Program - Student Expectations, Preferred Instrument Lists, Private Teachers, band photos and more - can be found on the Internet at

http://lunchcrab.com/band

If you are unavailable on May 16th, you can contact our Educational Representative at the Music and Arts Center, Mr. Rick Thorley, at the phone number below. He can solve any equipment need.

Rick Thorley (972)795-9635 (cell)

You may also be interested in visiting the websites for Worley Middle School Band - http://www.worleyband.org/ - and the Legacy Bronco Band - http://legacybroncoband.com.

We are anticipating the Best Year Ever for the Mustang Band, and we look forward to helping your child have a fantastic band experience!

Thanks!

John H. Julian and Jessica Laws