WMS Bands

May 10, 2020

Dear 5th Grade Parents,
A new year of school means a new year of opportunities upon you and your
family! Westmoreland Middle School Band allows your child to be a part of
something larger than themselves and work collaboratively towards the same
goal; all while developing a lifelong passion for music! Our band program
begins in 6th grade and continues through high school with many
opportunities to explore and experience music.
We will be having our Instrument Tryout night on August 13th (Thursday
before school begins) at 5pm in the Westmoreland MS music room. This will
place your student on the instrument that best fits them and their role in the
band (while still taking account of students interest). We begin all students on
flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, and percussion; then we will branch out in
January for secondary instruments. If you have an instrument your child will
use, please contact Ms. Mallon so we can discuss. If your child is interested in
getting a head start over the summer, send an email to Ms. Mallon to set up
an earlier try out and weekly lessons. Instruments are like cars, you wouldn't
buy a car from Walmart or Amazon!
After Instrument Tryout night, we will have 3 sessions that you and your child
must attend based on the instrument (flute/clarinet, trumpet/trombone, and
percussion) that following Friday and/or Saturday. There we will discuss how
to play/assemble/care each instrument as well as go into the programs
expectations a bit further.
We would love to welcome new members to the Band Family we have at
Westmoreland. If you have any further questions or are looking for more
information on our program, check out our links below.

Sincerely,
Ms. Mallon, WMS Band Director

WMS.SUMNERSCHOOLS.ORG/BAND
FACEBOOK/TWITTER - @WMSBANDFAMILY
RMALLON@SUMNERSCHOOLS.ORG
WMS Bands:
Try Out Night!
Joining band this fall?
Come to Try Out Night and play
some instruments!
Bring a parent and a friend!

Westmooreland Middle School Music Room

August 13, 2020, 5:00pm

QUESTIONS? EMAIL MS. MALLON!

RMALLON@SUMNERSCHOOLS.ORG
WHAT IS WANT TO
THE KNOW
WESTMORE MORE WMS BANDS
BAND ABOUT THE PRESENTS:
FAMILY? WESTMORE
BAND INSTRUMENT
FAMILY? TRY OUT
NIGHT
CHECK US OUT:
The Westmore Band AUGUST 13
Family is a group of
musicians in the
WMS MUSIC
community through ROOM
the Westmore/Sumner
School District. Our
@WMSBANDFAMILY 5PM
goal is to create life-
WMS.SUMNERSCHOOLS.ORG/BAND
long musicians,
promote arts in the CONTACT FOR MORE DETAILS
community, and further Ms. Mallon
society. rmallon@sumnerschools.org

FAQ
WHEN WILL BAND MEET?
Beginning band meets
during the allotted class
time at 11:20-11:50.
DO I NEED TO HAVE
MUSIC/BAND EXPERIENCE?
Although we prefer it for our
percussionists, no prior
experience is necessary to
be a part of the program!
ARE THERE SPECIFIC
INSTRUMENTS FOR BOYS
AND GIRLS?
Absolutely not! Anyone can
play any instrument in our
band.
CAN I RENT AN
INSTRUMENT?
Absolutely. We have great
connections through reliable
music dealers where you
can rent before deciding if
band is right for you!
CAN I PLAY A DIFFFERENT
INSTRUMENT THAN THE
ONES ON "MEET THE
INSTRUMENTS"?
We begin all students on the
five instruments to ensure
no one gets left behind. If
you already own a different
instrument, contact Ms.
Mallon to check if you can
use it!
MEET THE
INSTRUMENTS
FLUTE
Woodwind instrument
made out of metal. 
WHAT IS
Fun fact: Lizzo is a pop artist INSTRUMENT
TRY OUT
that incorporates her flute in
many songs!
CLARINET
Woodwind instrument NIGHT?
made out of plastic or
wood. Instrument Try Out
Fun fact: The clarinet is
Night is how we
one of Mozart's favorite
TRUMPET place students on
instruments!
Brass instrument that
instruments in our
uses 3 valves.
Fun fact: The trumpet is band. We take in
one of the most used account what
instruments outside of
instrument we
band/orchestra.
believe would be
TROMBONE
best for you and
Brass instrument that
uses a slide. what you want to
Fun fact: The trombone play. You'll hear and
descends from an
test out each
instrument called a
"sackbut" instrument before
GLOCKENSPIEL the decision is
A percussion
made. The next two
instrument that is
similar to a xylophone. days you'll attend a
Fun fact: session where you
Percussion is made up
of many different
learn all about your
instruments like drums, instrument.
bells, maracas, and
more!
Instrument Try Out Night (Thursday August 13th from 5pm-8pm)
• Staff Meeting 4pm (Band Director, Booster Parent, Auditioners, Station Teachers, HS
representatives)
o Staff will meet to discuss logistics, expectations, materials
o Everyone will have a nametag!
o Auditioner Expectations
§ All instruments must be disinfected EVERY time it goes to a new person.
§ Always begin with mouthpiece, the entire instrument isn’t always
necessary.
§ During the last round of try outs, the auditioner will write the student’s top
two recommendations on the rating card.
o Auditioner Packet
§ List of students that have already tried out and/or have been assigned an
instrument
§ List of ideal things to look for for specific instruments
§ Rating Card explanation
§ List of troubleshooting tips for each instrument
§ Do NOT give out any 1’s. Every student will see their ratings
o Station Teacher Expectations
§ Give a basic introduction to instrument (what it is, how it works) with a
playing demonstration using the song found in your packet
§ 15 min per instrument, BD will
§ Spend 15 minutes talking about the instrument and demonstrating
§ Answer any questions students may have
• If it’s a question you may not know the answer to, direct them to
Ms. Mallon!
§ You will have ~10 students at a station for 20 minutes total and students
will be auditioning individually while your demonstration is being given.
o Station Teacher Packet
§ Song(s) to play as demonstrations
• Introduction to Program and Evening 5pm (with Students and Parents!)
o 30 min intro to the program (who are all the people) + auditioners, how the set up
will work
o Band Booster head will give introduction to booster program and will be around
to answer questions.
o Two high school students that represent the WBF will answer questions and
describe their experience in the program.
o Have auditioners/station teachers/HS representatives play a short piece for
students.
o Split students into 3 groups by last name
o Student Questionnaire/Rating Card (will keep throughout evening and turn in at
the end)
§ Before instrument night: What instrument are you most to least interested
in?
§ After instrument night: What instrument are you most to least interested in
now that you’ve seen each one?
 § Do you have any piano/choir/other instrument experience?
§ On the back: rating card for each auditioner
o Parent Questionnaire (turned in with Student Questionnaire)
§ Does your student have any piano/choir/other instrument experience?
§ Are you available during Friday 2pm-9pm and/or Saturday 2pm-8pm?
• P is for preferred, C is for can but not preferred, N is for not able to
attend
§ Does the student have anything that may impact their ability to play
certain instruments? (Examples: student needs braces, student is allergic to
certain metals, etc.)
§ Info sheet
• Phone, email, student name, special student interests (jazz,
secondary instruments, etc.),
o Students will spend 20 minutes at each station
• Closing of Evening 7:30pm
o Have students turn in their completed rating card and meet with the teacher to
decide what instrument will be best.
o After meeting with the teacher, have students meet with their parent on which
instrument session time will work best.
o Thank everyone for coming! Stick around and let students and parents ask
questions.
o If any questions/concerns, ask BD.
Flute/Clarinet Sessions (Fri 2pm, Fri 6pm, Sat 2pm, Sat 6pm)
• Split into two groups based on instrument
• Instrument care/assembly/play
• Cost expectations
o Recurring/one time
• Where to purchase instrument (dealer there)
• What instruments to purchase
• Secondary instrument options
o Oboe, bassoon, saxophones, bass clarinet

Trumpet/Trombone Sessions (Fri. 3pm, Fri 7pm, Sat. 3pm, Sat 7pm)
• Split into two groups based on instrument
• Instrument care/assembly/play
• Cost expectations
o Recurring/one time
• Where to purchase instrument (dealer there)
• What instruments to purchase
• Secondary instrument options
o Horn, euphonium, tuba

Percussion Sessions (Fri. 4pm, Fri 8pm, Sat. 4pm)

• Keyboard for first 4 wks before switching to snare
• Cost expectations
• Where to purchase materials (dealer there)
• What types/brands of materials