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School Supplies/Fundraisers; Going Broke
Topic Started: Sep 13 2006, 09:43 AM (7,043 Views)
loyaltolivonia
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amomof2
Nov 16 2006, 02:40 PM
The 5th graders were also offered a choice between vocal and instrumental music.
Why do the 6th graders have to pay, but the 5th graders don't?

The 5th graders are not allowed to take the instruments home. Also, from what I have heard from a friend, 5th grade 'band' is more an 'Experiment with the Instruments' type class. They get to try different instruments.

However, the 6th graders have to have their own instruments because they are expected to take them home and practice :o Disclaimer: (The next few lines are my opinion only) Practice WHAT? I have no idea. the teacher is having a difficult time teaching them anything because 95% of these 6th graders have never touched a true instrument before. My son was told MOST of his grade would be based on whether he brought his instument to class or not. Boy, those 'specials' sure are special.....NOT!!!
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amomof2
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I don't know about the 5th graders not being able to take their instruments home. I know of one that brings the violin home with him.

I agree that the teacher would have a difficult time... with the class playing several different instruments for the 1st time in their lives, it must be difficult to teach several different groups how to play their instrument.
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loyaltolivonia
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amomof2
Nov 16 2006, 02:53 PM
I don't know about the 5th graders not being able to take their instruments home. I know of one that brings the violin home with him.

I agree that the teacher would have a difficult time... with the class playing several different instruments for the 1st time in their lives, it must be difficult to teach several different groups how to play their instrument.

Don't know if what I heard is correct, but they seem to have enough 'strings' (?) to send home, but not the brass or woodwinds (?).

Yes I agree the teacher must be having an awful time teaching the class, but on the other hand to grade MOSTLY on whether they remember their instrument is the same as telling the kid if they bring their math book to school every day, you get a 4. It doesn't matter if your homework is not done?!

I'm sure I have this opinion because I don't really feel the 'specials' are special at all. They fill in time in the day for the kids. Most think it's fun, but I can't say they're learning much.
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NFarquharson
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With regards to 5th graders taking home instruments:

My 5th grade son has brought his violin home on 3 occasions for a few days each time. He seems to know when he is supposed to return it, although there have been no written instructions that I have seen. My assumption is that there are not enough for everyone to take home at the same time and they are rotated in some fashion.
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Aunt Bea
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I know it's been a few years, but is any of this different from when we learned how to play an instrument in the public school system in elementary school? The school loaned some instruments, parents rented some (remember the racket Hamel music ran?) and we all were in one "band" class. Lots of ugly noises coming out of that converted lunch room! There was no individual instruction and our poor parents had to listen to us practice "Red River Valley" over and over again. Somehow, through those beginnings some of us developed a love for music and continued on through junior and senior high school and beyond. I think the same will happen for these kids and they even have a "jump" on the kids a few years ahead of them that didn't have a chance to touch an instrument until junior high school.

Anyway, I'm sure it is hard to see how how these kids will progress into real musicians some day, but they have to start somewhere and I'm glad we have a program.
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fyi
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Quote:
 
Anyway, I'm sure it is hard to see how how these kids will progress into real musicians some day, but they have to start somewhere and I'm glad we have a program.


What if the program gets cut? It's been cut before and they can do it again.
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no-good
6th Grade
Aunt Bea
Nov 16 2006, 03:57 PM
I know it's been a few years, but is any of this different from when we learned how to play an instrument in the public school system in elementary school? The school loaned some instruments, parents rented some (remember the racket Hamel music ran?) and we all were in one "band" class. Lots of ugly noises coming out of that converted lunch room! There was no individual instruction and our poor parents had to listen to us practice "Red River Valley" over and over again. Somehow, through those beginnings some of us developed a love for music and continued on through junior and senior high school and beyond. I think the same will happen for these kids and they even have a "jump" on the kids a few years ahead of them that didn't have a chance to touch an instrument until junior high school.

Anyway, I'm sure it is hard to see how how these kids will progress into real musicians some day, but they have to start somewhere and I'm glad we have a program.

I'm glad they have music as well, but I believe it is not worth the chaos that has been caused by the LI. Nothing so far has made this worth while!!!!!!!
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mega millions
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NFarquharson
Nov 16 2006, 03:47 PM
With regards to 5th graders taking home instruments:

My 5th grade son has brought his violin home on 3 occasions for a few days each time. He seems to know when he is supposed to return it, although there have been no written instructions that I have seen. My assumption is that there are not enough for everyone to take home at the same time and they are rotated in some fashion.

That is how it worked with my oldest who is in 10th grade now. They were on some sort of rotation with the violins and he did bring it home a couple of times. Same thing with the Science curriculum -- they were done in segments and shared throughout the district. The not having a book is nothing new. I personally like now the number of textbooks in the middle school that are available on-line. No need for the kids to cart home all those heavy textbooks. Saves on the back and the backpack.
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loyaltolivonia
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Aunt Bea
Nov 16 2006, 03:57 PM
I know it's been a few years, but is any of this different from when we learned how to play an instrument in the public school system in elementary school? The school loaned some instruments, parents rented some (remember the racket Hamel music ran?) and we all were in one "band" class. Lots of ugly noises coming out of that converted lunch room! There was no individual instruction and our poor parents had to listen to us practice "Red River Valley" over and over again. Somehow, through those beginnings some of us developed a love for music and continued on through junior and senior high school and beyond. I think the same will happen for these kids and they even have a "jump" on the kids a few years ahead of them that didn't have a chance to touch an instrument until junior high school.

Anyway, I'm sure it is hard to see how how these kids will progress into real musicians some day, but they have to start somewhere and I'm glad we have a program.

Yes, in fact, it is different. I went to Hoover in the 70's and had Mr. Galati as a music teacher. My parents did not have to rent the flute I played and I started instruction in 5th grade on the flute only. We learned HOW to read music and we were graded on that as well as bringing our instruments to class. I can't remember how many times a week we went to class.
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Aunt Bea
Principal
no-good,Nov 16 2006
04:28 PM

I'm glad they have music as well, but I believe it is not worth the chaos that has been caused by the LI. Nothing so far has made this worth while!!!!!!![/QUOTE]
Sorry to hit sensitive spot. I wasn't posting this thinking of it as pro or anti LI statement. Just talking about instrumental music curriculum, renting/buying instruments and the way the course is set up.
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