Air Quality, Quarantine Instructions

 Air Quality

As mentioned in previous blogs, current state COVID guidelines require us to be outside when singing or playing instruments. When the air quality is poor due to smoke, we will not be going outside. Instead we will stay in the music room and work on other aspects of music. Band classes will be working on composing. Choir classes will be learning the ukulele. Guitar class does not need to modify our lesson plans based on weather. 

What do if Quarantined

If your student is quarantined (or out for any reason) they are still expected to keep up with their daily school work. In a music class that means practicing. 

Because music is a skill the develops with repetition, most of what we do in the music room involves rehearsing our current music. We do not have many assignments that are turned in and graded. If your student is absent it is expected that they will practice our current music on their own so they keep pace with the rest of the class. I require 15-20 minutes of practice time/day, that a student is absent. 

Students on "Independent Study" (out for 5 or more days) will be asked to complete a practice log with their practice minutes and goals for each day they are absent. The practice log must be turned in once the student returns to school in order to receive credit for the missed days.  

You can find our rehearsal plan for each day in our week-at-a-glance document (WAG). The WAG can be found on the Classboard of OTUS and contains:

• Our agenda for each day - which pieces of music we are working on that day or other activities
• Resources - links to the sheet music, links to audio practice tracks, slides for lectures notes, links to online websites

If your student plays an instrument and is quarantined, you can reach out to me and I will put the instrument in the front office for you to pick up. If a student plays their instrument during a period of time when they are confirmed to have COVID, we will want to sanitize the instrument before returning to school. Reach out to me and I will provide instructions on how to safely sanitize your specific instrument.

If there is a playing/singing assessment due while a student is quarantined they may choose to take the assessment at home via a video recording in OTUS OR they may choose to wait until they return to school to take the assessment. 

Instruments and Health/Safety

 Mid-August Update

Health Guidelines for Safe Music-Making

Guidelines

Due to the way we use and move air in band and choir, music classes fall under special COVID safety guidelines.  

At Eich we will be following the most up-to-date guidelines for making music. I am working with the District Office and closely following both the state guidelines and the scientific research as it is becoming available. My goal is to keep our bands and choirs making music in the safest manner possible. 

What does that mean for us?

All Band and Choir rehearsals will be:

• Held out doors
• Socially distanced at 3 feet - this is more than what the current guidelines state.

**No masking is required at this time due to us being outdoors

If the guidelines change I will let you know!

Weather

We are working on getting a semi-permanent shade structure for our outdoor classroom. This will allow us to be as comfortable as possible while also protecting equipment. If the weather is too hot, cold, rainy, windy to be outdoors then we will stay inside for the day/class period. While we are inside we will work on our theory and composing. We will not be playing or singing while indoors at this time. 

Resources

If you are interested in the State Guidelines or the Music Aerosol Study you can find links below.

• Current Guidance from CDPH:
  "During activities when increased exhalation occurs, such as singing, shouting, band, or sports and exercise. Move these activities outdoors or to large, well-ventilated space, when possible." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html
• International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study
  "Outdoors: Outdoors remains the safest space No mitigations needed depending on the level of local and state transmission rates" https://www.nfhs.org/media/4717034/international-coalition-performing-arts-aerosol-study-july-2021-update-final.pdf

Band Instrument Assignments

The kids have been sorted! We have explored the instrument options and the musicians have chosen their top three instruments. With the exception of percussion, students have been assigned to their band instrument. When assigning instruments I kept 3 things in mind:

1. Student preference

2. Balance - we want a varied selection of instruments for our band to sound the best

3. Instrument Inventory and Availability - this is especially a consideration for the larger instruments 

As I mentioned at Back-2-School-Night, some families may need to provide a band instrument. The school has a good selection of the larger instruments to loan to students. However, our smaller instruments are used for the Beginning Band wheel classes. Please chat with your musician to find out what instrument they will be playing and then check the list below for more information

**If your musician is playing an instrument that needs to be rented/purchased and you cannot afford one, please reach out to me. We will come up with options. 

Percussion

As is common, we had too many musicians choose percussion as their top instrument. We have 4 percussion spots and 8 students interested. Tomorrow I will ask those 8 students if any would like to play their 2nd choice. If more than 4 students remain interested we will have an audition. 

**Several of you reached out to let me know that your musician is already taking drum lessons. This will be taken into consideration as well. 

Flutes

Good news, flute is an amazing instrument (some might say, the best). Unfortunate news, we do not have any school flutes left. So if your musician is going to play flute, you will need to rent or purchase one. Rental information is listed below. There are no accessories needed for the flute. 

Clarinets and Alto Saxes

I have a very limited number of clarinets and saxophones left. If you are able to, I would ask that you look into renting an instrument. 

Rental information is listed below. 

Both instruments require reeds to play. They are small pieces of shaved bamboo wood. The school will be able to provide a couple of reeds to get you started. After that, you will need to provide your own. You can purchase reeds at a music store or at online venders like Amazon.

    Reed Info:

        Brand: Rico or Vandoren

        Style: Eb Alto Saxophone OR Bb Clarinet

        Size: 3

    

Trumpets Instruments

I have a very limited number of trumpets left. If you are able to, I would ask that you look into renting an instrument.

Rental information is listed below. There are no accessories needed for the trumpet.

Other

Oboe, Tenor/Bari Sax, F Horn, Trombone, Baritone/Euph, Tuba can all borrow from the school. I will assign your student a school instrument to use for the year. There is a one time suggested donation of $30 to cover maintenance fees. The donation is optional and not required in any way. 

Rental Information

There are many wonderful music stores in the greater Roseville area. They all rent and sell quality instruments and I would recommend any of them. There are a few stores that school regularly does business with and I have listed them below. These are not your only choices, just the ones I have the most personal experience with. 

The Music Yard - online rental form

Located on Lonetree Blvd in Rocklin. Offers a great rent-to-own program. If you complete the rental form online they will deliver the instrument to the school for free(or you may pick it up from the store at any time)!

Tim's Music - online rental form

Located on Fair Oaks Blvd in Carmichael. You can complete the online form and pick up the instrument in-store or pay a $15 delivery fee for drop off at the school. **You DO NOT need any of the additional accessories that are offered. Clarinets and Saxophones may want to purchase the reeds. 

Tague Music - online rental request **Excellent Repair Shop!!!!**

Located on Greenback in Citrus Heights. You can request an instrument online or call to confirm availability. You will need to pick up the instrument in-store. 

Instrument Puchasing

If you choose to purchase an instrument for your musician I highly suggest you do so from an actual music store that specializes in band instruments. 

It is tempting to purchase an instrument from popular online vendors but I do not suggest it. With instruments, you get what you pay for. A low cost instrument will not be able to stand up to the regular playing we will be doing. Often when these lower cost instruments break, our local repair shops will not work on them. They are too fragile to repair. 

Quality band instruments will cost around $300-500 on the low end. If an instrument is advertised for less then that, it may not be worth the investment. 
I am happy to look at any instrument advertisement or link and let you know what I think. I am also happy the give recommendations on brands, models, and vendors. Please reach out if you have questions. 

August 2021 Back to School!

 August 2021 - Back to School Edition

Welcome to the 2021/22 school year where we will be back to normal better in the music room! In this blog you will find all of the start up information for the music department. This is the same information that was presented at Back to School Night. Please reach out if you have any questions! I look forward to making lot's of music with your students this year!

Supplies - please have by Monday, August 9th

• Binder - black, 1.5" with "clearview" front and inside pockets
• Sheet protectors x 25
• Dividers x 4
• Pencil
• Highlighter

Performance Calendar**

• Winter Showcase: December 15th OR 16th - Please reserve both dates on your family calendar for now. We are hoping to all be able to perform on the 16th but will split our concert into smaller groups over two nights if current guidelines require it
• Roseville Music Festival: TBD March - Usually the first Saturday in March. Dates have not been released yet. Location is Woodcreek High School  for band and Brown Elementary School for choir/guitar. 
• Spring Trip April/May TBD - we will take a one day trip to a music competition and theme park in Vallejo or San Jose. 
• Spring Showcase: Thursday, May 16th

**All performances are subject to the health guidelines in effect at the time of the performance

Performance Uniform

Formal Uniform - for concerts and festivals/competition

• All Black "from toes to elbows"
• Black, closed toed shoes
• Black pants or skirt/dress with tights
• Black shirt with full length or 3/4 length sleeves

Informal Uniform - for school rallies, field trips or other community events

• Optional music department T-shirt - available for purchase soon
• Eich branded shirts 

Communication

Please feel free to reach out using whatever method you are most comfortable with. When you send a message it is helpful if you include your student's name and which class/ensemble they are in. 

Email: jaldridge@rcsdk8.org

School Phone: 916-771-1770 ext 23146

Facebook: @W.T. Eich Music Program

Twitter: @JennAldridge1

Instruments 

Guitar

Each student will be assigned a school guitar on Monday. 
Students may choose to use a personal guitar as long as it is an acoustic (non-electric) model.
Students may store guitars in the music room (even personal ones) or take them home. The music room is open at 8:45am every morning for instrument drop-off and until 3:30pm each day for pick-up. 

Band

Possible Band Instruments:
Flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone (alto, tenor, or bari), F horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone/euphonium, tuba, percussion (includes snare and xylophone.

• Large instruments available to borrow from the school:

• Oboe, Bass clarinet, tenor/bari saxophone, trombone, euphonium, tuba

• Small instruments that may need to be rented/purchased from a music store:

• Flutes, clarinets, alto saxophone, trumpet, snare/xylophone

• Very limited supply available for year-long classes. Most of our inventory is reserved for the Beginning Band Wheel classes

Rentals and Purchases

I will send out information on where you can potentially rent a band instrument next week, after we have explored all of the options in class. Our local music stores all offer great quality rental instruments beginning at $25/month. They also include a rent-to-own program. 

Week-at-a-Glance

The Week-at-a-Glance (WAG) document will be updated each Monday to include the weekly activities, assignments, and practice goals. The WAG is posted in OTUS on the announcements page and in the bookshelf. We will access and view this document daily in class. If a student is absent for any reason, they should access the WAG to keep up with the class. 

Assignments

All assignments will be posted and graded in OTUS. Parents can view the description and rubric for each assignment. You will not be able to view the student work if you are logged in as a parent. 

There are three types of assignments in music class:

1. Performance Tests - video recorded in OTUS
2. Composition Assignments - writing and composing original music using the "Noteflight" software program and submitted thru OTUS
3. Reflections - Written documents submitted through OTUS

Assignments and assessments fall under the four IB Criterion for Visual and Performing Arts. 

A: Knowing and Understanding

B: Developing Skills

C: Creating

D Reflecting

Assignment names will include the Criterion that are being assessed. Students will get a grade for each criterion assessed. Some assignments may have 1-2 grades, other may have 5-6 grades. OTUS will calculate an overall grade for each assignment. 

example assignment name: "Ai, Bii, Ci, Cii, Diii - What's in a Name Composition"

Grading

All assignments are graded on the school-wide 8 Point Rubric. 

• 7-8 Mastery = going above and beyond the expected 
• 5-6 Proficient = grade level work
• 3-4 Approaching = approaching grade level work
• 1-2 Beginning = below grade level work
• IE Insufficient Evidence = missing or incomplete assignment

Students may revise and resubmit any assignment for a higher score

Late or missing assignments are accepted until the end of the current trimester