Welcome to the 2023/22 school year 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 (plus a little more). Please reach out if you have any questions! I look forward to making lots of music with your students this year!
Supplies
Everyone
- Binder - black, 1" with "clearview" front and inside pockets
- Sheet protectors x 25
- Dividers x 4
- Pencil
- Highlighter
Instrument Specific Supplies
- Clarinet/Saxophone
- Reeds: Size 3 for your specific instrument (ex, size 3 for Tenor Saxophone)
- Brands: Rico, Rico Royal, Vandoran
- Please have 2-3 working reeds at all times
- Oboe/Bassoon
- Reeds: Medium or Medium Soft strength for your instrument
- Brands: Jones, Forrest
- Please have at least 2 working reeds at all times
- Brass (Tumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba)
- Valve Oil
- Preferred Brands: Yamaha, Al Cass, Blue Juice
- Percussion/Drums
- Guitar
- Picks: Any style or strength
- Capo
- Clip on tuner
Classes
Our Music Department is made up of six different classes! Four of them are yearlong performance groups. In order to keep things organized I color code each class. Please take note of your musician's class name and color. I will refer to each group by name and color throughout the Blog.
1st period Advanced Band
2nd Period Intermediate Band
4th Period Guitar Ensemble
7th Period Modern Band
Performance Calendar
This is the calendar for all four of our performance groups. But, not all groups perform at every event. Be sure to look for your student's class before adding the event to your calendar.
I will send details and reminders for each event as we get closer to the date.
- Saturday, October ?? @ afternoon(TBD): Oakmont Field Show
- Advanced Band will perform the National Anthem at the opening of the Field Show Competition at Oakmont High School.
- Thursday, December 14th, 7pm @ Eich Gym: Winter Showcase
- Advanced Band Intermediate Band Guitar Ensemble will perform a combined concert along with the Ballroom dance program.
- Saturday TBD March: American River College Music Festival
- Advanced Band Intermediate Band Guitar Ensemble will participate in the music festival. We will be evaluated and rated by judges (non-competitive).
- Usually the first Saturday in March. I will update you once the schedule is released
- TBD April: Eich-a-Palooza
- Modern Band concert festival on the Eich field
- Saturday, April 27: Six Flags Spring Trip
- Guitar Ensemble and Modern Band see details below
- Thursday, May 9th, 7pm @ Eich Gym: Spring Concert
- Advanced Band Intermediate Band Guitar Ensemble will perform a combined concert along with the Ballroom dance program.
- Wednesday-Saturday, May 15th-18th: Disneyland Trip
- Advanced Band Intermediate Band see details below
Spring Trips
One of my goals as a music educator is to provide opportunities for our musicians to perform for a variety of audiences and experiences. This includes taking trips outside of our Roseville community and once-in-a-lifetime performances!
One Day Music Festival and Theme Park: Guitar Ensemble and Modern Band
April 27th
This is a one day trip to Vallejo to compete in a music festival and then visit the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park.
Disneyland Concert: Advanced Band and Intermediate Band
May 15th-18th
This is an opportunity to perform inside the Disneyland Resort Theme parks. We are currently waiting for our audition and application to be accepted. Once it is, I will hold a parent info night where we will go over all of the details for the trip.
Disneyland Performing Arts
- A four day trip where we travel to Disneyland, perform a 30 minute concert inside the Disney theme park, and spend two days at Disneyland/California Adventure
- Requires an audition for Disney AND at least 20 musicians for each ensemble
Performance Uniform
Families are responsible for providing a performance uniform for their musician.
**Disneyland is very particular about what their school performance groups wear. They generally require a much more formal look. If we pass the audition I will send out recommendations for shirts/pants/shoes
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
**Disneyland is very particular about what their school performance groups wear. They generally require a much more formal look. If we pass the audition I will send out requirements for shirts/pants/shoes
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
Instruments
Guitar/Modern Band
We will be learning several different instruments this year. Everyone will start on an acoustic (non-electric) guitar for the first month. After that we will branch out into electric bass, drum set, electric guitar, and potentially keyboards.
Each student will have access to a school guitar to use in class.
Students may choose to use a personal guitar as long as it is an acoustic (non-electric) model.
Students may store personal guitars in the music room. The music room is open at 7:45am every morning for instrument drop-off and until 2:30pm each day for pick-up.
Band
Instrument Choice
If your student played a band instrument last year they are encouraged to continue playing the same instrument this year. The exceptions are for our less common instruments that may not have been available last year OR in the case that we have too many musicians on the same instrument.
If your student is new to band then we will be exploring the available instrument options in class. Expect them to be assigned an instrument by the end of the week.
My goal is to get every student on an instrument that excites them, fits their physical features, and is readily available to them. We also need a "balanced" ensemble with representation from all of the instrument voices. With all of this in mind, it may be possible that your student's best option is their 2nd or 3rd choice instrument. I encourage students to keep an open mind and give the instrument 3-4 weeks of effort before we discuss making a change.
Inventory
The school has a limited instrument inventory to loan to students.
Most of our smaller, more common instruments, are reserved for our 6th grade Beginning Band students.
Musicians in our yearlong band classes are asked to consider renting or purchasing their own instrument. The larger, less common (and more expensive!) instruments are generally available to loan to our yearlong students.
This table lists the instruments on the Rental vs Loan list.
Family Rental/Purchase** | School Loan |
Flute | Oboe |
Bb Clarinet | Bassoon |
Eb Alto Saxophone | Bass Clarinet |
Trumpet | Bb Tenor Saxophone |
Trombone | Eb Bari Saxophone |
Percussion Kit (Snare/Xylophone) | F Horn |
| Euphonium/Baritone |
| Tuba |
**If your student plays one of these instruments and needs to loan one from the school, please reach out and I will make every effort to have one available. If the instrument is not available then we will look at other instrument options.
Rentals and Purchases
Our local music stores all offer great quality rental instruments beginning at $25/month. They also include a rent-to-own program. This is a short list of stores that I have personal experience with. There are many others in the greater Roseville area that also offer quality services. I encourage you to shop local when it comes to instruments as some larger chain stores do not offer the same quality. Please reach out of you have any questions or would like suggestions if considering purchasing an instrument.
*Offers an online rental experience. If you choose the "delivery" option then the instrument will be dropped off at Eich or I will pick it up.
*Had a limited inventory remaining as of last week
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 and Clever. 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:
- Performance Tests - video recorded in OTUS
- Written Assignments - written analysis of the music we are exploring and composition assignments.
- Reflections - Written reflections on our process and progress
Assignments and assessments fall under the four IB Objectives for Visual and Performing Arts:
A: Investigating
i. investigate a movement or genre in their chosen arts discipline, related to the statement of inquiry
ii. critique an artwork or performance from the chosen movement or genre.
B: Developing Skills
i. practically explore ideas to inform development of a final artwork or performance
ii. present a clear artistic intention for the final artwork or performance in line with the statement of
C: Creating and Performing
i. create or perform an artwork.
D: Evaluating
i. appraise their own artwork or performance
ii. reflect on their development as an artist.
Assignment names will include the Criterion and strands 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"
Each Objective strand will be graded twice per year (not per trimester).
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 scoreLate or missing assignments are accepted until the end of the current trimester
About Me!
I began playing the flute in 4th grade and never stopped! Currently I am the principal flute player in the Roseville Community Concert Band where I also play piccolo and the occasional Bassoon. You can also find me in various pit orchestras for local theater groups.
My Alma Maters include Yuba Community College (AA in Music), The University of Southern California (BA in Music Education, California Teaching Credential), and Sam Houston State University (MM in Music Pedagogy and Instrumental Conducting).
The 2023/24 school year will be my 18th year teaching! I have taught every grade level from Kindergarten to the Community College level. Middle school remains my favorite age group to teach.
I have had the opportunity to perform all over the world including Canada, France, Italy, Japan, and China. And with many celebrity musicians such as Earth, Wind and Fire, System of a Down, the Offspring, KC and the Sunshine Band.
My favorite performance of all time was at the 2004 Rosebowl Game where USC beat Michigan (Fight On!) and the USC band got to perform the National Anthem with John Williams conducting (he composed the music for Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and many other blockbusters). Here's the video and if you pause at 0:24 you will see me playing flute in the left hand corner!
