Last modified: January 26, 2022

Panther/concert Band Parent Letter

Dear Panther and Concert Band Parents

I am excited to have your student continue with the Dixon Band program this year!  We already have some fun music picked out and I would like to hit the ground running so your students are not bored for the first few days of band.

Students will NOT need instruments on the first day of school but I would like to have them here by Tuesday, August 20.  I know that sounds early but I would really like to eliminate some of the wasted time we have had in the past while we get through procedural things at the beginning of the year.  We want to PLAY!

In order to make this happen, I could use some parent volunteer help to get lockers/locks checked out, folders handed out, and books assigned.  I think if I have some help we can get most of this done on Friday, Monday and while we start playing on Tuesday.  The times I will need help are 1st-3rd periods (9:50-11:45 Monday, 8:40-11:05 Friday and Tuesday).  Please email me and let me know if you are available to help.

We will have a table with representatives from Bert Murdock Music at Back to School Night on August 12th.  They can assist you with renting/purchasing instruments if you don’t already have one.  Our local music stores will also be happy to help you with this if you go in to see them before school starts.  Please DO NOT purchase an instrument from the internet without speaking to me before hand!  There is A LOT of junk being marketed online these days with fake reviews that say they are good for school band.  A junk instrument will just waste your money and frustrate your student as they struggle to get a good sound.  Just a tip, there are ZERO new instruments on Amazon in the $99 range. Those are ALL junk.

We do have a LIMITED number of school instruments available for rental but we ask that these be used as a last resort or when students are playing a larger instrument like tuba or bass clarinet that would be cost prohibitive.  If you are going to rent from the school, please have your student complete the names on the rental form, have it signed by a parent, and have it signed by the office (to verify fee payment/arrangement) and bring it to me.  If this is done Monday or before school on Tuesday, I can have an instrument ready to go for your student before we play in class. Note that school instruments do not some with supplies like reeds, valve oil, slide cream or cleaning supplies so these will need to be obtained right away.

The books we are starting with this year are Essential Elements Book 1 for Panther Band and Ed Sueta Band Method Book 2 for Concert Band.  Students are NOT required to purchase a book.  We have them available to check out at no cost. However, most students prefer to purchase their own book so they can write in them.  We will do a book order at school for those who wish to purchase the book. The cost is $10.

Jazz Band auditions will be August 22, 23 & 26.  I will be giving students more information about jazz band and will have audition info available the first few days of school.  Jazz Band will start August 27 at 7:00am (this class meets Tuesday through Friday before school).  Students who were in Jazz Band last year will not need to re-audition but will need to come and talk to me so I can get them added to the class.

Please let me know if you have any other questions for the first few days of school and/or if you are willing to volunteer with our equipment check-out adventures. I look forward to working with you and your students this year!

-Christy Giblon

(801) 374-4980

ChristyGi @provo.edu