Band and Orchestra at School

Band and Orchestra programs begin, typically, when the student is in 4th or 5th grade.

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The music teachers  school help the student find an instrument that suits him/her if s/he wants to participate in the band and orchestra program, beginning in 4th-5th grade. If the student is having a difficult time deciding, call to make an appointment with a music teacher/experienced musician at Austin Music Center. He will show the student a variety of instruments, help him/her hold it properly and answer any questions.

 

Instrument Selection

There are a variety of ways students select an instrument. (Remember, the students are 9 or 10 years old.)

Best practices follows these or similar steps. 

• Teachers introduce students to instruments during the school day. Students try the instruments with teacher guidance. 

• Parents are invited to come to the school in the early evening to learn about the program. Other groups or organizations may be invited, for example, PING in Oak Park and River Forest, any parent organizations that are involved and a music store/s to provide information regarding the rental process at their store. The same store comes to the school on Instrument Rental Day.  (Parents are not required to rent from that particular store.) 

• The next week a day is set aside for instrument rental. Teachers are available to help parents and students select a potentially appropriate instrument. (The music store does not tell the student what instrument to play, although Austin Music Center will provide solicited advice.) 

 

Young Children 

Children begin taking lessons as young as four or five-years-old. Many young, non-readers begin learning how to play the violin using the Suzuki method. Students do not learn to read music until they learn to read. Violins come in different sizes so that the student learns how to hold and play the violin correctly.

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Student-line Band and Orchestra Instruments

Austin Music Center rents quality, student-line band and orchestra instruments at reasonable prices. Rental protection is optional and may choose to use the automatic payment plan for your convenience.  The rental program begins with a three-month trial period. You can return  or exchange (with music teacher approval) the instrument if it does not fit your child’s needs.