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Fifth Grade Band & Orchestra Ensembles Registration
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Students who return in fifth grade to play in their elementary school band or orchestra will experience their first year in an instrumental ensemble. Band and Orchestra ensembles meet once per week for a rehearsal class that is scheduled during the school day. This annual program is a fee- based, elective program for students who desire to continue to develop their instrumental skills in order to perform in the elective band and orchestra ensembles starting in the sixth grade and throughout their secondary years in the Newton Public Schools and beyond.
Rehearsals are held once a week in the mornings or at a time during the school day. Schedules vary by school and are aligned with the fifth-grade schedule. There will be a minimum of two concerts during the year, a winter concert and an end-of-year concert. Additional performance opportunities may be scheduled at the teacher’s discretion.
Registration-5th Grade Band & Orchestra Ensembles
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Annual registration opens in June and continues through the start of ensemble rehearsals in September. As soon as we return to school each fall, music teachers will contact students who completed the fourth-grade lesson program with details about the start of band and orchestra. Families will register using their MySchoolBucks account.
Need a MySchoolBucks account? How to register using MSB.
Program Fees
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Newton Public Schools charges an annual $200 participation fee. This fee will be paid through your MySchoolBucks account. An additional cost is incurred for renting or leasing an instrument.
For more information about setting up a MySchoolBucks account and paying fees, visti the NPS Fee Payment and Waiver site and watch the video at the bottom.
Fee Waivers
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Newton Public Schools ensures access to this program for all students regardless of their ability to pay the fee. Fee waivers include access to a district-owned instrument. Registration with fee waivers is available on MySchoolBucks. Applications for Financial Assistance are now processed using Aspen. Instructions for Financial Assistance Form
FAQs
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5th Grade Band & Orchestra Ensembles FAQs
Are these ensembles only for fifth-grade students who took lessons in fourth grade?
There are many students in our schools who have learned how to play an instrument at a young age and, in many cases, they are granted permission to join an ensemble. If you have a child in grades K through 4 who already plays a string instrument, you must first speak with the music teacher to find out if they accept younger students. If so, permission must be granted by the principal and classroom teacher before you register.
My child plays an instrument not offered in the Instrumental Music Program but wants to perform in an instrumental ensemble.
Students who play piano, electric or acoustic guitar, and electric bass may be eligible to join an ensemble. Parents should contact the band or strings teacher at their school to learn more about this opportunity.
Can a fourth-grade student who is already a member of their school’s band or orchestra sign up to learn a new instrument?
Yes. Though rare, some students are very musical and can handle learning to play multiple instruments.
Do students enrolled in both fourth-grade lessons and their schools’ performance ensembles have to pay two fees?
No. Students who participate in both fourth-grade lessons and a school performance ensemble will only pay the $150 annual fee. Please submit a separate registration form for each program and pay the $150 fee in full.
My child received a waiver for fourth-grade lessons last year. Does the waiver apply to the band & orchestra?
Families must submit a Financial Assistance Application each year to determine if they still qualify for a fee waiver.
My child participated in the fourth-grade lesson program last year but now wants to play a different instrument in the school band or orchestra. Can students change instruments in fifth grade?
It's possible, but we discourage changing instruments between fourth and fifth grade unless parents are able to provide their child with private lessons on the new instrument. The fourth-grade lesson program is designed to teach basic performance skills. In most cases, students who continue in the fifth grade play the same instrument they started in the fourth-grade lesson program. There are no "lessons" offered in fifth grade. Band and orchestra are basic performance classes where students use the skills they learned in fourth grade to rehearse and play their instruments together as an ensemble. Students who want to change instruments must develop basic proficiency in their new instruments in order to succeed in an ensemble. The fine arts department offers a private lesson program called the Music Lesson Extension Program (see a link to the left), which is an affordable option for private lessons.
We have just moved to Newton and have a child entering the fifth grade. Is it too late to join our school's band or orchestra?
If your child comes to Newton and already plays an instrument, just register for the program. If your child does not play an instrument, you will need to provide your child with private lessons. The fine arts department offers a private lesson program called the Music Lesson Extension Program (see the MLEP link to the left), which is an affordable option for private lessons. Speak to the band or orchestra teacher at your school for further consultation.
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Please call the ELL program office at 617-559-6043 if you need this document translated.אם ברצונכם לתרגם תופס זה, 6043-559-617בבקשה התקשרו למשרד תוכנית ה-LLE טל:Пожалуйста, свяжитесь с офисом программы ELL по телефону 617-559-6043, если вам нужен перевод этого документа.假如你需要這份文件的翻譯本,請打電話給ELL計 劃辦公室617-559-6043。このお知らせの翻訳が必要な場合はELLプログラム 事務局、617-559-6043 までお電話ください。이 서류에 대한 번역이 필요하시면 ELL 프로그램 사무실 (617-559-6043)로 전화주시기 바랍니다.Por favor telefone para o escritório do programa ELL no número 617-559-6043 se precisar deste documento traduzido.Si usted desea que este documento sea traducido, por favor llame a la oficina del Programa de aprendices del idioma inglés al número 617-559-6043