Before School Music and Intramural Activities

At French Road we offer music and intramural sports activities for fourth and fifth graders before school from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Intramurals and chorus are scheduled twice each six-day cycle for fourth and fifth grade students.  Band and orchestra are scheduled three times each cycle.  There is no conflict in the scheduling of the activities so each child may participate in all three areas if he or she wishes.  Bus transportation is provided by using the Twelve Corners Middle School bus runs.  Students are taken to the Middle School and then a shuttle bus brings them to FRES each morning.  The physical education and chorus teachers will be discussing their activities with the children in their classes during the first weeks of school and interested children will be asked to bring in a registration form to sign up for the activity they wish to be in.  Band and orchestra are offered for primarily fifth grade students.  The instrumental music staff will be discussing band and orchestra participation with the students during their small group lessons in the first few weeks of the school year.

Instrumental Music Lessons

Each fourth grade homeroom is scheduled for instrumental music for a period of thirty minutes two times each six-day cycle.  For the first several cycles, teachers will demonstrate the instruments that are offered in the brass, woodwind, percussion and string families and students will have the opportunity to try out any instrument that they find interesting. During this period, the staff keeps a record of the success that each student has on the various instruments.  At the conclusion of this trial period, teachers will counsel with students to help them find the instrument that is best suited for them.  Students are not required to participate in the instrumental program after this point, but approximately 95% - 98% of the fourth grade students do elect to start an instrument.  Those who do not elect to start an instrument are free to read or do seatwork during instrumental music time.

The cost that each family will incur will depend on the instrument that your child chooses.  All of the string instruments (violin, viola, cello and string bass) and the French horn, baritone and tuba may be rented from the District for $60.00 per year.  Other instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and percussion) may be rented from any of the music stores in the area.  The cost for these instruments will depend on the store, the value of the instrument and whether you elect to purchase the instrument or rent it.  Each child will be asked to purchase a lesson book.  If you feel that the cost of an instrument will be a problem for your family, please contact one of us and we will be happy to discuss other options with you.

We will be holding two fourth grade parent meetings in the fall at which time we will provide further information about our program.  Parents are asked to attend one of the two nights. At the conclusion of the meeting, you will have the opportunity to register your child for the program.  

Instrumental music lessons and orchestra and band continue for any fifth grader who started fourth grade year.  Students may also begin an instrument if they are new to the school or if they did not start the previous year.  The instrumental music staff will visit each fifth grade homeroom in the fall to register students for the program.  Lessons will be scheduled on a rotating pullout basis with each lesson group meeting for 45 minutes once each week on a specific day of the week rather than on the six-day cycle as was done in fourth grade.  The times each lesson group will come for a lesson will rotate from week to week so that the children will not miss the same class each week.  Usually the children miss a specific class no more than once each four to six weeks.  Lesson groups are comprised of from three to five students who play the same instrument.

Band and orchestra for fifth grade students will begin in October.  There will be two bands (Red and Blue) of equal size and ability and the FRES String Orchestra.  A Chamber Orchestra comprised of selected advanced string students who are in the String Orchestra will also be offered.   Any student who is taking music lessons is encouraged to participate in the band and orchestra.

We look forward to meeting and working with your child.  The instrumental music program offers a wonderful opportunity to try out many instruments and to begin what we hope will be many years of music making for your son or daughter both in the Brighton system and into their college and adult life.

If you have questions at any point, please contact us by email.