Recruitment Timeline Recruitment Night
Every year during the first few weeks of the school year, the halls of Pleasantdale resound with the glorious sounds of beginning strings, horns, and drums! The study of music could be one of the most valuable steps in your child’s education. Some of the benefits your child can receive from playing an instrument are responsibility, discipline, teamwork, self-esteem, and a lifelong appreciation of music.
If your child has expressed an interest in joining the band or orchestra program at Pleasantdale Elementary and joining band or orchestra is a brand new experience for you and your child, there is typically a general information meeting for parents only on the night of the Elementary Curriculum Night in September (immediately after all the classroom presentations) in the elementary school APR. Mr. Woltman will explain the responsibilities and commitments that you and your child must consider before joining band or orchestra. If you have already experienced our program because one of your older children were in band or orchestra, it is also a good idea that you attend. I have made some changes with the program to better prepare your child for their musical future.
Throughout the first few weeks of the school year, your child will have the opportunity to try many instruments of the band or orchestra in order to find which instrument best suits him/her. Please advise your child that a second or even third choice instrument may be necessary as instrumentation will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. This is especially important, as there are a limited number of the more popular instruments (ie. percussion) in the band. Also note that fourth grade students will not be allowed to start on Saxophone. I suggest starting on clarinet if your child is interested in switching to Saxophone at the middle school.