Williamson Music 1st: Our Band & Orchestra Recommended Instrument Rental Choice
Below you will find information provided by Mr. Peart and Mr. Sprouls regarding instrument selection for incoming Middle School students.
For ALL FCAF band and orchestra students choosing to rent their instruments, Mr. Peart and Mr. Sprouls recommend renting from Williamson Music 1st in Frisco. You can out more about Williamson Music 1st below.
For families who decide to purchase an instrument instead of renting Mr. Peart and Mr. Sprouls have put together a listing of recommended and approved instrument models.
FCA Frisco is a rather unique school in the Founders Classical Academy family. We are the only school that offers band and orchestra as part of the regular school curriculum for all Middle School students. It is unusual in fact for any small school, whether regular public, charter or private, to offer such programs as part of the regular curriculum.
At FCA Frisco the arts are considered to be a vital element of the overall classical education process. In the words of our headmaster: “A true classical education without a strong emphasis on the arts is incomplete.” It is not about whether or not our students become music professionals later in life, it is about teaching the arts and bringing the arts into their lives.
During 5th grade our students begin to consider their instrument choices for 6th grade. In an effort to facilitate this process Wesley Peart, our Orchestra Director, has put together a short FAQ to assist our 5th grade families. Below you will find the excellent information contained in that communication.
Band and Orchestra FAQ Written By Wesley Peart
Is band or orchestra required at FCA Frisco? Is there a choir or music theory class?
Currently FCA Frisco has two music teachers. All of the 6th grade students go to music at one time and choose between band or orchestra. We do not currently offer a choir or music theory option. Music is important to the curriculum at FCA Frisco and is a core class for 6th to 8th grade, so all students will attend one of these two classes.
What instruments are available? How does instrument selection work?
Students may choose: Violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba, percussion. We do not do a “try-out” process for many reasons; instead, students are encouraged to pick an instrument that they like and would be most enthusiastic about learning to play and practice on. We spend time in music class learning about these instruments and their sounds. Students are also encouraged to do some exploration on their own.
We try to allow students to play the instrument that they want to play. However, we have to make some adjustments here and there to facilitate instrumentation. For example, if 15 students want to play the saxophone, and no students want to play the trombone, the band won’t sound very good and will be less enjoyable for the students overall. For this reason, numbers may be limited on: flute, saxophone, trumpet and percussion. We would also ask students to strongly consider playing: double bass, clarinet, trombone, tuba, and bassoon. We need representation with these instruments in our ensembles.
When do we need to have an instrument? How do I get an instrument?
Band and orchestra students should wait to get their instrument until we are sure which instrument they are playing. Band and Orchestra students should go to Williamsons Music 1st in Frisco for Rentals.
Williamson Music 1st offers an excellent, affordable, rent-to-own program that offer free repairs and great service throughout the rental process. At Williamson Music 1st they are aware of our instrument preferences and will guide you towards the right instrument choice for your student. By the time your student is in 8th grade, you will own the instrument and be done with payments. We recommend the rental program for several reasons, but if you prefer to purchase an instrument outright, be sure to stick with our list of approved instruments which you can find on the Fine Arts Booster Club website. There are several convincing “toy” instruments that may appear to be a good deal but will not be functional for class.
When does the class meet? Who are the teachers? What are the outside of school requirements?
The band and orchestra classes meet three times per week during school. I am the orchestra teacher (violin, viola, cello, bass) and my email is wpeart@responsiveed.com. Mr. Sprouls is the band director (all other instruments) and his email is hsprouls@responsiveed.com.
Outside of school, in person students will be asked to practice about 30 minutes per night. For the 2020-2021 school year online students will need to practice an additional 3 to 5 hours per week to compensate for missed rehearsal time in school.
What can we do to get a head start and make good progress?
There will be some opportunities for our 5th graders to get started in the Spring and Summer.* These include private lessons and beginner camps. We will need to get instrument selection finished before much of this can be set up. Band lessons and camps will be set up through Mr. Sprouls.
Every single band and orchestra student needs to take private lessons. They are extremely valuable at all playing levels. We offer private lessons on-campus with outstanding teachers and online lessons are also available this school year for our virtual schooling families. You may alternatively seek an off-campus private lesson teacher but please let either me or Mr. Sprouls know the name and qualifications of the teacher.
Additional Comments
One of the primary goals and reasons for the creation of our Fine Arts Booster Club is to help raise money for the fine arts programs at FCA Frisco. As a charter school we receive about 25% less funding per student from the school district when compared to regular public schools. We need your help! There are many ways in which you can help us - take a look on our website at the ways to help section. Just signing up for Kroger Rewards or the Tom Thumb program will help and of course, we are always looking for volunteers to help us make our fine arts events a success.
Thank you!