Beginning Band FAQ's

Beginner Band FAQ's

Who Teaches Beginning Band?

The band directors at West Fork School are Omar A. Taweel and Edward Gay.

Mr. Taweel is beginning his 20th year of service as director of bands at WF School. He is proud to say that West Fork is still his first teaching job. He holds a BSE and MMED from the University of Arkansas. Mr. Taweel is a member of the ASBOA Executive Board. Mr. Taweel has a sweet, cute wife named Katrenia.

Mr. Gay is beginning his 8th year in West Fork and also serves as the director of choral activities. He also has a BSE and MMED from the University of Arkansas. Mr. Gay has 14 years of teaching experience in his career. Mr. Gay's wife is Felicia, and they have two sons, William and Ryan.

Beginning band is a job that is bigger than two, and we also have a graduate assistant that helps us on a somewhat volunteer basis in the percussion area. His name is Cory Robbins, and he is a graduate of our program and a music student at the UA. One day he plans to be a band director. He is also the marching band percussion coordinator, the IT for our band department, and the webmaster. Yes, he is mostly volunteer. Yes, he must be nuts.

What grades are in the WF Band?
Beginning Band
- 6th Graders Only
Middle School Band
- 7th & 8th Graders
High School Band
- 9th - 12th Grades
  
  Serves as the Tiger Marching Band
  
  Serves as the Symphonic Winds
  
  Serves as the Basketball Pep Band

What is the mission?

Touching lives in a positive way through music…

Why Join the Band?
It's Fun
- Students can develop a lifelong appreciation for making good music with others!
Besides the music students also learn
- Positive self esteem
- Self discipline
- Teamwork
- Commitment
- Time Management

What about the WF Band traditions?
Beginning band is the key to it all. The beginning band is the future of our program. As your student progresses in our progrm you can expect:
- Consistant first division ratings in marching and concert band
- Students involved in all-region and all-state honor bands
- Students seeking scholarships in college bands
- Students who will seek careers in music

What is the time commitment?

The beginner band does not play at football or basketball games, or other events. In fact, except for the Christmas and Spring Concerts, everything we do is in a regularly scheduled class time. Normally there are no conflicts with other school activities.

The Christmas Concert is Sunday, December 11, 2011.

The Spring Concert is Tuesday, May 15, 2011.

Solo & Ensemble is Friday, March 9, 2011. It is not required but normally every student chooses to participate.

What about practice?

Practice makes better. With such a short amount of instructional time, I suggest you make practice a regular part of your child's routine.

There are numerous resources availble to help make practicing fun, while providing reliable feedback to help your child improve.

Check out the Practice Resources link for information about Smartmusic and IPS.

What does my child need?
An instrument
- We start beginners on flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, and percussion
A Band Book
- Tradition of Excellence - Book I
- Bruce Pearson, Author
- Neil A. Kjos, Publisher
Various Accessories
- These are normally personally owned
- These items are specialty items one would purchase in a music store
- Oils, reeds, music book, etc.
For your convcenience, and within reason, I will provide the necessary accesories your child needs. Unless otherwise instructed, I will send you a bill in the mail. All I ask is that you send in your payment in a timely manner. This simply saves you a trip to the music store, and it prevents your child from nickel and diming you for reeds and small change stuff that I can take care of for you.

How do you decide what my child will play?
It is essential that beginning students start on an instrument that will allow them to be successful. In determining this we look at the following:
- Facial Features
- Hand and Arm Size
- Potential for physical growth
Although we think of band as an activity the students will be involved in throughout middle and high school, we realize this is utopian thinking, and some will leave our program. To ensure a proper balance of instruments in each grade, we make sure to place enough students on every instrument to ensure the sections will be properly balanced from year to year.

We want every child to enjoy the instrument they are assigned to learn to play. We listen to our students' opinions yet advise them as to what is the best choice for them and the band program.

As the musical experts in West Fork, we believe in our abilities to place students on the right instruments that serve the band program and provide musical joy for the student over the time they are in our program.

How do I get an instrument?
Beg, buy, borrow, steal. Ok, maybe not steal!

Seriously, there are numerous ways to find a usable instrument for your child to play.

You can…
- Go to a band instrument store and rent or buy an instrument.
You can…
- Borrow or buy one from a friend - it might need to go to the repair shop.
You can…
- Buy one online - Careful, you can also find some real junkers out there.
You can…
- Buy one from a pawn shop - It might need to go to the repair shop.
You can…
- Tell me if you cannot afford something - I have ways of solving problems and making things work!
BUT PLEASE…
Buy a trusted brand

See the Beginning Band Instrument link for a list of instrument brands we consider to be industry standards and the best bang for your buck. Yes, you might find one at a big box store, but the chances of it being cheaply made Chinese junk is pretty high.

I need help, who do I turn to?

Ask your local band directors. We have years of experience and quite honestly, we know what we're doing. If you have a questions, we'll give you an answer. It will be the truth and in the best interest of your child. Use us, your tax dollars are at work!

The West Fork Band 18th Feb - 4 days ago

All-state, day 3: It's show time!

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