Common Questions-

1) When and where is band and strings offered? Band and strings will be offered during the school day to all 6th graders every Monday and Wedensday. They will leave Teed at 1:45 to go to KMS. At 2:55 students will be bussed home from KMS.

2) Are students required to buy an instrument? No, they can rent them from a music store. We strongly recommend that you go to a local music store to rent or purchase instruments. Please DO NOT go to Cosco, Walmart or Hastings to purchase instruments. Most of these instruments are poorly made and break quickly! Many times local music stores cannot repair them.

3) How do students choose an instrument? 

Most beginning string students begin on violin, but we encourage you to choose viola and cello as well.

 Choices for beginning band are flute, clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, and baritone. Oboe, French horn and tuba are also great choices, although you really should talk to Mrs. Edwards before choosing those instruments. They are wonderful instruments, but can be rather expensive and sometimes hard for beginners.

You will need all of the cleaning equipment that goes with your instrument of choice. All music stores should offer the necessary cleaning supplies. They are VITAL. You will also need a book. The book for band is Standard of Excellence book 1 (red book) and the book for strings is Essential Elements for Strings book 1 (red book). Both can be found at the music store

                          where you purchase your instrument. Be sure you get the book that matches the                       instrument you choose! If you are a student that is financially unable to rent or                        purchase an instrument of your own  please talk to Mrs. Peterson or Mrs. Goerrich so we can assist you with your child's needs.

We highly recommend RENTING an instrument to begin with. All music stores have a rent to own program so that after two years of renting it, you own it! If you begin on the clarinet and you purchase one, and then decide you would rather play the saxophone, you would have to buy or rent another instrument. If you are renting the clarinet then you can just switch, and in many cases part of the money you have paid on the first instrument will apply to the new instrument too!

    Using mom or dad’s instrument from high school, or your aunt’s, uncle’s, grandmas’ or grandpa’s is a great way to get involved! We would STRONGLY suggest having these instruments looked at by a qualified repair technician at a music store. Sometimes, after sitting for awhile, an instrument needs a slight tune up, just like your car. The same thing goes for an instrument from a pawn shop. All need to be looked at to make sure they are in top working condition.

The best time of year to get your instrument is JUNE! This might seem rather early, but you will have the best selection of used instruments at this time. Many will be nearly new, but at a used price. If you get your instrument in June, look at all the time you have to play around with it and get started

Local stores for BAND instruments are: (in distance order from Kuna)

Blue Rider Music in Meridian (Ustick road between 10mile and Linder)

Dorsey Music in Nampa (Near Karcher Mall)

Welch Music in Boise (Near the old Costco Building)

Dunkley Music in Boise (On Capitol Blvd)

American Music in Caldwell (On the Blvd)

Local stores for STRING instruments are (in distance order from Kuna)

Hartz Violin Shop in Meridian (on Meridian Rd.)

Telford and Songs Violins in Boise (near Orchard)

Dunkley Music in Boise (On Capitol Blvd)

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Updated: August 29, 2008