Also there is pit orchestra as opportunity for piano players |
What if you kid plays an instrument not typically part of an orchestra or band, can they join one of the ensembles at school; meaning teacher doesn't have to provide weekly or daily lessons but kid plays together with other students for fun and concerts. Kid takes lessons outside school. |
The kid can learn a second instrument. Otherwise the teacher would be having to create parts for that instrument. They’re not likely to do that for many pieces. But they’re may be some music teacher that wants to. |
It depends on the teacher. In MS and HS, generally they can play it in the orchestra, no issue. In ES, it's teacher dependent. Our child did one of the approved instruments but teacher let them do their main one at the concert. There are no daily lessons, only weekly in elementary school. In MS and HS there are no lessons, just general orchestra. |
In our experience, this wouldn’t work in ES but in MS and HS, yes. Our music program seems to accommodate about any instrument. |
What are the approved instruments? |
It depends on the teacher and amount of time they have. |
When can a student start drums in school? Already plays at home. |
What if you are already taking private lessons for an instrument? Do you continue with lessons at school for the same instrument? This is for ES. |
Middle school, but some elementary schools have snare. Make sure they learn percussion and not just kit. |
We had to switch as our school didn't offer the instrument in school. They did for MS. |
You can, but some people learn a new instrument in ES and continue with private lessons in their main instrument. So they may take private violin lessons, and do an outside orchestra, but play clarinet in elementary school. |
Based on our experience with music in ES, I probably wouldn’t bother having my kid do in-school music if they were already doing private lessons. I would wait until MS when they could do band or orchestra as a class. Unless, like the PP said, you wanted them to learn a different instrument in school, but then you have a lot more practicing to do. |
We had a good experience and the teacher was great. |
Banjo? Anyone? |