1. Families should attend Parent's Night whether they already have an instrument or plan to rent.

2. Parents should fill out the following form to enroll their student in the East Meadow Band prior to coming to Parent's Night - Instrumental Music Enrollment Form

3. Families renting an instrument must first see Mr. Castellano to register (parent and student, if possible) for your instrument of choice. Sometimes there are physical considerations and instrument limitations that I feel should be discussed prior to finalizing your choice.

4. Proceed to the Gerry’s Music Shop tables to arrange for the instrument that you and I have agreed upon and the corresponding band method book. The purchase of a music stand is also recommended and is sold at registration at a discounted price. (Please have a driver's license and credit card with you.)

*** It is never too late to enroll your student! We are always accepting new students at any point during the school year!

Rented instruments will be delivered to the director, as students should not attempt to play their instruments prior to their first lesson. Some instruments can be easily damaged and bad playing habits can be developed very quickly. Instruments will arrive within a week after ordering and students will receive their rental instruments during their first lesson.

If you have an old instrument, especially a woodwind instrument that has been sitting around for a number of years, chances are it will not play properly without some repairs. Sometimes a woodwind instrument will play fine for a few days until the felt pads fail and then students have an instrument that no longer plays properly. I strongly recommend that you rent an instrument until your instrument can be evaluated for reconditioning. It is much easier for a beginner to start on a properly working instrument and, due to the large repair/reconditioning load in September/October, repair shops may not be able to have your instrument ready in time for lessons. All students need to have an instrument for their first lesson. If you do use your own instrument, you will still need to purchase a band method book, "Measures of Success"

The beginning band instruments are flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, and percussion [total percussion: bell kit with snare drum]. It is extremely important that we achieve a proper balance of instrumentation, so please have a minimum of two choices of instruments.

A special note regarding percussion: Total Percussion is the most demanding instrument as student must learn both pitched (bells/xylophone) and non-pitched (snare, bass drum, cymbals, etc.) instruments. Some piano experience is also a great advantage for pitched percussion, but is not mandatory.