Parent Guide
Instrumental Music
Bakersfield City School District - Visual and Performing Arts
Congratulations!
Your decision to provide your child with quality instruction on a musical instrument is an investment in your child’s future. Music uniquely exalts the human spirit! A music education provides many benefits, providing the student with opportunities for self-expression and creativity.
Parental attitude, support, and involvement are important factors in a child’s ability to successfully learn to play and enjoy music. Like any skill, interest counts for more than talent. With the right support from you, playing music will become a natural part of your child’s life.
Playing a musical instrument develops the following extrinsic values:
Problem solving
Team work
Self-expression
Coordination
Memory skills
Self-confidence and respect
Concentration
Poise
and much, much more!
A child’s music study also offers opportunities for shared family experiences, including:
Musical event attendance
Performing for, and with, family and friends
Learning about music and cultures from around the world
A sense of pride and accomplishment for the entire family
Music achievement requires effort over a long period of time. To help your child:
Provide a quiet place to practice
Schedule a consistent daily time for practice
Remain nearby during practice times
Praise your child’s efforts and achievements
To give your child the best possible support...
Encourage your child to play for family and friends
Offer compliments and encouragement regularly
Expose your child to a wide variety of music, including live concerts and recordings of musicians who play your child’s instrument
Talk with your child about his or her lessons
Make sure your child’s instrument is in good working order
Listen to your child practice and acknowledge improvement
Help your child build a personal music library
Encourage your child to make a minimum two-year commitment to his or her music studies
Your child’s progress will be greatly enhanced if you...
Never use practice as punishment
Don’t insist your child play for others
Don’t make fun of their mistakes
Remember that progress will be slow but steady in the beginning
If your child loses interest...
Encourage your child to stick with lessons for the agreed to period of time
Contact your child’s music teacher for suggestions and help
Learn How to Practice
Here is a helpful video by VAPA Academic Coach Steve Engel:
Obtaining Books and Musical Supplies
Beginning instrumental music students are to have the following equipment and books for music instruction:
Violin, Cello, String Bass
• Instrument, bow, case
• Rosin, soft cloth or handkerchief
• Folding wire music stand for home practice
• Book: String Basics, Book 1
Flute
• Instrument with case, tuning rod, cloth
• Folding, adjustable wire music stand for home practice
• Book: Essential Elements for Band, Book I
Clarinet and Saxophone
• Instrument with case, mouthpiece, ligature
• Neckstrap (sax only)
• 4-6 reeds (#2 strength), cork grease
• Handkerchief or chamois swab
• Folding wire music stand for home practice
• Book: Essential Elements for Band, Book I
Trumpet
• Instrument with case, mouthpiece
• Valve oil (trumpet)
• Folding, adjustable wire music stand for home practice
• Book: Essential Elements for Band, Book I
Trombone/Baritone
• Instrument with case, mouthpiece
• Trombone slide cream and a water spray bottle
• Valve oil (baritone only)
• Folding, adjustable wire music stand for home practice
• Book: Essential Elements for Band, Book I
Percussion
• Bell kit with drum pad and stand, sticks (#2B) and mallets
• Folding, adjustable wire music stand for home practice
• Book: Essential Elements for Band, Book I
Where to Purchase or Rent an Instrument
The following music stores carry a complete line of musical instrument equipment and supplies. They also offer instrument rental programs. Each shop has a full-service musical instrument repair shop.
California Keyboards
2408 Brundage Lane
327-5397
Bakersfield Sound Co.
10715 Rosedale Hwy.
661-554-9090
Nick Rail Music
5127 Ming Avenue
412-4942
If Your Child Uses a School-Owned Instrument
There are a limited number of instruments available at each school. In order for first-year students to receive basic instruction, school-owned instruments are available for only one year. Continued progress is required in order to keep the instrument for the whole school year. At the close of the year, the school instrument must be returned in playing condition.
It is your responsibility to pay for the instrument if it is lost or stolen, or for the cost of any damage to the instrument or case. The school district does not have insurance on school-owned or student-owned instruments so parents are responsible for lost or stolen instruments at the school site.
Replacement Costs
Flute $450.00
Clarinet $350.00
Alto Saxophone $750.00
Tenor Saxophone $850.00
Trumpet/Cornet $400.00
Trombone $400.00
Baritone $750.00
Violin $400.00
Cello $950.00
Bass $1,750.00
Bell Kit $200.00
Elementary Instrumental Music Teachers
Casa Loma
Dr. Chang
631-5200
Chavez
Mrs. Amani
631-5870
College Heights
Mrs. Walkover
631-5220
Downtown
Mrs. Walkover
631-5920
Eissler
Mr. Clausen
631-5250
Evergreen
Mr. Stratemeier
631-5930
Fletcher
Mr. Stratemeier
631-5960
Franklin
Mr. Stratemeier
631-5270
Fremont
Mr. Saucedo
631-5280
Garza
Mrs. Amani
631-5290
Harding
Mrs. Mumau
631-5300
Harris
Mrs. Walker
631-5310
Hills
Mr. Saucedo
631-5320
Hort
Mr. Zelinka
631-5330
Jefferson
Mrs. Walkover
631-5340
King
Mrs. Redstone
631-4774
Longfellow
Mr. Saenz
631-5350
Horace Mann
Mr. Saenz
631-5360
McKinley
Mr. Clausen
631-5370
Mt. Vernon
Dr. Chang
631-5380
Munsey
Mrs. Mumau
631-5390
Nichols
Mrs. Walker
631-5400
Noble
Mr. Saucedo
631-5410
Owens Int.
Mr. Zelinka
631-5950
Pauly
Mrs. Amani
631-5430
William Penn
Mr. Zelinka
631-5440
Pioneer Drive
Mrs. Redstone
631-5450
Roosevelt
Dr. Chang
631-5460
Thorner
Mrs. Redstone
631-5490
Voorhies
Mrs. Mumau
631-5800
Wayside
Mr. Saenz
631-5820
Frank West
Mrs. Walker
631-5830
Williams
Mr. Clausen
631-5840