IMPROVING YOUR PROGRAM

RENT-TO-OWN PROGRAM Our Rental Flyer    Golden Music is the ideal choice for your rental night needs. Here are a few reasons why you should consider including us as one of your vendors:  At Golden Music, we pride ourselves on being a local business. Our store is conveniently located in Lakewood, allowing your parents to come in and have direct access to our repair professionals, private lessons teachers, and even the owners.  By choosing Golden Music, your tax dollars stay within Colorado. We believe in giving back to our community and supporting local initiatives. Whether your students are interested in band or orchestra instruments, Golden Music has you covered. We offer a complete line of both band and orchestra instruments, ensuring that your students have the flexibility to switch between the two if they desire. Unlike other companies that specialize in only one type of instrument (only orchestra or only band), we provide the opportunity for seamless transitions from one to the other and a broader range of musical experiences.   Our rent-to-own page is goldenmusicexperience.com and you can get free delivery there. Contact us today to learn more about our rental options and how we can support your music program. 

STRING REPAIR We don't just repair instruments - we restore and preserve them for generations of use. Your instrument is one of a kind and our skilled professionals will treat it as such. At Golden Music, we get beautiful instruments back to making music the way they were intended. From low to pro, we keep instruments of all kinds healthy.  We have a seven person repair staff that do all facets of repair and restoration.  We have a really fast turn around and free estimates for teachers.   We offer four hours at half price for your first repair (ask Mary or Brian for a voucher). 

PERFORMANCE CLINICS (STEP UP PERFORMANCE INSTRUMENTS! FOR FREE IN YOUR CLASS)  -  PERFORMANCE CLINIC HANDOUTS: STRINGS   Increase your commitment to music and YOUR program!   A full selection of band instrument and string instruments are available.  Get your students in Performance instruments!  Increase their commitment to music and YOUR program!   A full selection of band instruments and string instruments are available.  To learn more, Click Here.  A “Performance Instrument” has improved response, smoother action and richer sound.  We will come out and do a clinic at your school to let students try them. It takes up little rehearsal time and we only need talk for 5 minutes at the beginning of class to educate the students about Performance Instruments.

NEW!  TEACHER BOW EXCHANGE SUPPORT   Get new bows for a fraction of the cost!!   Just turn in your old and tired bows (no hair, missing some hair, broken parts-not broken stick, etc.)  This costs $30 for violin/viola, $40 for cello and $50 for bass.  Learn More Click Here. 

OUR FREE INSTRUMENT PROGRAM! We would like to offer you one, two or a few free instruments from our rental program for the remainder of this year or 2025-2026 school year!  This starts in October once our busy season is over.  To learn more Click Here.   No strings attached!  Let us introduce you to our rental program so you can see what it’s like for your students to rent from us, and to help your program at the same time!

FREE ROSIN, SHOULDER RESTS AND OTHER ACCESSORIES!  We have all sorts of gently used supplies to help your group!  For Shoulder rests, we especially are well stocked in fractional sizes.  

NONPROFIT/SCHOOL OUTREACH - 1/2 PRICE INSTRUMENTS!  From Oct to the end of the year, we offer half price rentals. This way, get every student into an instrument. For example, a 1/2 size violin, for example, is $8.49 a month, a viola in $9.49. The maintenance plan can be added.  However, all repairs would be your responsibility if you go without it. To learn more Click Here

 MUSIC LIBRARY and MUSIC REPOSITORY (FREE MUSIC)!  NEW: Our Repository is FREE music for teachers. It is from donations to us, that we in turn want our community to have! Come by during open hours to peruse it.  There is a ton of free music running the gamut from band methods, to piano, to choral to general music.   The library is also free for directors to check out titles.  It has several thousand titles and is growing.  Here's a link to it (new titles added everyday)  https://goldenmusic.co/pages/lending-library

STARTING AN ORCHESTRA

Guidelines for Establishing and Growing Your Orchestra Program with Golden Music

Starting a band or orchestra program in a school or community can be a fulfilling endeavor. It involves numerous steps that require careful planning, collaboration, and dedication. With Golden Music as a guide and sounding board, it can be easy and enjoyable. This guide outlines the essential steps and topics you need to discuss with your administration and support community to ensure the successful launch of your music program. Read more on our web page.

Talking with Your Administration and Support Community

Effective communication with your administration and support community is critical to gain the necessary support for your program. This is very important, to have the buy in of your community, from the custodians, o the secretary, to the classroom teachers, it's very important.  Here are the key topics you need to address:

Teacher Recruitment

·       Determine if  you will be the teacher: If you have the qualifications and passion for leading the program, you may take on this role. Otherwise, you need to find a suitable music teacher.

Class Schedule

·       Time and Frequency of Classes: Discuss with the administration when and how often the classes will be held. Consider student schedules and availability to ensure maximum participation.  Most beginning classes are two or three times a week.  The more classes the better, but the minimum is two time per week.

Student Age Group

·       Age of Students: Decide the target age group for your band or orchestra program. This will influence the type of instruments and repertoire you select.  Strings, orchestra can start with any grade but third grade is the most common.  For band, 4th grade is the youngest; there is a problem with younger students because the instruments are too big for them to hold and operate.  The string, we can reduce the size too very small as needed. 

Space Allocation

·       Securing a Space: Ensure you have a designated space for rehearsals and storage of instruments. This could be a classroom, auditorium, or dedicated music room.  Often, beginning programs are using a space temporarily, sometimes a gym, corner of a room or even a large closet.  Once the program is established, often the space will be upgraded.

Program Start Date

·       Starting Date: Plan the exact date when your program will begin. Consider the academic calendar and any other school events that might overlap.

Recruitment and Publicizing

Once you have the foundational support, it's time to focus on recruitment and publicizing your program to attract students.  See the links for Recuitment and Publicizing above for further detail than below.

Creating a Recruitment Schedule

·       Identify Potential Students: Plan a schedule to reach out to students who might be interested in joining the band or orchestra. You can collaborate with classroom teachers to identify musically inclined students.

Publicizing the Program

·       Marketing to Students: Use various methods to publicize your program. This can include posters, announcements, school newsletters, and social media. Highlight the benefits of joining the music program and any upcoming events.

Recruitment Assembly

·       Holding an Assembly: Organize an assembly to introduce the program to the students. Provide information about the instruments, potential performance opportunities, and the fun aspects of being part of a band or orchestra.

Rental Evening for Parents

·       Informing Parents: Arrange a rental evening for parents to learn about instrument rental options, costs, and care. This will help ensure students have access to the necessary instruments without financial burden.

Starting the Program

First Day of Class

·       Kick-off: Plan a memorable and engaging first day to inspire students. Introduce them to the instruments, basic music concepts, and the structure of your classes. Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment to encourage students' enthusiasm.  

Keeping the Program Alive and Well    

The following is summarized from the excellent souce:  Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band,  an all-inclusive handbook/textbook by James Divine

Starting your first classes - Establish Routines

•  How to come into class – don’t let students waste time (are they rowdy?) from the beginning
•  Practice it so it becomes habit
•  No talking during instruction
• Grading for a performance test – A+ or retest
• Great students as they come in the room
• Set-up chairs so you can move about each student, help with discipline issues, hearing mistakes
• Organize the music before the day begins

 

Discipline

• Grace and forgiveness – different students – different needs
• Lunch Detention – Example - not being attentive and quiet after one reminder

 

Concerts

• practice walking to stage
• Play through or atleast talk through the performance
• Practice getting off stage
• Practice sitting in the audience and discuss proper audience behavior

Good Tone and Having Fun

• Long Tones- If they can play one note, they can play long tones!  8 beats, start the sound with your tongue
• Match someone across the room
• Open throats/oral cavity
• Play chords note 1 3 5 triad – balance the notes, have an advanced student play the 7^th
• Listen to professional recordings

7 tips to communicate effectively with parents

1.       Communicate often - monthly

2.       Make initial communication positive

3.      Watch for sign there might be trouble at home

4.      Share good news 10x more than bad news

5.      Be professional and friencly – can’t hear tone during email

6.      No email if it’s bad news, like failing, etc.

7.      Keep it short and simple KISS

 

General Tips

• Get to know thre secretaries and custodians, as well as other teachers and coaches
• Set appropriate time boundaries, go home at the days end, don’t take work home
• Network – go to state, local and other meetings
• You can’t reach every student every class
• Don’t take it personally when a students quits

 

Rehearsal Tips

• Say something positive every time you stop
• Stay off the podium 2/3 of the time
• Make one comment about tone to every band section
• Use the last ten minutes as a run through
• Learn something new about one student each day
• Make a lot of eye contact
• Engage the entire band
• Pick one exercise to play fast

 

Fundamentals

• Student posture
• Stand Height
• Breathing exercises
• Ask students what they think of their tone
• Keep the rehearsal flowing

Making it fun

• Tell a joke once and a while
• Have a band mascot
• Student conductors
• Incorporate Jazz and improvisation
• Have a longest note challenge

Every school working with Music Educates Gets a Free Copy of James Levine's Book, 

Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band: A Handbook For New Band Teachers

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, starting a band or orchestra program requires thorough planning, continuous communication, and a passion for music education. By addressing the key topics with your administration, carefully recruiting students, and publicizing the program effectively, you'll set the foundation for a successful and sustainable music program.