Band Member News

AUGUST 24, 2022

Junior Knights Band Beginning of the Year Info

Hello Junior Knights Band Families!

Thank you for registering for Junior Knights Band this year! We are looking forward to another year of making music with students and offering more opportunities for students than ever before! 

Calendar (full Junior Knights Band Program calendar above)

8/31-9/9   JKB Recruitment in Lutheran Elementary Schools

9/9       Returning JKB student registration deadline

9/11     Registration deadline for new JKB members (extended from 9/9 for new members)

9/11     1:00PM-4:00PM Band Sale

9/11     2:00 JKB Information meeting and registration (new members and families)

9/17     9:00AM-12:00PM Beginner Band Camp 

9/20     Week individual lessons start

10/1     Semester 1 JKB fees due

10/3     Lancer Band rehearsals start

10/17   Sabre Band rehearsals start

New Families

Welcome to our new band families! We’re excited to have you as part of the program. Here’s some helpful information. 

• Sabre Band is for all beginning first year band students (usually 5th grade). Lancer Band is for all returning students (usually 6th-8th grade). 
• Renting an instrument can be done at either of the music stores in the area - Leitholds Music in downtown La Crosse or SSE Music in Onalaska. Both stores work well with Luther and will deliver anything you need or buy to Luther for us to bring to lessons so no one has to run into the store on a busy week night. You can also purchase an instrument from Luther in our band sale on September 11th, from a music store, or online through Facebook Marketplace. If you do look for a used instrument to purchase please email me before buying it and I will let you know if it is a good deal and worthwhile instrument. 
• Lesson books that are used for private lessons are provided by Luther and will be distributed at the beginning of the year. All beginning students use the “Sound Innovations” band method books. 
• Beginning Band Camp is the first band event for your new band students! It is September 17th from 9:00AM-12:00PM in Luther’s Band Room. 

Info Meeting - September 11

1:00PM-4:00PM Band Sale

2:00PM Parent Info Meeting and Registration

At this meeting we will go into more detail about how the Junior Knights Band Program works, what you can do at home to help you child succeed in band, and is a great time to meet our JKB staff. Both music stores, Leitholds and SSE Music, will be at the meeting for students to play instruments and families to set up rentals. All beginning families are welcome and invited to attend. If you came to the info meeting in Spring it is not necessary to attend again.

Band Sale - September 11

1:00-4:00 PM

We are selling all the instruments that Luther has collected, but does not need anymore. These instruments are playable, but do need a professional cleaning from a music store, and may need some repair. Instruments cost $50 each. Some music books will also be available for $2 each. If you plan on attending and purchasing something please either bring cash or a check made out to Luther High School. We are not able to accept cards or other electronic payment. This is a great way to purchase an instrument for a low cost!

Beginner Band Camp - September 17

9:00AM-12:00PM

At this camp all our first year players learn how to safely and carefully put their instruments together and play their first notes. Students also get to meet their fellow band mates from other schools for the first time and start developing as an ensemble. During the day we split up into separate instruments so each instrument can best learn all their specific techniques.

Lessons Beginning - Week of September 20

Lesson schedules and weekdays for schools will be assigned after the September 11th registration deadline. The first day of lessons will be September 20th.

Lancer Band Rehearsals Begin - October 3, 6:00PM-7:00PM

Lancer Band rehearsals begin on October 3rd. Sabre Band does not need to come on October 3rd.

Sabre Band Rehearsals Begin - October 17, 6:00PM-7:00PM

Sabre Band (beginning band students) start later in the year than Lancer band because these students need more time to work on playing the first notes, counting, and reading music before putting the whole band together.

Peace,

Mr. Witte