As we begin on this journey together, I know you have many questions. Will my child be any good? Will they be able to handle the responsibility of music along with everything else they do? Will it be worth it? Is it safe?
The answer to all of these questions is a resounding YES!
With your support and mine, the possibilities for your child are wide open. Certainly, there will be moments of frustration as your child learns the new skills of music, but the rewards are many! In terms of safety, please know that I have been researching and following the latest protocols in terms of safe music making and am committed to doing whatever is needed to ensure the health and well being of your child.
This will be tougher than usual, but that isn’t a bad thing. As children work to master a challenging skill, they develop grit and perseverance.
As your child embarks on this new journey, we encourage you to take videos to document their musical progress. It is often difficult to see the slow arc of growth when they are just starting, but these videos will be proof of how far they have come and how much they have learned. Plus, they have the added benefit of being fun to watch in the future. The sounds may not always be pretty, but they will be special! And, it’s a fun way to reminisce when they are in high school or beyond.
There will be an orientation meeting for new band & Orchestra parents on Monday, August 24th at 6:30 p.m. Zoom information has been emailed out to all new parents. If you did not receive this email, please contact me. I hope you will join us.
I hope you are as excited as I am to embark on this new journey together! If you have any questions, musical or otherwise, please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey D. Summers
Instrumental Music Director
Benton Middle School
Visual and Performing Arts Magnet