1557 B Larpenteur Ave.

W, Falcon Heights, MN 55113 P: (651) 895-0891

E: info@88notesmusic.com W: 88notesmusic.com

Encore Ensembles Parent Handbook

2017-2018

Who We Are

Mellisa Weinert, CEO, Director of Music & Educa9on

Eighty Eight Notes School of Music
Mellisa graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Music Educa6on and Liturgical Music, with a
minor in Flute Performance and Bible in 2007 from Golden State Bap6st College in Santa Clara,
CA. She received her Master of Arts in Music Educa6on with a concentra6on in Piano Pedagogy
in 2013 from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She is a Na6onally Cer6ed Teacher
of Music (cer6ed through the Music Teacher's Na6onal Associa6on) as well as a member of
several professional music organiza6ons including the Music Teachers Na6onal Associa6on
(MTNA), Minnesota Music Teachers Associa6on (MMTA), and APPI (Associa6on of Professional
Piano Instructors) of which she has served as an ocer.

Mellisa onboard Encore Ensembles to the oerings at Eighty Eight Notes in 2016. Mellisa is a
music educa6on and business consultant for several music schools and private studios around
the country and has performed in loca6ons overseas. Mellisa is the lead piano teacher, Director
of Music and Educa6on, and CEO of Eighty Eight Notes School of Music.

Laura Thompson, Program Coordinator, Encore Ensembles

Laura is currently the K-8 Music Teacher and 4-8 Band Director at Transgura6on Catholic
School. She takes on the program coordina6on role in Encore Ensembles in addi6on to her
teaching job.

Laura a]ended a K-8 Catholic School growing up and is deeply passionate about the successes
of music programs in small private, charter, and home schools. Laura takes on the Administrator
role of Encore Ensembles in addi6on to her current teaching posi6on. She received a Bachelor
of Arts in Instrumental Music Educa6on from Gustavus Adolphus College. She is currently a
member of NAfME (Na6onal Associa6on for Music Educa6on), MMEA (Minnesota Music
Educators Associa6on), and MBDA (Minnesota Band Directors Associa6on).

The Program
You as a band parent will pay Eighty Eight Notes School of Music directly. The cost is $55 per
month per student as well as a one-6me $25 registra6on fee per student. We u6lize that
money to pay your teacher as well as provide band music, certain instruments, and equipment
for your schools needs. The registra6on fee is used to cover administra6ve expenses as well as
addi6onal band music and equipment. Our program provides all the music and certain
instruments for your schools instrumental music needs

Instruments
Be sure your student has a working instrument. We have partnered with Eckroth Music to help
us provide you with the highest quality music instruments. If you are purchasing or acquiring an
instrument from a source besides a music store, please connect with your teacher to determine
if it is a quality instrument op6on. There are many instruments that are not good quality and
we do not want you to lose money on a piece of junk.

Please avoid $100 instruments on Amazon or eBay at all costs. Under no circumstances should
you purchase an abnormally-colored instrument (green, blue, pink, etc.).

Every instrument will eventually need repairs, so please be sure you have a renowned
instrument repair technician check over your instrument at least once per year. Even our
teachers bring in their professional-level instruments in annually!

Scheduling
Your Encore Ensembles teacher will be at your school one day per week. Students receive a
20-30-minute small group band lesson and a 30-45-minute large group rehearsal. Lessons will
be 30 minutes UNLESS there are lesson groups with only one student. Your band rehearsals will
be 30-45 minutes. Your Encore Ensembles teacher will create a band schedule that works with
your school and they will provide a copy to you to keep at home.

Concerts
Tradi6onally, band or orchestra students will perform in two concerts per year, a Holiday
Concert and a Spring Concert. Your Encore Ensembles teacher will communicate required
performances at your school.

Make Up Lessons
Regre]ably as many of our teachers have a full teaching schedule days missed due to snow
days, eld trips, days o from school, and student illness will not be able to be made up. We
have communicated with your school that if at all possible, eld trips should not be planned
during band days. If your teacher is absent due to illness, they will work with your school to
make up the day.

If your student has a test during the 6me of their band lesson, it is expected that the student
comes and talks to your Encore Ensembles teacher before the lesson starts. This gives your
teacher the opportunity to nd another 6me to t that student into the daily schedule.

Teacher Placement
We place teachers carefully to ensure they are a good t for your school. Our process is
designed to get to know the teachers and carefully select people who will be a good t for the
Encore Ensembles team. Eighty Eight Notes School of Music conducts background checks on all
teachers before placing them in your schools.

Expecta9ons
1. Your student brings their band folder and instrument to all lessons and rehearsals.
2. Your student is on 6me to all lessons and rehearsals.
3. Your student prac6ces at least 5 days per week, 20-30 minutes per day.
4. Your student par6cipates in all required concerts.
5. Your student maintains a posi6ve ahtude towards band or orchestra at their school.
6. Maintain communica6on with your Encore Ensembles teacher with any ques6ons or
concerns.

Addi9onal Op9onal Events and Performances

Each year we provide opportuni6es for students to par6cipate in addi6onal performances,
including our Band Fes6val, Solo and Ensemble Contest, and Honor Band.

Band Fes9val
Open to all students who have completed at least one year in their school band programs, this
provides an opportunity for Encore Ensembles students to play in a large band of 60+ students.
Typically, this event takes place the last Friday in February. Students will miss the day of school,
however we ensure that the day is educa6onal and a good experience for all of our students.
Playing in a large group as opposed to their typical groups at school gives students an
opportunity to learn from each other and grow together as musicians. We rehearse for the day
and put on a concert that ajernoon.

Solo and Ensemble Contest

This event typically occurs in early April, and provides an opportunity for students to play either
a solo or in a small group. We provide music educators who give the students construc6ve
cri6cism for how to improve their playing. Playing a solo or small ensemble is a dierent
experience than playing in a larger group. The top two or three performances are selected to
play at the Honor Band performance in late April.

Honor Band
Each teacher from Encore Ensembles nominates the top students in your schools band for this
group. The Honor Band is a collec6on of top band students in grades 5-8 from all Encore
Ensembles schools. Typically comprised of 40-50 students, each nominee who wants to
par6cipate prepares an audi6on to earn entrance into the group, which helps us to determine
which part each student will play in the ensemble. Honor Band is our highest honor and
provides our students an opportunity to play music that will challenge them with other students
who are at the same level musically. Honor Band takes place at the end of April.

Benets of Music
Many ojen ask what makes music dierent and unique. How does it benet a student
academically?
1. Musical training helps develop language and reasoning: Students who have early musical
training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The lej side of
the brain is be]er developed with music, and songs can help imprint informa6on on young
minds.
2. A mastery of memoriza6on: Even when performing with sheet music, student musicians are
constantly using their memory to perform. The skill of memoriza6on can serve students well in
educa6on and beyond.
3. Students learn to improve their work: Learning music promotes crajsmanship, and students
learn to want to create good work instead of mediocre work. This desire can be applied to all
subjects of study.
4. Increased coordina6on: Students who prac6ce with musical instruments can improve their
hand-eye coordina6on. Just like playing sports, children can develop motor skills when playing
music.
5. A sense of achievement: Learning to play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a
challenging, but achievable goal. Students who master even the smallest goal in music will be
able to feel proud of their achievement.
6. Kids stay engaged in school: An enjoyable subject like music can keep kids interested and
engaged in school. Student musicians are likely to stay in school to achieve in other subjects.
7. Success in society: Music is the fabric of our society, and music can shape abili6es and
character. Students in band or orchestra are less likely to abuse substances over their life6me.
Musical educa6on can greatly contribute to childrens intellectual development as well.
8. Emo6onal development: Students of music can be more emo6onally developed, with
empathy towards other cultures They also tend to have higher self esteem and are be]er at
coping with anxiety.
9. Students learn pa]ern recogni6on: Children can develop their math and pa]ern-recogni6on
skills with the help of musical educa6on. Playing music oers repe66on in a fun format.
10. Be]er SAT scores: Students who have experience with music performance or apprecia6on
score higher on the SAT. One report indicates 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on
math for students in music apprecia6on courses.
11. Fine-tuned auditory skills: Musicians can be]er detect meaningful, informa6on-bearing
elements in sounds, like the emo6onal meaning in a babys cry. Students who prac6ce music
can have be]er auditory a]en6on, and pick out predictable pa]erns from surrounding noise.
12. Music builds imagina6on and intellectual curiosity: Introducing music in the early childhood
years can help foster a posi6ve ahtude toward learning and curiosity. Ar6s6c educa6on
develops the whole brain and develops a childs imagina6on.
13. Music can be relaxing: Students can ght stress by learning to play music. Soothing music is
especially helpful in helping kids relax.
14. Musical instruments can teach discipline: Kids who learn to play an instrument can learn a
valuable lesson in discipline. They will have to set 6me aside to prac6ce and rise to the
challenge of learning with discipline to master playing their instrument.
15. Prepara6on for the crea6ve economy: Inves6ng in crea6ve educa6on can prepare students
for the 21st century workforce. The new economy has created more ar6s6c careers, and these
jobs may grow faster than others in the future.
16. Development in crea6ve thinking: Kids who study the arts can learn to think crea6vely. This
kind of educa6on can help them solve problems by thinking outside the box and realizing that
there may be more than one right answer.
17. Music can develop spa6al intelligence: Students who study music can improve the
development of spa6al intelligence, which allows them to perceive the world accurately and
form mental pictures. Spa6al intelligence is helpful for advanced mathema6cs and more.
18. Kids can learn teamwork: Many musical educa6on programs require teamwork as part of a
band or orchestra. In these groups, students will learn how to work together and build
camaraderie.
19. Responsible risk-taking: Performing a musical piece can bring fear and anxiety. Doing so
teaches kids how to take risks and deal with fear, which will help them become successful and
reach their poten6al.
20. Be]er self-condence: With encouragement from teachers and parents, students playing a
musical instrument can build pride and condence. Musical educa6on is also likely to develop
be]er communica6on for students.