6th Grade:  Theses rookies will learn the basics of how to play their instrument, and how to read music notation.  Learning to read music is similar to learning to read a language, and requires frequent practice outside the classroom.   I recommend practicing around sixty to eighty minutes per week.  Four 20 minute practices would be fantastic.  It’s better to practice more often for a short amount of time than one really long session per week.  Practicing is essential to your child’s development.  There is no secret to success with music.  As one of my fellow music teachers once said, “Hard work will eventually beat ‘talent’ when ‘talent’ doesn’t work hard”.

7th Grade:  This is a very important year of development.  We will pick up where we left off in the previous year, and blaze our way through to advanced playing techniques.  Practicing is again essential to improvement!

8th Grade:  This is the year all the work pays off as your child has the opportunity to become a part of the CHS Marching Yellow Jacket Band.  The CHS band is an amazing group of more than 225 students.  They perform at all the CHS football games as well as making appearances in parades, pep rallies, and other community events.  (They still need to practice.  <grin>)

I graduated from Chattanooga Central High School, and The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education.  In 2008 I earned Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University.