Who We Are

The Fremont Education Foundation (FEF) is the sponsor of this music program. FEF is a non-profit foundation, formed to encourage increased community involvement and investment in our schools. We are an independent foundation that works closely with, but is separate from, the Fremont Unified School District. The funding for this program comes from individual parent/family and community donations generated through a variety of fundraising drives including optional/voluntary donations and other activities. We need your support and appreciate your voluntary monetary contribution and/or volunteer participation.

Our Program Success

We hope to continue to offer this program in the future for your children and others in your community. Please continue to support our program through monetary donations and volunteering. If you'd like to help, please call 510-659-2561 or email president@fremont-education.org. We rely heavily on your support to make this program a reality!

Program Objectives

1. Provide a fun, pleasant learning experience which fosters a lifelong love of music.

2. Provide basic instruction on how to play the instrument selected including correct finger/hand positioning, posture, embouchure, breathing, etc. Instruments offered include: brass, woodwind and percussion. Strings are not covered.

3. Teach how to care for instrument.

4. Teach how to read music (notes, counting, and rhythm).

5. Provide music assignments for practice.

6. Have participants perform in a concert showcasing their abilities.

Behavior Policy

Participants are expected to conduct themselves as they would during normal school hours. All participants are expected to be respectful, considerate, listen, follow instructions, and conduct themselves in a manner that will not disrupt others during class instruction. The instructor will follow FEF policies regarding participant discipline. Failure to follow these policies may result in the participant being dropped from class.

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken. If your child will be absent, call the school absence line and say that your child will be missing band and that the band instructor needs to be notified. The instructor will follow FEF policies regarding attendance. Failure to follow these policies may result in the participant being dropped from class.

Pick Up Policy

Parents or guardians are responsible for their child when music class is released. Please arrive 5 min. before release time to hear any announcements. Children must be picked up promptly, so please carefully note when classes end. Note: To allow your child to return to his/her on-site day care program or to walk home alone, the parent or guardian must give a written note of permission to the band director and the day care provider.

Home Practice Policy

Participants are expected to practice assignments given by the band director. Time varies as to what the participant is comfortable doing, but consistent daily practice of about 10 minutes every day is quite effective. A progress report of each participant by the teacher will be made at the semester grading periods. If the participant consistently fails to practice, causing class disruption, the instructor will issue a written notice to the participant and parents. If the problem persists, the instructor may drop the participant from class.

Class Observation

If you wish to visit the classroom, please have siblings wait outside the classroom. We ask visitors to please be respectful to the class and teacher.

Band Parent

Parent volunteers are needed to help with classroom set up/clean up, taking attendance, etc. Band teachers may need parents with musical experience to assist participants especially in combination classes. The program is in need of at least one parent from each band to be a liaison with Fremont Education Foundation as an information contact. Please contact your band instructor or email president@fremont-education.org to help.

Music Books and Supplies

Participants are required to provide their own instruments, either by rental or ownership.

FEF After School Band Supply Information

Music Book for American & Mission area class sites: Standard of Excellence, Beginning (red) with CD.

Music Book for Irvington, Kennedy & Washington area class sites: Essential Elements 2000 Plus with CD & DVD.

RENTING OR PURCHASING AN INSTRUMENT: The following are recommended suggestions for renting or purchasing instruments. Most local music stores have a “rent to own program” that allows monthly payments toward the purchase of a quality instrument with no financial penalty if you decide to return it. We highly recommend renting instruments at this stage. As participants grow and learn more about music, we encourage exploration of other instruments. Please do not buy from internet sites or non-music stores (i.e. Target, Walmart or eBay), as you may get a non-working or very poorly made instrument which can cause frustration for your child and be costly or impossible to repair.

Recommended for ALL instruments: Chromatic tuner, metronome, and music stand for home.

Trumpet: Good Instrument brands: Yamaha, Bach, and King. Purchase a 5C mouthpiece and a cleaning kit, including valve oil and slide grease.

Trombone: Good instrument brands: Yamaha, Conn, Bach, and King. Purchase a 6 ½ AL mouthpiece, slide cream, slide grease and small water spray bottle.

Baritone or Euphonium Horn: These instruments are a good alternate to the trombone and an excellent steppingstone towards learning the tuba. Good instrument brands: Yamaha, King, Bach, and Conn. Purchase a 6 ½ AL mouthpiece, a cleaning kit and valve oil.

French Horn: It is recommended that participants learning this instrument study with a private teacher. Learning the trumpet first is often a good idea. Purchase a cleaning kit, valve oil, slide grease, and chromatic tuner.

Flute: Good instrument brands: Armstrong, Gemeinhardt, Yamaha, and Emerson. Purchase a flute cleaning kit.

Clarinet: Your instrument can be either plastic or wood. The directors recommend starting with plastic since wood is much more expensive. As a participant progresses, you may upgrade to a “Clarks Fobes Debut” mouthpiece. Purchase at least six “size 2”reeds, a reed holder and a cleaning kit including a silk or cotton swab. Good instrument brands: Yamaha, Vito Buffet, Leblanc and Hollywood Winds (Unison) Good reed brands: Vandoren and Rico Royal. Avoid Jupiter brands. Their tone holes tend to be too big for young fingers.

Alto Saxophone: Saxophone participants benefit from previous clarinet experience. Playing clarinet first and then switching at winter vacation or the 2nd year is recommended. Good instrument brands: Yamaha and Hollywood Winds (Unison). Purchase six “size 2” reeds, a reed holder and a cleaning kit.

Percussion: Previous piano experience is recommended. We teach bells, snare drum, & bass drum. Participants need to get ALL items: a snare drum, stand, a pair of 5B wood tip drum sticks, 2-1/2 octave set of bells, bell stand, mallets, 8” practice pad and metronome.

~ DOWNLOAD, SIGN AND TURN IN TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS ~