Why should I let my child join Jinks Middle School Band?
By joining Band, your child is not just attending another class. Your child will join a family of students that care about and support each other. Band is a team that has no bench sitters, and everyone plays an important part. The positive experiences your child will have in Band will follow them the rest of their lives and help them become successful young men and women. For more information about the value of an education in Band, click on HERE.
Do I have to buy and instrument for my child to play in Band?
The short answer is no. Most parents rent an instrument, especially at first. Renting the instrument from a local music store is the best option because the rental agreements can include accident insurance and free maintenance, as well as the rent-to-own option. The more expensive instruments (tuba, euphonium, and French horn) are typically too expensive to rent, so they would be borrowed from the school. Jinks Middle School does also have other instruments that can be loaned out to students for families that cannot afford to rent. Buying an instrument online is never recommended, unless you are someone who knows how to tell a quality instrument from an expensive toy.
Can my child play football or cheer and be in band?
Yes, we have many students in band who are multi-talented. Band is a class during the school day, and in the rare case where there are conflicting after school activities, the coaches and band director work together to make sure that the students are not penalized for being in more than one activity.
How much does it cost to have my child in band? Once the instrument has been procured, the cost of being in Jinks Middle School Band is minimal. The only uniform purchases are the Band t-shirt, the Band polo shirt, and Band shoes. The total cost for all 3 items is less than $75 and even that cost can be taken care of through fundraising. Many families never pay for the uniform out of their own pocket because they participate in our fundraising activities.
Does Band take a lot of time after school? Beginning Band usually has 2 concerts per year that involve a total of about 4 after school rehearsals spread over the school year. In class instruction is the main focus of the Beginning Band, and the concerts are mainly for the parents to see what we've learned. As students move to the Intermediate and Advanced stages of Band, they may participate in football games, parades, elementary school visit concerts, and school concerts which do require a number of after school rehearsals. However, if there are scheduling conflicts with family activities, or if a student needs a ride home, we work with the family to reach a good compromise.
I'm still not sure about Band for my child, what should I do? First, check out the Join the Band tab on this website. There is a lot of information about the benefits of participating in band as well as information about which instruments are offered for instruction. Next, contact the Band Director, Jetaime Walsingham, at walsij@bay.k12.fl.us to have all of your other concerns addressed.
Yes, I want my child to be a part of Jinks Middle School Band. What now? First, contact the Band Director, Jetaime Walsingham, at walsij@bay.k12.fl.us to get your child signed up. If the new school year has not started yet, she will make sure your child's name gets put on the list for the correct class. If the school year has already started, she will assist you in getting your child's schedule changed through the guidance office.