Elementary Band

Welcome! At Kamiakin Middle School, we offer Elementary Band to all 4th and 5th grade students from Keller, Frost, and Muir Elementary Schools.

Music is a place for everyone.
Learn how to read sheet music and play a new instrument.
Connect with peers and create memories with friends, year after year.
Experience strong positive impacts on learning, memory, fine motor skills, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and literacy skills.
Strengthen work ethic through consistent instrument practice habits.
Make connections to every subject: there is language in music, math in music, art in music, science in music, and history in music.
Develop confidence, problem solving, leadership, social skills, and so much more!
It’s FUN! We get to share music together!

Lexi Magistrale
Band & Orchestra Director,
Kamiakin Middle School
(425) 936-2400 ext. 54424
amagistrale@lwsd.org

In 2023-2024, elementary band will meet from 8:00 AM - 8:35 AM. Students are expected to arrive at Kamiakin by 7:55 AM to set up their instrument and prepare for class. Each student will have two rehearsals per week.
Elementary band will start the week of September 25th, 2023.

The elementary band classes meet in the band room (104) at Kamiakin Middle School.

Students have two options to get to Kamiakin Middle School. If they are within walking distance, they may walk to Kamiakin. Otherwise, students will need transportation to get to Kamiakin before class. At the end of band classes, all students are bussed back to their elementary school (except for students from Muir Elementary, who will be accompanied by an Instructional Assistant on their walk across the street to school)

If this is your student’s first time participating in band, they will start in Beginning Band. If your student has prior experience participating in band, they will start in Intermediate Band.

Attendance matters! Since we only meet twice per week, it is very important for your child to be on time for every rehearsal. Learning an instrument requires consistency and commitment. If your student will be absent, please send an e-mail to Ms. Magistrale to let me know. Although there is no substitute for valuable ensemble time, students are expected to make up any missed rehearsals with additional practice time at home.

Beginning Band students may choose from the following band instruments:
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Baritone
Switching to other instruments is an option for Intermediate Band students (in their second year of band) with director approval. Depending on individual strengths, students may transition to alto saxophone or percussion.

Where do we get an instrument? Should we RENT or BUY?

We encourage students to rent band instruments from our trusted local music stores. If you already own an instrument, please have it evaluated by a qualified repair technician (see list below) prior to our first rehearsal to make sure it is playable. Please use a nametag on ALL cases.
If instrument rental cost is a barrier to participation, please reach out to Ms. Magistrale. Kamiakin has a limited inventory of instruments offered at a reduced rate for students that qualify for assistance. Elementary school PTAs may also be able to assist with rental costs.
WARNING: There are a lot of “Instrument Shaped Objects" available inexpensively online. They may look like flutes or clarinets or trumpets or trombones, but they do not function well and prevent students from being able to make quality sound. There is no substitute for a quality instrument - what you may save with initial purchase price will be more than countered with constant repairs, mal-adjustments, and frustration. It's not worth it!
When students continue in band and keep their rental instrument for multiple years, our local music stores often offer the instrument for sale at a discounted rate. Ask them about their rent-to-own programs!
If you are interested in purchasing an instrument for your student, please reach out to Ms. Magistrale for trusted brands. For a quality instrument, we recommend buying/renting from an established, local music store:

How do I...