Pick up the Baton

Presents

Pick up the Baton

Community Music Program

Program and classes being taught under the direction of Jeff & Steve Chambers

Our next free Concert

Pictures from our last Concert

Music Resources

Would you like to help support our efforts!

"Pick Up the Baton" Community Music Program

Community Music Concert

Friday, Sept 12th at 7PM

Faith Lutheran Church

22601 Hwy 88, Pioneer

Admission: Free

Come and listen to music performed by members of the new Community Music Program, along with other local musicians. Anyone interested in joining the program can contact Winds Quiet Sound office at (209) 295-3198 for more information. Music lesson scholarships available.

The Need
1. Music participation opportunities in public schools are being endangered through budget cuts nationwide and will soon have a profound impact on our community's health. One must not only think of the consequences to our young people, but the quantifiable advantages of a music education of which the benefits include:
· Critical and Analytical thinking.
· Creative problem solving.
· Effective communication.
· Teamwork.
· Cognitive brain functions that develop math, science and language skills.
· Developing a high level of self-awareness and self-confidence.
· Development of motor skills.
· Community enrichment.
One must consider the long term effects that our community as a whole suffers without a source to replace our current musicians. If you consider that we genuinely use music at all functions including community gatherings, social and religious events. I as a person, who is active in my Cherokee heritage, understand that music is at the root to our way of expression. We cannot take a chance on losing such an important part of our culture.

· The Solution
1. Pick up the Baton…. Community Music Program.
2. This program will be multifaceted. It is intended to enhance existing programs by allowing current music students additional opportunities to participate in music ensembles. It is also designed to create new opportunities for students and community members not currently participating in music programs the chance to learn to play an instrument.
3. The program will provide an opportunity for individuals interested in learning a band instrument group lessons twice per week.
4. A beginning band class will be started to allow the beginning students an opportunity to participate in a larger ensemble. This ensemble shall meet once a week.
5. Any Amador County student that is currently playing a band instrument will have the opportunity to participate in a more advanced class that will meet once per week. The class may be band or smaller ensembles.
6. Another facet of the program will afford parents or members of the community that may have played an instrument years ago the opportunity to participate in a class situation.
7. These programs would be run year round and free concerts would be scheduled on a bimonthly basis to showcase the developing talents.
8. The idea of making this a year round program will give our youth a chance to grow in their abilities and social skills as they interact with other musicians and adults. The benefits of this will be a positive enrichment of their own growth and that of our community.

Program Description

1. Group Lessons
· The students, young or old that want to participate in the group lessons would be charged $60 per month. Any family that wants to enroll more than one participant will be given a 10% discount.

· Basic music skills will be taught, including reading music, counting and deciphering rhythms, learning intonation, ear training and basic theory. The students will receive a well-rounded curriculum in music skills.

2. Band / Ensembles classes
· The purpose of the classes are:
a) To give new students who are participating in the group lesson program an opportunity to apply the new skills as they learn them in a beginning band atmosphere. Beginning band would meet once a week. We anticipate that this ensemble would perform semi annually and seasonal concerts. For students enrolled in the group lessons, there is no additional fee to participate in band class.
b) To give current students and community members who are already playing a band instrument, a continuing opportunity to apply and expand their skills in an intermediate/advanced band or smaller ensembles. We anticipated that this group would perform semi annually and seasonal concerts. For students that are only participating in the intermediate /advanced band, the fee is $10 per month and would also meet once per week. This group could also be used as a feeder band for our local community band or other ensembles as they are formed.

Beg. Group Lessons
Day's ..............Time ..............Location

Clarinet	T & Th	3:45 - 4:25	Pioneer
Saxophone	T & Th	4:25 - 5:05	Pioneer
Flute	T & Th	3:45 - 4:25	Pioneer
Trumpet	T & Th	4:25 - 5:05	Pioneer
Trombone	T & Th	5:05 - 5:45	Pioneer
Percussion	T & Th	5:05 - 5:45	Pioneer

Cadet Band	Wed	3:45 - 4:25	Pioneer
Interm Ens.	Wed	4:30 - 5:10	Pioneer

How to find us
Faith Lutheran Church is located just east of the intersection of State Highways 88 and 26. You may know Highway 26 as the Red Corral Road or the West Point Road. Regardless, you must stay on Highway 88 going east. You will see the "Come as you are" sign on your left just before you get to the entrance.The big "X" marks the location of Faith Lutheran on the map.

Faith Lutheran Church is providing the use of their facilities for this very important community project

This is a very important grassroots effort to make sure that music will always be available to our youth and to our community as a whole. Do you have a band instrument sitting in the closet collecting dust? how about a music stand, percussion equipment like drums, cymbals, wood blocks, bells? what about band music! We will accept any of these items and make sure they go to the benfit of the students. Any donations through Paypal will go directly to either music or supplies.

Thanks for your help!

Music Resources