Join Westwood Band

At Westwood, band is a full school year commitment and we're excited you're interested in joining! There are four main components to Band:

Full Band (or "Big Band"): Students learn music in a large group with all of the instruments
Lessons: Students receive small group individualized instruction with like instruments
Written Assignments: Students learn about how to read and write music notation and vocabulary
Concerts: Students perform for the community

Register for band:

Register for 5th grade band - Find parent info meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuunGdEP95E , Registration link here: https://forms.gle/WDCBcyT1eccSkGEv7
6th grade (new to band) registration - Please turn your pink paper form in to Ms. Seiler or Dr. Marsolek
7th grade (new to band) registration - Please turn your pink paper form in to Ms. Seiler or Dr. Marsolek
8th grade (new to band) registration - Please turn your pink paper form in to Ms. Seiler or Dr. Marsolek

Contact Us

Westwood Schools: 763-600-5300

5th grade band lead: Ms. Evah Engel, 763-600-5491

6th band lead: Ms. Julie Seiler, 763-600-5352

7/8 grade band lead: Dr. Matthew Marsolek, 763-600-5351

Band Overview

Where do I start?

Step 1

Band directors will invite students down to the band area to try instruments during the first two months of school.
Registration: When registration opens, fill out and submit the Registration Form with your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice instrument.

Step 2

The band directors will review your submission and communicate to you with your "approved" instrument for band!

Step 3

Obtain an instrument--your band directors will share resources with you about how to get an instrument.

Step 4

Wait until your first lesson with your band teacher (or lesson instructor) to put your instrument together

Step 5

Enjoy learning and playing music for the rest of your life!

5th grade Band Timeline 2025 (subject to change)

September through mid October:

Students are introduced to the instruments during school and will have the chance to try select brass and woodwind instruments.
Students interested in percussion will audition for band directors (piano experience is preferred)
Note: Band Registration on website will remain closed until all students have the chance to try the instruments.

Mid October: Parent Information Meeting

During Conferences, find the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuunGdEP95E
Parents receive all relevant band information

Mid October: Band Registration Opens

After the Parent Information Meeting, families will register for band via the “Join Band” website
- Students will rank the their top 3 instrument choices

Early November (Within 2 weeks of registration)

Band directors will notify families of their child’s confirmed band instrument.
Families will acquire instruments

Mid November

Band Begins - Small Group Lessons of like-instruments will meet.

May 27th, 2026

Our first 5th grade band performance!

Student and Family Responsibilities

Being in band involves responsibilities on the parts of students and parents/guardians.

Students commit to:

Regular practice practicing
Maintaining their instrument
Bringing materials to each class/lesson, and home to practice
Communicating with parent/guardian and/or teacher when there is a question or need

Parents/Guardians commit to:

Making sure students have a place to practice
Encouraging regular practice in a positive manner
Providing a quality instrument that is in good working order, and getting repair/maintenance as needed

Skills for Success

Band is great for helping build real world skills! We find that students successful in band grow in their skills of:

Self-Discipline: The band directors are not there each times students play. Student led regular Practice is the quickest way to musical excellence!
Dedication/Work Ethic: Playing an instrument isn't always easy! Don't quit when you meet a challenge!
Organization: All of our band students are involved in many life activities (sports, church, civic groups, work, etc...), setting aside a specific time and place to practice are important for success in band (and in life!)
Leadership: We find that our band students are often the team captains, student councilors, and club leaders in our school!

Instrumentation and Instrument Selection

In any band, the musicians are members of a team. Within the team, there are often different positions that need to be covered. In the band, we call this "Instrumentation" - the proportional number of each instrument we need to have a balanced (good-sounding) band. This means that there are certain needs for a certain number of instruments. Because of this, students will need to decide on three (3) instruments they would feel comfortable playing. This is why students may not receive their first choice.

Band stats and parent video overview

Band Stats

Parent Video

Instrument Families

Band Instruments are typically sorted into three families:

Woodwind: Instruments were either once made of wood (Flute), or use a wooden reed to produce a sound make sound (Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, Bassoon). Reeds are like tires on a car--they will last for a while with good care, but will need to be replaced at regular intervals. Reeds cost can vary, but usually families purchase in boxes of 5-10. Students may go through about two reeds per month on a regular practice schedule.

Brass: Sound is produced by buzzing one's lips together into a metal mouthpiece. (Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba)

Percussion: Not just "the drums. "This family is often misunderstood by beginning band students. Young percussionists take on the responsibility of learning many instruments, with a primary focus on mallets and snare. Preference is typically given to students who have had at least two years of piano lessons, as the mallet system is identical to the piano system. Additionally, the timpani requires students to read in bass clef, while mallets will read in both treble and bass clef.

Learn more about each instrument:

Flute

Oboe

Fast Facts

In the Woodwind Family
Double Reed Instrument (Reeds cost around $10--$15 each), but last longer with proper care
Requires a musician with a good ear, as its pitch can vary greatly from note to note
Outside Private lessons are HIGHLY recommended

Bassoon

Fast Facts

In the Woodwind Family
Double Reed Instrument (Reeds cost around $12--$15 each), but last longer with proper care
Larger instrument, requires the player to sit, longer fingers are helpful!
Requires a musician with a good ear, as its pitch can vary greatly from note to note
Outside Private lessons are HIGHLY recommended
*The Bassoon is a School-Rented Instrument

Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Alto Saxophone

Fast Facts

In the Woodwind Family
Uses a single reed
Often plays melodies and countermelodies in music
Students who choose the Alto Sax for their first choice need to be very comfortable with their second choice as there is a greater chance not to get this due to high interest
They are expensive instruments

Tenor Saxophone

Fast Facts

In the Woodwind Family
The Tenor Sax uses a single reed to make a sound
It is bigger and heavier than the Alto Sax
Students who choose the Tenor Sax for their first choice need to be very comfortable with their second choice as there is a greater chance not to get this due to high interest
They are expensive instruments

Trumpet

French Horn

Fast Facts

In the Brass Family
The musician must have a good sense of pitch
The French horn has a small mouthpiece with a shallow cup
The player uses a lot of air and develops the muscles around the lips to produce a sound on the trumpet
The student must be patient--the French horn can be challenging to begin (Some players start on trumpet and move to French horn once their lip muscles are developed)
*The French Horn is a School-Rented Instrument
- Normally, student have a school French horn for at home practice and one at school, and only bring their mouthpiece back and forth. This year may be different due to restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trombone

Fast Facts

In the Brass Family
Is the only instrument that uses a slide to change notes (it is EASY to learn where the notes are on the slide)
The trombone has a medium sized mouthpiece
The player uses a lot of air and develops the muscles around the lips to produce a sound on the trombone
Often play the bass line in music

Euphonium

Fast Facts

In the Brass Family
The euphonium has a medium sized mouthpiece
The player uses a lot of air and develops the muscles around the lips to produce a sound
Often play the bass line in music
*The Euphonium is a School-Rented Instrument
- Normally, student have a school Euphonium for at home practice and one at school, and only bring their mouthpiece back and forth. This year may be different due to restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tuba

Fast Facts

In the Brass Family
One of the most important instruments in the band!
The Tuba has a large sized mouthpiece
The player uses a lot of air and develops the muscles around the lips to produce a sound
Often play the bass line in music
*The Tuba is a School-Rented Instrument
- Normally, student have a school Tuba for at home practice and one at school, and only bring their mouthpiece back and forth. This year may be different due to restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Percussion

Fast Facts

In the Percussion Family
Percussionists learn to play many instruments
Two main instruments of focus are mallets and snare drum (students cannot choose just one--they will spend time learning both!)
Students wanting to learn how to play only drums may have the opportunity to learn how to play by joining drumline in 7th grade--open to all band students
Students with 2 years of piano lessons with an accredited piano teacher will receive consideration before other students upon registration.
Students must be patient, organized, committed, focused, self-disciplined, and leaders within their classes
Students should be comfortable with their second and third choice instruments, as many students are interested in percussion
NOTE: Mallet instruments in band are very different from the mallet instruments played in elementary school!
Students MUST have director approval before being given permission to play percussion. This will often include a personal interview and skills assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

My child wants to be in band, but our family cannot access an instrument. Can they still participate?

Where/how do I get an instrument?

What is a "school owned" rental instrument?

We have a drum set. Can my child play percussion?

While drum set is something that is played in our extra-curricular groups (jazz band), drum set is not typically played in a classroom band setting. The only drum from the drum set that uses similar technique to the classroom setting is the snare drum. Additionally, so much of the percussion music that students perform is on mallets, which is why piano experience is a necessity.

Bari Sax: 6th grade students who have been learning the Alto or Tenor Saxophone will have the chance to try out the bari saxophone in the second half of sixth grade. Because it is big and can be difficult to play, students need to be a little bigger and also have more saxophone playing technique down before trying this instrument. This is a school-owned instrument.
Soprano Sax: While popularized by Kenny G as a sweet sounding instrument, this is what we in the music world consider a secondary instrument or a double. This means that students will learn the alto or tenor sax first, and will pick up other saxophones as they progress and get more serious about playing. Additionally, the music that is written for school concert band does not include parts for soprano saxophone.