Hello Beginning Band families. This email is to clear up any confusion that there might be regarding 6th Grade Band for the 2025-2026 school year. The information in this message is the most up-to-date and accurate. Abby Ruetten and I, Wes Couch, will be your students’ teachers and our email addresses are at the bottom of this message. Please email us if you have any questions regarding the start of your PCMS Band experience.
- Summer Schedule - This is the NEW SUMMER SCHEDULE. Dates and times have changed. There is no sign up or form. Your students should show up to one, or both, of the sessions for their specific instrument. Percussion will attend two; one for battery and one for mallets.
- Instruments - Please have instruments ready or delivered for the first summer session. If you need information about renting from a music store or the PCMS inventory, or purchasing a used/new instrument, please contact one of us.
- Brass and Woodwinds - Shopping for supplies and accessories can be overwhelming. Here is a SUPPLIES LIST that might help. The easiest way to make sure you have everything is to purchase a Care Kit for your specific instrument. Clarinets and Saxophones should start with at least five 2 strength reeds (Juno preferred); a full box right away will be cheaper in the long run…they will use them. If you’ve already purchased items from the old list and it’s different from this new list (i.e. reed strength), please contact the music store for a possible exchange/return. If that doesn’t work, contact one of us; we’ll figure it out.
- Percussion - Students will need a “bell kit” and drum practice pad. There are rental options available through Heid Music and Instrumental Music Company. There is also a one time, mandatory stick bag purchase through PCMS. This is a specially curated stick bag with the sticks and mallets your student will need throughout their entire time at PCMS (Stick bag, and a pair each of snare sticks, marimba, xylophone/bell, and timpani mallets). We secured a great discount on these high quality materials- about $30 off retail price, making your total cost $100. Stick bags will be available on your students first day of band bootcamp. Please bring cash or check payable to PCMS Band.
- Everyone - We will have a folder and beginning handouts ready for you in August. We will order method books and have them ready in the first week of school in September. Once we know the final cost of the book, we’ll let everyone know.
We look forward to learning music with your students!
Abby Ruetten - aeruetten@pulaskischools.org
Wes Couch - wdcouch@pulaskischools.orgPublish