We offer two different band programs for students at Strawberry Elementary: Beginning Band and Advanced Band.
The Bennett Valley Union School District advanced band program, sponsored by the Bennett Valley Education Foundation, is open for registration for the 2023-2024 school year. This program is open to 5th and 6th graders at Strawberry school with previous band experience. The program teaches students to read music and play their instrument both independently and with fellow musicians in concert performances.
Fees & Schedule
With your own instrument: Our registration donation request is $245.
With a district instrument: The registration donation request is $305 to help with costs relating to cleaning, adjusting, and repairing of school instruments.
The cost of any caps, t-shirts, etc. for the annual parade appearance are not included in this donation request.
Advanced band will start meeting on Wednesday, August 28, so we ask that registrations be submitted by August 26. Advanced band will meet Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30-8:20 am in the Strawberry band room (Room 7). Our band director is the wonderful Steve Steinberg.
Distribution of District Instruments:
If a student has his/her own instrument, they will be ready to go once registration is complete. If an instrument is needed, the District has over sixty instruments available for loan for the year. Distribution of district-owned instruments is determined on a first-come, first-served basis to registered students. Please complete the below form, including your full donation for the program and the instrument preference. If we run out of the particular instrument your child prefers, you may rent or purchase an instrument elsewhere, borrow one from a relative, or your child may select a different instrument from those district-owned instruments still available. The instrument maintenance and cleaning donation is for district-owned instruments which we loan to students. (Any costs of additional repairs beyond normal maintenance which may be needed due to negligence will be charged to the parents.) If your child chooses to play trombone or baritone, the instrument donation will not be requested (unless the child changes instruments after beginning).
Instruments will be checked out by the band instructor at the beginning of the school year—dates and times to be announced after school has begun.
We think you will agree that the lessons with our instructors are worth more than the modest cost of the donation request!
Special Opportunity: Jazz Band
Jazz Band is a new offering this year for 6th grade students only. The jazz band will play various genres of music (rock, funk, swing, bossa-nova, etc.) that will allow students to learn a variety of rhythms and experiment with improvisation. All instruments will be invited to join, including drum set, bass guitar, piano/keyboards and guitar.
Students must be signed up for another school ensemble to participate in this extra class. Jazz band will meet every Monday from 3-4. The first Jazz Meeting will be Monday, September 16th.
Please direct questions to Strawberry Music Director Steve Steinberg at : steve.steinberg@bvusd.org
BVUSD Instrumental Music Program–Sponsored by YOU, the parents and by:
The Bennett Valley Education Foundation
Sorry, registrations are now closed.