Taking the Right Steps in the Beginning Checklist

Establishing a strong foundation in Beginning Band takes careful planning, structured instruction, and clear communication. The first six weeks are critical for developing routines, setting expectations, and introducing fundamental musical concepts in a consistent and supportive environment.

This comprehensive checklist—presented at the 2025 Texas Bandmasters Association Convention—outlines key action items from the spring semester through the first six weeks of school. It includes steps for campus coordination, room setup, classroom management, instructional pacing, and the introduction of core musical skills.

Whether you’re implementing new strategies or refining existing ones, this resource helps ensure students are engaged, supported, and set up for long-term success.

Spring Semester before the years starts

• Visit with campus admin/counselors
• Learn master schedule deadlines and plans
• Set instrument placement timeline
• Set instrument ordering timeline
• Have a plan for “no-shows”
• Share Incoming Band Student information (digitally and physically)
• Connect Double Reed students with private lesson teachers

Summer Before the School Year Starts

• Organize student instrument and supply deliveries
• Send reminder emails to parents about purchasing supplies/renting instruments
• Check rosters for possible class assignment mistakes
• Order binders, make covers, and copy contents
• Plan locker assignments
• Make a First Day/First Week PowerPoint Presentation
• Prep room for combined classes
• Create a Student Commitment Contract
• Make extra copies of original instrument letters and rental information
• Make class roster spreadsheet for tracking supplies/instruments/lockers

First Week

• Introductory PowerPoint Presentation
• Hand out band binder with name tag/cover
• Teach Band Principles and Band Classroom Rules/Expectations
• Instrument and supply check
• Share info on parent meeting
• Student Commitment Contract and Information Form
• Help remaining students order instruments/supplies
• Check-in supplies and instruments as they are delivered
• Possible additional activities
  • Introduce posture and foot tap
  • Start basic theory
  • Ice Breaker activities

REMEMBER: Be the class they can’t wait to get to and the first one they want to talk about at home!!!

Second Week

• Introduce “Theory Mondays”
  • Musical Alphabet
  • Staff, lines and spaces
  • Basic terms, measure, barline, clef, time signature
  • Basic rhythms, quarter notes
• Teach “How to Participate in Band Class”
• Split classes Second Day
• Assign lockers
• Identify instrument parts
• Teach “How to Open Cases”
• Reed and mouthpiece assembly
• Instrument Assembly
• First homework assignment
• HYPE Show and Tell (beginning of home practicing)
• Work with any students that still need an instrument
• Begin “Embouchure Face” depending on timeframe
• Parent Meeting
  • New Band Parent PowerPoint Presentation
  • Extra copies of Student Commitment Contract, Instrument Letters, Rental Info
  • Information on Private Lessons
  • School Owned Instrument information
  • Send large instruments home

REMEMBER: Be the class they can’t wait to get to and the first one they want to talk about at home!!!

Third Week

• Theory Monday and follow-up worksheets for the week
• Introduce Guided Practice Records
• Pass out mirrors and review mirror guidelines
• Pass out straws and teach “The Straw Chant”
• Brass and Flutes, begin placing mouthpieces/headjoints
• Reed classes learn “How Low Can You Go”
• Continue instrument assembly practice
• Play breathing games
• Introduce “Fun Fridays” – Friday “Show and Tell”
• Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Weeks

Fourth, fifth, sixth, Weeks

• Theory Goals
  • Notes on keyboard
  • Staff, ledger lines, higher/lower
  • Accidentals
  • TRL Charts 1-5 (through whole notes)
  • Start reading lines from book or supplemental materials
• Posture and Breathing Goals
  • How to sit in a chair, sit like you stand
  • Feet placement, begin unique instruments (flute, horn)
  • Breathing LOW IN and FAST, STEADY, CALM OUT
• Embouchure Goals
  • Consistent face
  • No change when adding mouthpiece/headjoint
  • Correct placement
  • Learn simple terms, aperture, embouchure, corners
  • Teach vowel shape
• Assembly and Maintenance Goals
  • Make a cheat sheet/check list for home
  • Plan and celebrate your first “Oily Day” or “Greasy Day”
  • Review and reinforce
• Music Stands
  • Care and maintenance
  • How to raise and lower stand
  • Items that go on stands and items that do not
• Playing Goals
  • Sounds on baby, toddler, and full instruments
  • Long tones without, then with metronome
  • Working for first three notes in brass/flutes and first 5 in Reeds
  • Articulation begins around week 6
  • Be FLEXIBLE and adjust pacing slower if needed
• Playing Tests
  • Start with completion only
  • Add Grading Rubrics
  • Opportunities for retry
• Classroom Management
  • Go slow on material, but fast in pacing (about 10 minutes)
  • Plan lots of short activities
  • Use self-guided activities or worksheets when working with individual students

Download a printable version of the checklist HERE!

This checklist, created by veteran band directors Meredith Bishop and Jennifer Wren of Pearland, Texas, provides a comprehensive framework to help directors prepare for and execute a successful start to the academic year. Good Luck!!! Meredith Bishop, Bishopm@pearlandisd.org Jennifer Wren, Wrenj@pearlandisd.org