Contact Information

696-6036

kbrower@amphi.com

Band Information & Registration

Curriculum

Essential Elements for Band

Essential Elements Interactive

Important Dates

August 24        Beginning Band Camp at CDO High School auditorium 11:30-3:00 (optional)

                     Band Camp Registration/Information Sheet

August 26        Band & Orchestra Begin

December 4     Band/Orchestra rehearsal in the Fun House 2:30-3:30

December 5     Band/Orchestra Concert 1:00pm and 6:30pm (arrive at 6pm to warm up and tune)

January 28      Band field trip to CDO

February 11     CDO Band Feeder Festival at CDO Auditorium 6pm-7:30pm

May 6              Band/Orchestra rehearsal in the Fun House  2:30-3:30     

May 7              Band/Orchestra concert 1:00pm & 6:30pm (arrive at 6pm to warm up and tune)

May 13            Band/Orchestra party in the Fun House & Last Day of Band 2:30-3:30

For a more complete list including days band will be cancelled click here: Band Schedule

WELCOME!

My name is Kristy Brower and I teach Music and Band at the best school in Tucson - Harelson Elementary! 

I chose Harelson Elementary because of the time honored tradition of excellence which is largely maintained by a very involved and supportive community of parents.

I believe I am on a mission!  I want my students to be musically literate.  I want them to be able to read and perform music.  My goal, in every performance that the students do, is to create a culture of excellence.  I do not ever want them to settle for mediocrity.  Their personal best is what I am focused on.  When they are performing I want them to feel confident, happy and very proud!

I believe very deeply that music education is a fundamentally crucial part of the full development of a child and to the culture of our nation.  A high quality music education is essential for brain development, character, social and emotional development.  This has been scientifically proven. 

EXPERIENCE

I have 19 years of experience teaching band in the following districts:

Amphitheater School District, Tucson Unified School District, Nogales School District, Sunnyside Unified School District

Accomplishments

I have ensemble experience on all of the following instruments: flute, saxophone, melophone, tuba and choir.  I received 1st place in the state of Arizona for alto saxophone and 3rd place for flute performance. Performing in the musical styles of both classical and jazz, I received 2 soloist awards in the area of Jazz and Jazz improvisation. I was awarded college scholarships from the Young Sounds of Arizona for alto saxophone and from the University of Arizona for flute. 

As a band and orchestra teacher, my ensembles have performed on TV twice, for governor Hull, Mayor Walkup, in the OMA (Opening Minds Through the Arts) showcase, and was featured in an OMA production video that is distributed throughout the United States. I was also chosen by the OMA program to help create lessons for a music curriculum which will be sold to other schools and school districts across the United States.  Just recently the advanced band was chosen to play at the Amphi Gala and the Tucson Roadrunners game.

Future Goals

My  current focus of growth within my career is integrating technology in to my lessons.  I had experience in years past using Smart Boards when they first came out.  I was a part of a pilot program in TUSD for integrating technology in music education.  After demonstrating my lessons to the OMA board of directors, all of the OMA teachers received Smart Boards.  I'm so happy to have a Smart Board again and now that the technology has gotten even better I'm looking forward to all of the exciting possibilities!

Defining Moment in Education

How and when did I decide to become a music teacher?  My senior year of high school in marching band we didn't have any melophone players except me.  So, the band director went to every student that had expressed a desire to quit band and convinced them to change their instrument to melophone and give it one more year before they quit.  In this newly formed section, I taught them a brand new instrument from the basics on up.  They became one of the best sections in the band and even earned a feature in the marching show that year!  When marching band was over they all gave me a gift and a card and told me that I made them in to awesome musicians and they loved band again.  It was that moment that I decided I had a gift for teaching and I would become a music teacher.

Rules & Consequences

Raise Your Hand

Make Music Not Noise

Respect One Another

Always Do Your Best

Always Be Prepared

Behavior is a part of the band contract.  Students may be permanently removed from band do to poor behavior or poor practice habbits.  Please review the Band Information & Registration for more information.

Routines

Set up

• Drinks and bathroom before band starts (not during band)
• Be in the band room no later than 2:25
• Backpack by your chair
• Take out your music – If there is a rehearsal agenda on the board, have that music out and ready
• Take out a pencil
• Be ready to start by 2:30         

Pack Up         

• Put away your music and all other materials – take your music home!
• Put away your chair and stand

Playing Tests

• Play what I previously assigned.
• Students may play in groups of 3
• If a student doesn't want to to play in front of people, he/she can do the test after band or email the test using the EEInteractive website.
• Students get three chances to pass the test - except if it is being emailed useing EEInteractive.  Then there are unlimited chances.
• If the student doesn't pass a test, he/she is NOT in trouble! All I care about is effort and commitment.

If a student does not pass a playing test

• The student will get a practice log that the parents sign which proves they are practicing 1 hour per week.
• The student will keep doing a weekly practice log until they pass the test.
• As long as the student can prove that they are practicing, there is no consequence.
• If the student doesn't turn in the practice log on time he/she will get a strike against their behavior.