How do I contact Mr. Nicholson?
The very best way to contact me is by e-mail at (soon) or
you may leave a message for me at your child's school and I will return
your call upon my next visit to your child's school. Keep in mind that the
first few weeks of school I receive a large volume of e-mail and phone
calls, so be patience, it may take a while for me to give you a response.
I do not take or return calls nor read or return e-mails on Sundays
Do I have to buy or rent a musical instrument?
YES, but there are other options available, please contact Mr. Surrey in
person or in writing if you are having difficulty obtaining an instrument.
When will my child need to bring their instrument?
Students will need to bring their instruments one week after the first
class session.
What if my child is on Safety Patrol?
If your child is a member of the Safety Patrol, your child should
schedule their patrol duties not to conflict with their instrumental
music class.
Where do I get an instrument for my child?
You have several options. You may either purchase an instrument from a
local music store or you may choose to rent an instrument from a local
music store. I will for your convenience provide you with a list of
music stores in the San Diego area. You will receive this list once your
child has returned their enrollment form. This list is not a
recommendation of any particular store. You will have to contact the
individual store to determine which store has the best options for you
and your child's needs. You may also obtain an instrument from a private
party. If your choose this route you may bring the instrument to me on a
day I am at your child's school and I will be more than happy to
evaluate the condition of the instrument. Suggestions for finding an
instrument, friends, relatives, neighbors, online auctions such as EBAY
What if I cannot afford to buy or rent my child an instrument?
I strongly encourage parents to exhaust every means of obtaining an
instrument. If for whatever financial reason you are not able to obtain
an instrument, let me know in writing and each situation will be
reviewed on a case-by-case situation. There is a very limited supply of
loaner instruments
How long does my child have to commit to the instrumental music class?
YOUR CHILD IS MAKING A ONE-YEAR COMMITMENT TO INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. The
instrument music classes are will continue until the end of the school
year in June. If your child does not fulfill his/her commitment to music
it will be reflected on their report card with a lower grade.
What happens if the instrumental music teacher is absent?
There will always be an instrumental music class. If I am absent, there
will be a substitute music teacher. THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TEACHER WILL
NEVER CANCEL THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CLASSES.
Will there be any public performances?
Yes. You will receive a list of all performances for the year by the
second class session. Students are expected to participate in all
scheduled performances. You will always be notified in writing of any
performance.
Will students in the instrumental music class be graded?
Yes students will receive a grade with will be reflected on their grade
reports. Students will receive both an academic and citizenship grade.
When will the classes take place?
All classes will be during the regular class day, twice a week 30
minutes each. Your child's classroom teacher will post the schedule.
How much will my child have to practice?
Your child is expected to practice at home. My expectation is the
students should be practicing at least 20 minutes a day for at 5 days
out of a 7day week. Each student will be given a practice log to help
parent monitor his or her child's practice time.
How do I know if my child is practicing correctly?
The practice log will state what the student should be practicing and
questions parents may ask to monitor their practice.
Music
at Marvin