Welcome to the Bucknell Band and Strings program!

4th, 5th and 6th graders may choose to take strings class, and 5th and 6th graders can choose to take band class. Students will meet once weekly with an instrument specialist and will learn how to play instruments, how to read music, and how to perform as an ensemble.

Mr. Johnson and Mr. Lindsay are committed to providing excellent music instruction in a way that connects with our students and their cultural experiences. We will present occasional concerts for the community, and our West Potomac pyramid will include Bucknell musicians in some other exciting musical opportunities Music is a universal language, and the notes we play will help us connect with people across the community and beyond. Playing instruments is an excellent way to express one’s self musically.

We are looking forward to introducing students to a greater world of music performance. Playing an instrument can be a life-long pursuit. There are opportunities to be part of the orchestra or band in middle school and high school. College scholarships are offered to students who are also musicians. There are various different career opportunities for musicians, and there are several musical ensembles that operate in the community for adult musicians to continue playing.

While we have band and strings class once a week, it is important for students to practice on a regular basis in order to develop skills. Even a few minutes (9 or 10) a day will help students as they reinforce the learning that is done in class. All students at Bucknell are eligible to rent a quality instrument from FCPS and these instruments should come home with the students after they are brought to school for their class day. Families are asked to work together to find a good time for students to practice, and please have patience in the beginning. The more a student practices, the better they will sound on their instrument!

We look forward to a great year!