Nerves - just enrolled kid for one class

[laundrycrisis]

DS12 is enrolled at the middle school to take one class - 7th grade orchestra.  This will be every weekday afternoon for 40 minutes.  This will be his first time ever enrolled in any sort of graded anything at a school.   

 

He tried their 2 week long summer orchestra program this summer.  He learned a ton in those two weeks and enjoyed it.  His violin teacher has really been pushing some kind of orchestra for him for a while now, because he will learn things by playing a part in an orchestra that she can't teach him in private lessons.  

 

He is a five-year book 3 student  - he has been thorough, not rushed, and his technique is very good.  The school program doesn't start kids on instruments until 5th grade, and they finish book 1 by the end of sixth grade, This summer, he was ahead of what they were doing, but there were some new challenges for him - playing pop music, playing part 2, and counting measures of rests.  

 

I shouldn't be nervous - it's the next logical step for him.  We didn't want to get him involved with any of the audition-based youth orchestras because they require a commitment of evening or weekend time for about nine months, with no more than 2-3 missed rehearsals that entire time, and he is involved with other pursuits.  This way he gets to have orchestra experience during the school day.  The school was super nice about having him in the summer program, and they are making it easy to enroll him for the school year. 

 

I think I'm most nervous about the attendance commitment, and that he's never been officially enrolled in a school before. 

[clementine]

Our dd did band with the local public school.  They were happy to have her because they get money for having another body in their classroom.  I thought it was a great way to get her free 'lessons' and opportunities to practice and perform with a group.  It was a good experience for her, and for us.  

 

I hope it's a great fit!!

[OneStepAtATime]

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

 

Sounds like it might be a great fit.  I realize having to get him to and fro every weekday is a pain and probably makes your schedule a lot less flexible but it really does sound like a great option.  I understand your nervousness about enrolling for the first time, too, but hang in there.  It sounds great.  FWIW, we don't have that here.  Homeschoolers are not allowed to participate in public school classes as a part time student.  Most private schools don't allow that either (although one does allow homeschoolers to participate on their sports teams, but that is mainly because the school is so small they need homeschoolers to round out their numbers).

[laundrycrisis]

Thanks ! Fortunately the school is just about 5 minutes away. The newest wrinkle is that he may be required to also go in for an individual session once or twice a week. I looked at last year's schedule by grade and instrument, and if it is the same, it is a bullseye conflict with his group Suzuki class for homeschoolers, his weekly speech class, and his private lesson. Those are the only two half days all week we are busy. I emailed the teacher to see if he will have to do the individual sessions, and if we can work around those times. Maybe he could do it during a time block for a different instrument or something. I get the impression that most of the orchestra students may not even take private lessons at all. A conflict with his private lesson and his Suzuki group class, to have 15 minutes with the school teacher instead...that wouldn't make sense. I hope she is happy enough to have him there that they can be flexible about the private sessions. His private teacher is even willing to cover his orchestra music in his lessons. I really hope the school will work with me on this.