Elementary Music Program

Program Overview

The Elementary Music Program consists of three different options:

Beginner Instrumental lessons for 4th and 5th grade students who are just learning their instrument.
Hamilton-Wenham Elementary Band Ensemble for 5th graders who have taken lessons for one year and are ready to expand their skills in an ensemble setting.
Buker-Cutler-Winthrop Elementary Chorus for vocalists at all levels and is available for students in grades 3-5.

General questions: hwelementarymusic@hwschools.net

Instrumental Lessons

We are offering 6 different instrumental lessons this year!

Beginner Level: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone,Trumpet, Trombone and Percussion

Small group instruction for fourth and fifth grade students with no previous instrumental experience taught after school, one day/week for 45 minutes. Group lessons are offered in two, 12-class sessions. The transfer bus can only be used for lessons held immediately after school.

Sign-Up for lessons HERE

Please note: To keep the groups manageable, lessons are capped once the group hits the maximum number determined by the instructor, so please don't delay in responding. If you don't get into the class, email hwelementarymusic@hwschools.net to be put on the waiting list.

Private Lessons:

Private lessons for the serious student, offered to either fourth or fifth graders. Lessons are arranged directly with the instructor.

Cost:

Cost per 12-week session for group lessons is $192, payable to the instructor on the first day of each 12-week session. After the conclusion of the first session, the instructor will reach out to families to continue the lessons and no formal registration is needed.

Rentals:

David French Music Co. - Includes instrument, a box of reeds when applicable, practice book and cleaning kits. They will deliver to your child's school. General information about renting with David French Music can be found HERE.

Click HERE for rental sign-up. https://www.davidfrenchmusic.com/aerntschoolselect.aspx

Elementary Music Schedule

MONDAYS:
Beginning Trombone - Winthrop Music Room, 3:15-4:00 PM

TUESDAYS:

Beginning Flute - Buker Music Room, 3:15-4:00 PM
Beginning Percussion - Buker Stage, 3:00-3:45 PM
Beginning Trumpet - Winthrop Music Room, 3:15-4:00 PM

WEDNESDAYS:

Beginning Clarinet - TBD, 3:00-3:45 PM
Beginning Saxophone - TBD, 3:45-4:30 PM

THURSDAYS:

BCW Elementary Chorus - Buker Gym, 7:15-8:10 AM

Elementary Band - Winthrop Music Room, 3:15-4:00 PM

Scholarships

Faculty Information

Eileen Yarrison - Flute

Dr. Yarrison has been teaching children and adults to play the flute since 1980. Many of her students have gone on to become music teachers and professional flutists themselves. What makes Eileen happiest is that her students love to play the flute, no matter what age they are, or to what goals they aspire. Besides teaching small classes of Hamilton-Wenham elementary school students to play the flute, she maintains a full private teaching studio in Beverly.

A graduate of UNH (music education) and Penn State (flute performance), Eileen holds the DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) degree from the University of Nebraska, where she was the first flutist to earn that degree.

Eileen is the Applied Instructor of Flute at Gordon College and Visiting Lecturer of Flute at Salem State University. Eileen is also the Conductor of the Me2/Boston Flute Choir, an ensemble which works at the intersection of music performance and mental health. Please visit www.me2music.org for more information. She plays with The Orchestra On The Hill (Ipswich), the North Shore Concert Band (Salem), and Triage Woodwinds (Fitchburg). When not playing the flute, Eileen likes to play piano and accordion, and swims for fun.

eyarrison@aol.com

Monica Duncan - Clarinet and Saxophone

Clarinetist Monica Duncan freelances throughout the Greater Boston area, and has performed with Symphony By-The-Sea, Cape Ann, Lexington, and Greater Lansing Symphonies, North Shore Music Theater, Hillyer Festival Orchestra, Chalumeau hamber Ensemble, and Arlington Street Chamber Players. Monica has performed in Japan and Canada, and has premiered works at the 1999 SCI National Conference and the 1998 Latin American Music Festival. She can also be heard on the CDs Awaiting the Sun, FleetingVisions, and Metamorphosis through Beauport Classical, and Basically British with Philharmonia a Vént.

Monica holds a Masters degree from Indiana University where she studied with James and a Bachelors degree from Michigan State University. In addition to her role as performer, Duncan teaches clarinet from her private studio and in the Hamilton- Wenham School District. She is also a chamber music coach with the Northshore Youth Symphony Orchestra.

monicafayduncan@gmail.com

ELLA MARTIN - Band Director, Trumpet, and Trombone

Mrs. Ella Martin is a 2024 graduate from Gordon College. She has previously taught K-8 general music as well as 5th-8th grade band. She and her husband and two dogs are very excited to be back in the Hamilton-Wenham area.

Mrs. Martin teaches general music at the Winthrop and Cutler Schools. You can also find her leading some of our instrumental music lessons and the Hamilton-Wenham Elementary Band.

Join me in welcoming Mrs. Martin to our music community.

DEREK HAYDEN - Percussion

KATe HAYASHI - DIRECTOR OF BCW CHORUS

Ms. Hayashi is happy to return to the Buker-Cutler-Winthrop (BCW) Chorus . In addition to directing the elementary chorus and teaching music classes, Ms. Hayashi works for a summer music camp in Wakefield. She also has taught for the Belmont Public Schools, the Gordon College Children's Choir, and adjudicated for the All-State Children’s Choir. Ms. Hayashi looks forward to supporting the HWRSD music programs and growing our musical community.

BCW Elementary Chorus and Band

BCW Elementary Chorus

The BCW Chorus is open to all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students from Cutler, Winthrop, and Buker Schools and is Directed by Kate Hayashi. A wide variety of songs from many different periods and cultures will be learned throughout the year, with two performances scheduled. You will also learn fun exercises to develop better vocal skills.

BCW Chorus meets on Thursdays from 7:15-8:10 A.M. in the Buker School. Students from Winthrop and Cutler will be escorted to transfer buses after rehearsal.

This is a wonderful opportunity for all students to become part of the Hamilton-Wenham Performing Arts programs. Continuing chorus after elementary school offers many exciting choral and musical drama performance opportunities during Middle and High School.

BCW Elementary Band Ensemble

Ensemble is open to musicians who have had at least one year of previous musical instruction. Rehearsals are once a week (Thursdays, 3:15-4:00 / Winthrop School) and students from Buker and Cutler can take the transfer bus from their school. We are planning on a few concerts during the school year and will have fun getting to know each other and learning music together. We are excited to announce that our new Elementary Ensemble Director this year is Mrs. Ella Martin, our new elementary music teacher!

Instrument Rental Info

General questions: hwelementarymusic@hwschools.net

INSTRUMENT RENTAL INFORMATION:

We are using an online rental program this year through David French Music Co. They have been in touch with our instructors to choose the correct instruments, Essential Elements 2000 book, and any other equipment the instructors have requested, such as cleaning kits and reeds, as part of your rental package. General information about renting an instrument with David French Music Co. can be found here.

To rent an instrument:

Visit the David French website.
Scroll down to choose our state, town (Hamilton-Wenham), your child's school and the instrument from the drop down menu.
The instrument will arrive at your child's school with all of the necessary components prior to the start of the lesson.

News and Updates

Instrument Lessons Registration Closed

Email for more information

Elementary Band

📝 Registration OPEN - complete and return by September 26th

Interest Form

BCW Chorus

📝 Registration OPEN - complete and return by October 8th