Union Sixth Grade Band students meet in one of ten different homogeneous class offered on five different instruments, all held at the Union 6th/7th Grade Center. Students receive beginner-level instruction, including the fundamentals of tone production and music reading, with three performance opportunities during the school year.
Mrs. Laura Barnes
Union 6th Grade Bands Coordinator
Office Phone | 918-357-8098
Email | barnes.laura@unionps.org
Additional instructors:
Mrs. Barnes | Flute | email
Mr. Barnes | Clarinet | email
Mrs. McAlister | Trumpet | email
Mr. Pritner | Trombone | email
Ms. Yoakam | Woodwinds | email
Have a question? Email our Union Band Parents Club (Boosters) Middle School Coordinator | email
ASAP: Look for an email from PRESTO and log in to your student’s band member account (more info HERE)
September 9, 2025: Mandatory Registration Due COMPLETE HERE
October 15, 2025: Pay the $50.00 Band Member Fee PAY ONLINE HERE
The Union 6th Grade Band fee is $50.00 and is due by October 1, 2025 .
This fee provides your student with:
• instrument method book
• band class 3-ring binder with plastic sheet protectors and pencil pouch
• necessary sheet music
• Union 6th Grade Band T-shirt, which is required to be worn at performances
• special clinics throughout the school year
There are 3 ways to make a payment:
1) Pay online with a credit or debit card into the PRESTO account (3% service fee applied) - more info below.
2) Send a check or cash to school in an envelope with your child’s name. Payments should be put in in the band office payment drop box. (Make Checks Payable to UBPC).
3) Mail your payment to UBPC. PO Box 471915. Tulsa, OK 74147
FUNDRAISING
• UBPC (Union Band Parents Club) offers fundraising year-round to help students/families pay for band member fees. All fundraising opportunities can be found at www.UnionBands.com/fundraising.
• Students may check out fundraiser World’s Finest Chocolate at school to sell. $27 worth of profit is earned for every box sold; this profit can be applied to the $50 band member fee.
• Any funds remaining in the account at the end of the school year will roll to the next school year.
OUR INFORMATION SYSTEM
Union Bands uses a data management system called PRESTO to handle student accounts, contact info, instrument tracking, as well as a variety of other applications. Your student has a PRESTO account that they will keep for as long as they are in the Union Bands program. Please take time to log into PRESTO.
Orion OTB321F
Large Bore
F-Attachment
Required Accessories
‘6 ½’ AL large bore mouthpiece
tuning slide grease
tuning slide cream
spray bottle
method book; Ed Sueta Method for Band: Trombone, Book One (brown in color)
Protege Beginner Xylophone
Required Accessories
Snare Drum Stand: Pearl S700L
Drum Pad: HQ Real-Feel RF-12D
Sticks: Innovative Percussion IP-LD
Mallets: Innovative Percussion IP-901
Metronome: Qwik Time QT3
Method Book: Simple Steps to Successful Beginning Percussion by Kennan Wylie
Yamaha Advantage YFL-200AD
Required Accessories
cleaning rod
method book: Habits of a Successful Beginning Band Musician — Flute, Book One (green in color)
Buffet Prodige
Yamaha YCL-200
Required Accessories
Faxx '5RV’ mouthpiece
Vandoren brand reeds: model 2.5
silk swab
cork grease
method book: Habits of a Successful Beginning Band Musician — Clarinet, Book One (green in color)
Yamaha YSL-200AD
Required Accessories
‘6 ½’ AL mouthpiece
tuning slide grease
tuning slide cream
spray bottle
method book: Habits of a Successful Beginning Band Musician — Trumpet, Book One (green in color)
Entering middle school is a giant step in every student’s educational journey. Your child is facing some important decisions that will have a long term impact of their life. Often, young people fear the added work load of the middle school curriculum and assume that they will not have the time to participate in the band program. This is simply not true!
Music Education is more than just playing an instrument; it is immersing your child in a culture of successful students and teachers who care about education. It challenges each child to use the creative side of their brain while, at the same time learning a foreign language: MUSIC.
Being a member of the band ensures instant acceptance in one of the most respected organizations at the onset of the 6th Grade year. The benefits of studying music in the band are numerous:
With long term study of music, statistics show that reading, writing, and math scores improve.
College admission officers give stronger consideration to students who are a part of the school music programs.
Students start studying music at a young age tend to have higher SAT and ACT test scores.
Music students are great problem solvers, creative thinkers, work well in team situations, stay more engaged in the school community, and SO MUCH MORE
During the 5th Grade, your student’s journey to join the Union Band began when our team of 6th Grade Band teachers visit his/her elementary site in February to demonstrate all the great things about playing an instrument.
Then later in February your child attends a field trip to the Union Performing Arts Center (“UPAC”) in late February, where all Union 5th Graders saw current 6th Graders performing their musical instruments on the stage.
Following the UPAC event, 5th Graders chose an Elective Course for the 6th Grade Year as part of the general enrollment process.
Our team of teachers visited your child’s Union Elementary site in May to help students take the important step toward being successful playing a musical instrument by completing the “fitting” process.
YES! Our school is lucky to have many different clubs and programs that students can join. All of these groups work together to share our students’ time.
Band is a class that meets daily, during the school year.
YES! In fact, the band program is very proud to have many school and club athletes on our roster!
Like any new skill, learning a band instrument takes patience and practice. Band students will practice and perform in 2 concerts.
Playing a band instrument involves sequential based instruction. To be in band, students MUST JOIN IN THE 6TH GRADE YEAR!
You can contact one of our many directors by clicking this link.
