Band Sign-Ups: To sign up for band during the school year, please reach out to Mr. Lievre via email or ask for a sign-up sheet in the band room!

5th Grade Band: 5th grade band will begin utilizing their instrument during their third band class of the school year.

6th Grade Band: 6th grade band will begin utilizing their instruments during their second meeting of the school year.

Middle School Bands: Middle school bands will begin utilizing their instruments during their third band class of the school year.

The Sierra Verde Viper Band Calendar shows all dates for the upcoming school year as they become available. Please note that dates/events are tentative and subject to change in alignment to the handbook!

Google CalendarBand Schedule

Taking care of your instrument should be a top priority for every instrument. Not only will it keep your instrument in the best working condition, thus lasting longer, but it will also ensure no "gross" things are going on! Below you will find a step-by-step guide to cleaning and maintaining each instrument. This will be passed out and kept in your binders as well. A few links are provided for your perusal as well.

NEMC Instrument Care

These next few links are how-to videos from Hornsmasher. He will walk you through assembly, disassembly, and daily maintenance.

Flute Assembly and Maintenance 

Clarinet Assembly and Maintenance 

Saxophone Assembly and Maintenance 

Trumpet Assembly and Maintenance 

Trombone Assembly and Maintenance 

Euphonium/Tuba Assembly and Maintenance

Hornsmasher has also provided a few periodic (monthly) maintenance videos. Please never attempt any screw changes without the teacher present. Not every screw is supposed to be all the way in! If in doubt, do not attempt:

Flute Monthly Maintenance 

Clarinet Monthly Maintenance 

Woodwind Instrument Long Term Maintenance 

Trumpet Monthly Maintenance 

How to clean and lubricate a trombone slide!

How do you give your brass a bath? See the videos below for guidance. Never attempt this without watching the videos and knowing. All soaps must be rinsed thoroughly to ensure working order. Woodwinds should NEVER be bathed or placed in water (flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophones).

Trumpet Bath Tutorial (this will work for Euphonium also) 

Trombone Bath Tutorial

Instrument Care & Maintenance Guide

Below is the current Sierra Verde Band Handbook. Please make sure you read through it thoroughly before completing the Band Handbook Acknowledgment. 

The Band Handbook Acknowledgment needs to be submitted by all students/parents & guardians in the program (5th through 8th grade). The acknowledgment is due Friday, August 8th, 2025 for a grade.

Band Handbook AcknowledgmentSV Band Handbook 2025-26Supply List 2025-26Milano Music Supply Pricing 2025-26 Canvas Parent RegistrationInstrument Recommendations

I often get asked what brands you should buy. Here is some info for you on different instrument brands!

All-State Recordings

On this page, students will have access to websites that are either required or supplemental. Descriptions of each site are included.

Canvas 

Students in grade 6-8 must use this site to upload various playing tests.

Metronome  

This tool is for students to keep a steady beat.

Tuner

This tool is for students to double-check the intonation of the different notes on their instrument. It must have access to a mic to work.

MusicTheory.net 

This website, while treble clef based, aims to give students ways to assist in learning music. There are many different tools here to assist with note ID, key signature ID, accidental decoding, and more!

Music Tech Teacher 

Hover on 'lessons' and click 'theory/help' for assistance in learning your music (bass clef included!). Hover on Quizzes/Pianos to find a ton of games to play.

A Musical Playground 

Music theory lessons to help you advance your musical knowledge! This includes the basics (time signatures, music staff) and advances in key signature knowledge.

Music Term Dictionary 

This tool will help students understand musical terms found in their music. This is a great starting place and may not be 100% inclusive of all terms/symbols they need to know.

Canvas Tutorial

This is a step-by-step guide on how to submit canvas assignments. Follow the app directions if you have newer technology. Follow the website instructions if you are simply using the online method. 

Instrument Cleaning Guide

This will help guide you as to what maintenance needs to be done on your instruments and when. Please make sure you are following these guides!

Instrument Finger Charts

These charts are by instrument and are designed to allow students to practice placing the note on the music staff and then coloring in what fingers must be pushed to produce that pitch. 

Sight Reading Factory Tutorial

This tutorial will walk you through some of the ins and outs of Sight Reading Factory (SRF). 

SmartMusic Tutorial

This tutorial will walk you through how you use SmartMusic. (Practice content and assignment submission).

The best way to stay up to date with the Sierra Verde Band Program is by signing up for our newsletter 'Viper Fanfare'. 

It is imparitive that families of current members receive newsletters as they are used to communicate important scheduling, logistics, and curriculum details.  

Additionally, newsletters will be updated to the corresponding page on the website as they are released.

Sign Up for "Viper Fanfare"

Newsletter Archive

Band t-shirts (5th & 6th) and polos (7th & 8th) are a required piece of our concert uniform as stated in the band handbook.

5th & 6th Grade Band:

This year our 5th & 6th grade bands will be wearing band t-shirts for performance attire. Please review the band handbook for more details on concert attire. T-shirts may also be ordered for family members. All orders must be completed by September 1st to ensure a timely delivery prior to our first performance.

7th & 8th Grade Band:

This year our 7th & 8th grade bands will be continuing to wear performing arts polos. Please review the band handbook for more details on concert attire. 7th & 8th graders / families are welcome to also order a band t-shirt to wear outside of performances. All orders must be completed by September 1st to ensure a timely delivery prior to our first performance.

Varsity Band Jackets:

Embroidered band jackets are only available for Varsity Band members. Please reach out to Mr. Lievre after purchasing to decide on embroidery options.

Order SV Band Shirts

REMINDER: Online orders will be unavailable after August 31st. Please have your orders in before September 1st.

Below is the absence request form for the SV Band 2025-26 school year. This form is used to request absence from a required SV Band event. (Ex. after school rehearsal, concert, or festival). The director will present an alternate assignment so the students may still get credit in the grade book. The director will reach out with approval or further communication.

SV Band Absence Request

Current Fundraisers:

Donor's Choose - Band Room Storage

Back to School Fundraiser

Amazon Wishlist - Bulk Materials

AMAZON WISHLIST

Tax Credit Donations:

Deer Valley Unified School District now offers an online account service that allows Arizona taxpayers to make a Public School Tax Credit donation using a Discover, Visa or MasterCard. Sign-up is quick, easy and secure.

Donate Now

The best way to improve your instrument quickly is by taking private lessons on your instrument. The following list is a compilation of friends and colleagues that I HIGHLY recommend you hire for your child's private lessons.

Lesson Recommendations

Milano Music Instrument Rentals

Milano Music is the recommended vendor for Sierra Verde instrument rentals. Once instrument rentals are completed online, they will be delivered by the Milano Music representative to Mr. Lievre on campus. Mr. Lievre will also be able to help facilitate any repairs or exchanges through Milano Music.

Instrument rentals through Milano Music are a contract between student families and the vendor.

Rent Through Milano MusicMilano Music Rental Flyer

School Instrument Rentals

If you are in need of a school instrument rental, paperwork will be completed in class during the first week of school. School instruments are in limited supply and are first come, first serve.

Applications for the Sierra Verde Band Leadership Team are closed!

Band Leadership Team InformationBand Leadership Team Application

SV Middle School Bands Disney Performance:

2/22/26 - 2/24/26 

Mr. Lievre

Email: nathan.lievre@dvusd.org

Degrees and Certifications:

1. AFAA - Fine Arts from Glendale Community College
2. BME - Music Education from Ottawa University
- SEI Endorsement

Mr. Lievre is the current Band Director at Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in the Deer Valley Unified School District; teaching 4th through 8th grade band. Mr. Lievre provides private lessons for Trumpet across North Phoenix.

Mr. Lievre graduated from Glendale Community College in 2021 with his Associate's in Arts Degree and Ottawa University in 2023 with his bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education. Prior to graduating, Mr. Lievre completed his student teaching in the Deer Valley Unified School District at Sunset Ridge School, under the direction of Dr. Caryn Kunz, and in the Glendale Union High School District at Moon Valley High School, under the direction of Mr. Eric Zimmerman. Lievre remains very active in the marching band scene as current Brass Caption Head & Trumpet Coach at Mountain Ridge High School.

Since fall 2022, Mr. Lievre has been actively performing as a trumpet section member for North Valley Symphony Orchestra. 

Mr. Lievre has completed performances with Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps, an ensemble competing in DCI's 'World Class' division, as well as various symphony orchestras in Arizona. 

Mr. Lievre is looking forward to his next year teaching at Sierra Verde and is excited to inspire all new and returning Viper Band Members.