Future Students
Course Description and Expectations
All 6th Grade students are enrolled in Beginning Band.
No prior experience is necessary! We start from the very beginning to make outstanding musicians. In Beginning Band students learn to play an instrument and read music in a team environment at the middle school level.
Beginning Band is a year-long course that meets every day.
There are two concerts for Beginning Band students to participate in - one in the winter and one in the spring.
Being in band takes some hard work, but that also comes with a lot of rewards!
Instruments
Instruments available for beginning band students to try are: Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, and Percussion. At your appointment, you will try these instruments to see which you experience the most success on. Similar to Harry Potter, how “the wand chooses the wizard”, you will learn what instrument will “choose” you!
Students interested in potentially playing Oboe, Saxophone, French Horn, and Tuba will learn a wind instrument from the list above for the first semester. This provides a great foundation to playing these “colorful sounding” instruments. Various factors determine the possibility of switching to a different instrument after the first semester.
Instruments are rented or purchased from local music stores (with the exception of Horn, Baritone, and Tuba).
Ready to try out some instruments?
Come to one of our instrument Try-it Nights where you can try ALL the band instruments, meet the teacher and some other students, and have fun! If you went to the Instrument Petting Zoo earlier this year, it will be similar. The Try-it Nights will give you a better idea of what instrumental music is all about, and which instrument you might want to play. Even if you aren’t sure band is for you, come try it out!
Fittings will be held in the Gifford Middle School Band Room from 4 pm to 7 pm on the dates to be announced.
We hope to see you at the fitting! Mr. Greenwood and the band students are excited to meet you and see what you will bring to our bands! If you have any questions, please call or email for more information!