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In the sixth grade band student receive a lot of review from 5th grade and a heavy dose of fundamentals on their instrument. This is their first opportunity to rehearse five days a week. Good performance habits are reinforced daily while working on music to be performed at Christmas and spring. Student are encouraged to be a part of solo and ensemble festival which is a time for them to play before a judge and get written and verbal feedback on their performance. Students are also introduced to chair placement and the process of challenging.
The 7th grade band continues working on fundamentals, but put a greater emphasis on music performance. The 7th grade band plays primarily Christmas and spring, but perform at their first large group band festival in March where they are critiqued as a band on their performance. Character development and leader ship are stressed as students learn the joy of becoming proficient on their instruments through weekly practice and performance in front of their class mates. As in the 6th grade, students are also encouraged to be a part of solo and ensemble festival; the difference being is that they are now scored on performance. They are also old enough to qualify for state level competition and honors band. Band members may volunteer to be a member of the Middle School Jazz band witch meets before or after school one day a week. Rehearsals begin in November/December and continue through out the year until the spring concert.
The 8th grade band begins the year performing with the high school at homecoming or at the elementary school. Emphasis has now changed nearly entirely to performance. The student learns through leadership and self discipline how music can move them academically and spiritually through performance. These students learn pep band music and occasionally have the opportunity to perform it. Concerts include Christmas, Band Festival, and spring and an introduction to marching begins students prepare to enter high school band and prepare for the Memorial Day and 4th of July parades. Band members may volunteer to be a member of the Middle School Jazz band witch meets before or after school one day a week. Rehearsals begin in November/December and continue through out the year until the spring concert.