• 7/8 Grade Concert Band  

    OVERVIEW OF BAND SCHEDULE & GENERAL INFORMATION

     8th Grade Band Rehearsals

    • Group Lessons to be scheduled during ARTS Block (9:20 - 10:25 am)

    7th Grade Band Rehearsals

    • Group Lessons to be scheduled during ARTS Block (8:10 - 9:15 am)

    6th Grade Band Rehearsals

    • Group Lessons to be scheduled during ARTS Block (1:15  - 2:20 pm)

    5th Grade Band Rehearsals

    • Group Lessons to be scheduled during ARTS Block (12:05  - 1:10 pm)

    BAND STUDENTS WILL NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN METHOD BOOK:

    5th & 6th GRADE BANDS   

    • THE YAMAHA ADVANTAGE - MUSICANSHIP FROM DAY ONE - This is NOT the same as "Yamaha Band Method" 

    7th & 8th GRADE CONCERT BAND  

    • THE YAMAHA ADVANTAGE - MUSICANSHIP FROM DAY ONE
    • TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE BOOK 2 BY BRUCE PEARSON

    Band Students will attend a small group lesson once per week. These lessons are held on the same day each week, but times rotate so that the child only misses the same block of time 1x every 6 weeks. A sample of the lesson rotations & groups can be viewed at bottom of this page.

    General Information for Band Grades 5 - 8:  One of my goals as your band director is to provide students opportunities to perform at the State Festivals for Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles.  I believe these experiences provide a focal point for ALL of us.  We don't compete against other bands but rather we are offered constructive criticism & praise on our attempts to reach what the nationally recognized adjudicators consider the "State Level".  Our band program is NOT competition based.  Our curriculum is diverse & based upon meeting the needs of the students.  We prepare music that will accent our strengths & develop our weaknesses.  In addition to performing in State Festivals during the Spring Season our students perform in variety of school & community based venues ~ examples include but are not limited to: School Assemblies, Veteran's Day Ceremony, Winter & Spring Concerts, Memorial Day Parade.  

    Jazz Band is our top performing ensemble that will represent our school at both the community and state level. Students who choose this group are expected to be highly motivated and want to take their music to a very high level. They should be taking private lessons outside of school but it is not a requirement. MESMS JB members are invited to join JB Workshop on Wednesdays, but it’s not required. Enrollment by audition. 

    After-School Extra Help is available for students who wish to join band for the first time & don’t read music or know how to play their chosen instrument. It is also a great chance for current band students to learn how to play an additional instrument. TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS (2:30 - 3:45 PM)

    Percussion Ensemble is for students who wish to play in a band designed just for percussion. We will develop our skills reading complex rhythm patterns and work up hand speed with various sticking patterns. We will play music that uses many different types of drums and xylophones. It is open to grades 5-8. **   THIS WILL START UP IN NOVEMBER ONCE EVERYONE WHO IS LEARNING A NEW INSTRUMENT HAS TRANSITIONED INTO THEIR GRADE LEVEL ENSEMBLES.  WEDNESDAYS (2:30 - 3:45 PM)

    Smart Music Software that Mr. Holmes uses in the band room is now available to the students of the South Hadley Music Dept.  COST IS $10 PER YEAR. 

    Students! Be sure that your NAME is on your Instrument Case & Book.
    We sometimes have a problem with children misplacing their books and leaving them in the band room. Without your name on front cover, you could be out some money for a new book! I also suggest that you record your serial number of your instrument at home in a safe location. This may come in very useful someday if you suddenly misplace your instrument.

    PARENTS - REMEMBER THAT YOU MUST HAVE CORI FORM ON FILE WITH THE OFFICE TO BE A PARENT CHAPERONE FOR ANY EVENT! LOOK AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR A PDF VERSION. FILL IT OUT & BRING TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE WITH YOUR PICTURE ID.  THEY ALSO NEED LAST 6 NUMBERS OF YOUR SS#.