Join Band!

Welcome to the Monroe Mustang Band!

Why should I join band at Monroe?

There are a ton of great reasons to join band! Here are a few of them:

You get to learn an instrument.
It's a lot of fun!
You get to meet some really amazing people and will make life-long friends.
There is something for everyone. There are a ton of different instruments to choose from and a lot of different styles of music to play.
You will become a musician. It doesn't matter what your favorite style of music is - you'll start listening to music with a better ear and will learn how to create music that sounds amazing.
You get to go places. The Advanced and Intermediate bands (and sometimes the Beginning Band) will often skip school a couple of times a year to go play music for other people, listen to other great musicians, and hang out together at fun places!
You'll be prepared to play in other groups later on, such as marching band, jazz band, and orchestra.
We'll pay you money! Just joking - we don't have money to pay you. But there are tons of benefits from being in band (and Mr. Dillow does sometimes give away candy)!

Check out this amazing video for more reasons why you should join band, made a few years ago by a past Monroe band student.

Which instrument should I play?

The best way to decide which instrument to play is by coming to the instrument fair at the beginning of the school year. There you will see and hear all of the different instruments and will have an opportunity to try them out yourself. More information about the date and time for the instrument fair to come soon. If you cannot make it to the instrument fair, contact the band director to set up a time for an instrument fitting.

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When you are trying to decide which instrument to play, the most important question to ask is: "What do I want to play?" If you like the look and sound of an instrument, it might be a great choice! You don't want to play an instrument that you dislike, or you'll get discouraged quickly.

The video below gives a great introduction to each band instrument:

Some instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar, and drum set are not band instruments. Still, there is an instrument for everyone, and playing a band instrument will make it easy to learn one of those other instruments. There are many students who play both!

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Do I need to know how to read music before joining band?
No! You do not need to know how to read music or play an instrument before joining band. The band director will teach you everything that you need to know.
Is playing an instrument in band hard?
Learning an instrument can sometimes be challenging, but mostly it's fun! We all learn together at the same pace, and the band director will help you if something does get difficult.
How do I know which instrument I should play?
The band director will help you find just the perfect instrument to play. The best way to choose an instrument is to join us for the Instrument Fair at the beginning of the year. There you can see, hear, and try out the different instruments. If you are unable to make it to the Instrument Fair, you may set up an appointment to do an instrument fitting with the band director. You will be given suggestions for which instrument might be best for you, but you get to choose which one you would like to play. Check out the section above on "Which instrument should I play?" for more help on deciding which instrument is right for you.
Can I play any instrument in band?
Band only has brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments. Guitar, piano, drum set, bass guitar, and string instruments such as the violin are not band instruments. However, there are many band students who also play those instruments, too. Knowing how to play one of those instrument can make playing in band easier, and playing in band will help you get better at your other instrument! Check out the section above on "Which instrument should I play?" to learn about the instruments that are in band.
Can I join band if I can't afford to buy an instrument?
Nobody should have to miss out from being in band because of money! Monroe Middle School will provide an instrument for those who cannot afford to rent or buy one.
Can I still do band later if I don't take it in 6th grade?
6th grade is the year for Beginning Band. Some students are able to take Beginning Band in 7th or 8th grade, but it's harder to fit in your schedule. If you think there is any chance that you will want to play in band, you should try it out in 6th grade.
I'm just not sure about band. What should I do?
If you aren't completely sure, that's okay. Try it out! What do you have to lose? You might love it!
I get stage fright! Will I have to perform in front of others?
Don't worry! When you perform, you will be performing with so many other students that any mistake you make will not be heard. Your director will also teach you some great tips for learning how to deal with stage fright in a healthy way.

What supplies do I need for band, and where do I get them?

Since band is a performance oriented class, there are certain supplies (such as an instrument, cleaning supplies, and a beginning band book) that students will need to have. However, it is very important to us that finances do not prevent a student from participating in band. We want everyone to participate! If a student's family is not able to provide the necessary supplies for band, Monroe Middle School will make sure you have what is needed. Please don't hesitate to reach out to the director if you are needing help getting any of the supplies.

More information regarding exactly what is needed will be given at the beginning of the school year.

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