Band is the largest organization at Watkins Middle School with over 200 students enrolled each year. Not only is band a great place to learn an instrument, meet new friends, and be apart of an amazing organization, but a strong fine arts education is incredibly beneficial to becoming a well-rounded student. In addition to learning the skills necessary to play an instrument, students learn responsibility, teamwork, organization, dedication, multi-tasking, and confidence. Band students consistently earn higher scores on standardized tests, including the SAT and ACT, and often excel in their core-classes.
In sixth grade every student has the opportunity to pick one elective in addition to p.e. and their core-classes. Just like their core-classes, students will attend their elective class every day for the entire year.
Beginning Band is an exciting time for students and we're excited to see you in class next year!
Hello Future Watkins Bulldog Band Members,
We are excited that your child will be attending Watkins Middle School next year!
Our Band classes are set up by instrument (Flute class, Trumpet class, etc.) so that the students can learn faster and more efficiently, and those classes are spread throughout the school day. For your child’s class schedule to be completed, we need to have an idea of what instrument they are interested in to put them in the proper class period.
Here are the instruments we ask that they choose from. There are YouTube videos listed so you can watch them if they are unsure how the different instruments sound and work.
Flute - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amkZjhHW6gI
Clarinet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MIXJ1IG_4o
Alto Sax - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOEV7LHJt0M
Trumpet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM5m_TAZvos
Trombone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnD-cGOKD5w
Percussion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K5uBwc-lAY
There are other instruments in Beginning Band, such as the Oboe, Bassoon, French Horn, Euphonium, and Tuba. Those are specialized instruments that only a few students each year are selected to play, and we will help the students choose those instruments (if they are interested) once we start the new school year.
If you need any help, please email us at samuel.pugh@cfisd.net or nathan.snyder@cfisd.net and we will get with you as soon as possible.
Hope to see you soon,
Mr. Pugh and Mr. Snyder