Course offerings

We have four levels of band at ECMS. Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, 7th Grade Band and 8th Grade Band. All of our bands classes during the school day are concert bands. Most years we offer jazz band after school. Please note that performances are subject to change during the pandemic situation.

Beginning Band

Beginning Band is for any 6th, 7th or 8th grade student who wishes to learn a band instrument. Students do not need any prior musical experience. The first part of beginning band is a process to help students find an instrument that they are likely to have strong success on, an instrument that students are interested in, and balancing the number of instruments across a band so that we have all of the correct instruments for our ensemble. Instruction begins with basic music reading skills along with instrument assembly, posture, basic tone production, and more. Students proceed throughout the year quickly and catch up with the Intermediate Band students usually around December. Students who complete this course will be ready for 7th Grade Band.

Student performances/opportunities include -

• 4 concerts throughout the year

• Band festival performance in the Spring

• Solo performance in class 4th quarter

• Optional performances at Solo and Ensemble Festival and Evening of the Arts

Intermediate Band

Intermediate band is for 6th grade students who played in band during their 5th grade year. The intermediate band rehearses in two sections - Woodwinds and Percussion, and Brass. The band performs combined. Students are expected to have basic knowledge of music reading, rhythm, tone production, posture, instrument assembly, and concert etiquette. Students in the intermediate band may have the opportunity to help the band by playing some of the instruments that are not commonly used in beginning band. The director will let students know based upon the number of students currently on each instrument if there are any spots available for students interested in helping the band in this way. Students who complete Intermediate Band will be ready for 7th Grade Band.

Student performances/opportunities include -

• 4 concerts throughout the year

• Band festival performance in the Spring

• Solo performance in class 4th quarter

• Optional performances at Solo and Ensemble Festival and Evening of the Arts

• Ability to audition for CFSD Honor Band

• Ability to be nominated for Southern Arizona Honor Band

7th Grade Band

7th Grade Band is for all 7th grade students in band. The 7th grade band rehearses in two sections, Woodwinds and Percussion, and Brass. The band performs combined. The 7th grade band expands upon the skills learned in previous years, and helps students to improve their technical and musical fluency on their instruments. Students who complete 7th grade band will be ready for 8th grade band.

Student performances/opportunities include -

• 4 concerts throughout the year

• Band festival performance in the Spring

• Solo performance in class 4th quarter

• Optional performances at Solo and Ensemble Festival and Evening of the Arts

• Ability to audition for CFSD Honor Band

• Ability to be nominated for Southern Arizona Honor Band

• Opportunity to audition for Arizona Music Educators Association All-State Band

• Opportunity to participate in Jazz Band

• Special Marching Event performance in the Fall

8th Grade Band

8th Grade Band is the premier concert band at ECMS. Students are challenged to perform at an extremely high level, requiring a special dedication and work ethic. Students who complete 8th grade band are ready for HS band.

Student performances/opportunities include -

• 4 concerts throughout the year

• Band festival performance in the Spring

• Solo performance in class 4th quarter

• Optional performances at Solo and Ensemble Festival and Evening of the Arts

• Ability to audition for CFSD Honor Band

• Ability to be nominated for Southern Arizona Honor Band

• Opportunity to audition for Arizona Music Educators Association All-State Band

• Opportunity to participate in Jazz Band

• Special Marching Event performance in the Fall