Beginning 

The Beginning Band consists of first year players, primarily in their 7th grade year at Euless Junior High.  The band meets in like-instrument classes during the school day and has only three outside-of-school rehearsals.

Class time is spent learning everything one must know to participate in a Performing Band at the end of the year.  Beginner Band curriculum consists of goals such as tone production, posture, hand position, intonation, as well as every note, rhythm, articulation, musical concept (dynamics, nuance, style, etc.) that will be necessary to perform the music in Symphonic and Concert Band.  In May, every member will compete in an audition process to determine band placement for the following year.

Practice is imperative to the success of a Beginning Band member.  Students are expected to practice every day for 20 minutes.  For students who find taking their instrument to and from school every day inconvenient, the band hall practice rooms are available before and after school.  The band hall is open from 7:00am-4:30pm daily.  Playing an instrument involves the development of hundreds muscle fibers acting in unison to perform a specific task.  Much like throwing a football, shooting a basketball, or kicking a soccer ball, muscle-memory is required to ensure that every aspect of playing an instrument is performed the same, proper way every time.  Practice doesn't make perfect....Practice makes permanent.

Beginning Band Parents please help your child find a consistent, uninterruped time every day when he/she can focus on developing and nurturing these very imporant skills.  Do things like:

• Ask to hear what they're playing in class

• Turn off the TV and make everyone in the house stop to hear two minutes of their band homework

• Ask them to show you how to hold the instrument, form an embouchure, properly articulate on the instrument