Welcome to CMSW Band where we embrace the Next Generation of Music Education.  Students in our program will find what we do to be rigorous, relevant, relationship-focused and rewarding. 

ERIC SONGER songere@district112.org

CHECK OUT  OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: MR.  SONGER. 

PLEASE CHECK THE WEEK AT A GLANCE (WAAG) :

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

Wide World of Music

2025-26 DATES

TALENT SHOW VIDEO

ROCK-IT! VIDEO

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE'S HORNS VISIT CMSW

EVENING WITH THE STARS WIN ENSEMBLES

POP ENSEMBLE SHOW AT PIM ARTS HS

BAND CONCERT VIDEOS

Students should have their instrument and chromebook on their band days. Instruments can be stored in the band room or in their hallway lockers during the school day. A-Days and B-Days alternate.

AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES:
-Marching Band where students learn how to march and perform in the Homecoming Parades. Tuesdays & Thursdays in Sept.

-School of Rock where students learn how to be in a rock band. Wednesdays in Sept./Oct.

-Beginning Guitar where students learn how to play guitar (instruments provided) - Mondays in October and again Wednesdays in February 

-Garage Band is an auditioned group where students perform in venues across the Twin Cities in a rock band - Tuesdays Oct.-Jan. 

-Jazz Ensemble 78 where students learn and perform in a jazz ensemble in venues across the state including an overnight trip to the Duluth Jazz Festival - Thursdays Nov.-Mar. 

-Country Rock/Bluegrass Band is an auditioned group where students performing in venues across the Twin Cities in a country band - Wednesdays Oct.-Jan. 

-Holiday Band where students play in a concert band that plays all holiday music - Mondays In Nov.-Dec.

-Jazz 6 where students learn and perform in a jazz ensemble in the district - Tuesdays Dec.-March

-Hip Hop Club where students DJ, rap, beatbox, dance, do art, and make beats - Mondays Feb.-March 

-Pop Ensemble where students learn how to play and perform current pop music - Wednesdays Mar.-May. 

-Honor Band 6 and Honor Band 78 are hand-picked groups based on student effort and performance during the year where students learn more advanced music and do a concert - Thursdays in Apr.-June. 

-Latin Pop Band where students learn Latin Pop, Latin Jazz, Mariachi and more - Mondays Apr.-May

-6th Grade and Middle School Musical. "Finding Nemo". Monday-Thursdays in Sept and first week of Oct.  

You can sign up at www.ce4all.org or click on the name of the class above. Classes that start later in the year don't have links yet. 

SUMMER CLASSES:
Jazz Band

Marching Band

Movie Band

Music Technology

Beginning Guitar

Beginning Ukulele

Adapted Music

Garage Band

Woodwind and brass players must also have reeds, valve oil, slide cream or whatever accessories they need for their instrument to work properly. Percussionists are strongly encouraged to have a stick bag with drum sticks, plastic mallets and yarn mallets. You can always order these items at any time with forms that are available on the bulletin board in the back of the band room or online as well at Schmitt Music or Eckroth Music. Items will be delivered to CMSW and given to students usually within ten days.

There is a $45 Band Fee that you will need to turn in (checks made out to CMSW) which will cover the method books, our band trips and more.  You can return this with your child the first month of school.  Let me know if you need assistance. 

There will be one 20-minute pull-out lesson a week for 6th graders where we will focus on the instrument each student plays. Since we don't have two full time band directors anymore, most of these lessons will take place as pull-outs from other classes. The staff works really well to make sure that students don't fall behind when they miss a class for a band lesson. 

During the 2025-26 school year: we have THREE evening concerts that all band members attend.  These are the evenings of Tuesday, Dec. 2 in the Chaska High School auditorium,Thursday, February 19 in the CMSW Large Gym & Thursday, May 14 In the CMSW Large Gym. We have trips that each grade takes.  The 6th grade bands play a tour of Bluff Creek, Clover Ridge and La Academia during the school day on Thursday, January 15.  The 7th grade bands play at a mid-level band festival In Edina followed by a trip to Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark on Friday, May 1. The 7th and 8th graders play at Eden Prairie Mall on Friday, December 12 from 4:30-6:15 p.m. The 8th grade bands will take a trip to UW-Eau Claire during the school day and into the evening on Friday, May 15 which Includes time at Action City Fun Park. There will be an additional fee to go on the 8th grade trip. Fundraising opportunities will be available.

 For a complete list of dates throughout the year, click here.  

The 8th graders also run the CMSW Talent Show on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. at Chanhassen H.S. All 8th graders sign up for a small job such as selling tickets or helping with publicity or auditions prior to the show or sign up for a larger job where they can perform, host, or help with the tech crew during the show. 6th and 7th graders are also welcome to audition to be in the show.

Bonus Lessons are optional lessons that students can come to during the school day. Bonus lessons are pull-out lessons where students will miss 20 minutes of band. Bonus lessons are offered on the following instruments and skills: guitar, ukulele, piano, bass guitar, drum set, improvisation, production, songwriting, DJing, unified music, music history, and extra help. These lessons will be taught by volunteer high school students and adults. 

WIN Ensembles start in October. WIN Ensembles are chamber groups of 3-10 students each that choose what music they want to play, rehearse that music on their own and then perform at Urban Air on April 13 and Evening with the Stars on April 9. There might also be before school performances in the cafeteria during breakfast. Students must commit to coming to one WIN time a week to work with their group, and they must also commit to practicing their music at home if they want to be in a WIN Ensemble. If they play multiple instruments, they may do this in their WIN Ensembles. 

There will also be occasional guest speakers. I am a big believer in having something for everyone and trying to make music a positive part of all of these students' lives. This year's guests include Taylor Swift's drummer JT Bates and bass player Ian Allison.

Lastly you can contact me at songere@district112.org.  You can also follow the music program on Facebook and Instagram @CMSWMusic.  Most performances and other fun videos are on our YouTube channel. Google Classroom codes are also available for the 2025-26 school year. Students will need to sign up by going to Google Classroom and entering the code below:
8th Grade:  aulsbbd4       

7th Grade:  ixfckbcg      

6th Grade:  it5d4t6t

ERIC SONGER

songere@district112.org

I have been a music educator at Chaska Middle School West since 1997. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Math Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in Curriculum & Instruction. Along with my colleagues in Chaska, I have created a program that includes jazz, rock, country, bluegrass, Latin, hip hop, pop, and marching bands as well as songwriting, production, guitar, deejaying, podcasting, and adaptive music classes. I teach privately, compose, and arrange music, and perform as a trombonist in the Twin Cities. I was the recipient of a CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence Award in 2023 and 2025, Schmitt Music Teacher of the Year in 2023, Give-a-Note Innovator in Music Education Award in 2019, and twice District 112 Teacher of the Year in 2008 and 2021. I speak regularly at conferences and universities across the country. I am the VP of Ensembles Plus for MMEA, South Central Regional President of MBDA, founder of the APME Minnesota chapter, and am on the NAfME Council for Innovations. I serve on the MMEA and these other boards because I want to bring people together to share ideas and create more opportunities for our students. I co-founded and help run the Minnesota Modern Band Festival and am the author of the book “Starting A Modern Band Program.” My website is www.songerstudio.wordpress.com. I have a podcast called Pop Life. My wife, Heidi, is also a musician and educator and we run our own music studio together. Heidi and I offer professional development for teachers on how to run a popular music ensemble. We live in Chaska, Minnesota with our kids Caleb and Abby.