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KMMS Bands
KMMS Bands
A personal note from Mrs. Harwood & Mrs. Vinzant:
Our years as band directors in this district have convinced us that any child can succeed in band with a reasonable amount of effort. Unlike many school band programs in other districts, there is not a music-screening test for students interested in band. As long as they meet the attendance, performance and practice expectations, your child will have a place in our bands. Each student receives a weekly small group lesson and regular band rehearsals. Both the lessons and rehearsals take place during the school day for all band students.
Beginning Band
Beginning Band
Kasson-Mantorville Schools has a strong history of exceptional music instruction and ensemble performances. We hope your child will want to be a member of a strong instrumental tradition here at Kasson-Mantorville. The band program starts in the fall of the 5th grade.
This website contains useful videos and information you might want to watch: https://www.bepartofthemusic.org/bpotb/index.html
Supplies Lists for Beginning Band
5th Grade Band
5th Grade Band
Purpose and Goals
The beginning instrumental program at KMMS is designed to meet the special musical needs of 5th grade school children.
I strongly feel that involvement in the music program is a vital part of your child’s total education.
It is my goal to develop the highest possible level of musical achievement for each student, keeping in mind each child’s interests, needs and abilities.
The band program will provide experiences to foster positive attitudes, self-reliance, self-discipline, a spirit of cooperation and greater appreciation for the world of music.
To those interested in being in BEGINNING BAND: We start class sessions in mid- to late-September by reviewing 4th grade curriculum. Pull-out lessons typically start the 1st week of October, and consist of groups of students who have chosen the same instrument. We learn how to hold, care for, and create good beginning sounds within those first few lessons. After mastering these basics, we add a few notes each lesson, constantly working toward mastery of the instruments. When we know enough notes on our instruments to play together as a full band, we start rehearsals.
I am happy to include all interested students in the band program. Please contact Mrs. Harwood if you are interested in participating!
Starting in October, students will need to bring their instruments and music to school two days per week for full-band rehearsals. They will also need them at school for one more day each week for the lesson on their instrument.
Our first concert is in December, and the final concert of the year will be in May. The concert dates can be found on the school district calendar.
LIVE Links to Warm-up videos to play EVERY DAY (from Mrs. Harwood and Mrs. Vinzant)
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Tuba
LIVE links to instructional videos
6th Grade Band
6th Grade Band
Sixth Grade Band curriculum picks up where 5th grade band left off last spring. In September, the band reviews 5th grade band curriculum, recalling articulations, dynamics, and other elements of music as they relate to playing our instruments.
In October/November, the students need to purchase the next book we'll use in lessons and rehearsals: Essential Elements Book 2. 6th grade curriculum moves beyond the very beginner skills learned in 5th grade band. Parts in concert music increase in complexity, as students gain more independence musically. This opens the door to different timbres and sound effects throughout the band, as students explore the combinations of timbres used in contemporary band repertoire.
The 6th grade band performs in three concerts each year: December, March and May. The concert dates can be found on the school district calendar.
LIVE links to Warm-up videos to play EVERY DAY (from Mrs. Harwood and Mrs. VInzant)
- Flute
- Oboe
- Clarinet
- Trumpet
- F Horn
- Trombone
- Tuba
LIVE links to instructional videos:
7th Grade Band
7th Grade Band
Band is offered as an elective course in the 7th Grade. It is a continuation of 6th Grade Band.
Students in 7th Grade Band have full band rehearsals every day for 43 minutes. We also have weekly sectionals for 20-25 minutes. Our curriculum includes concert performances and some small ensemble work in the spring. Our students will work with a wide array of technology to develop their playing skills and understanding of music theory. The emphasis in our music curriculum is to create, perform, reflect, and connect with music and with others.
LIVE Links to Warm-up videos to play EVERY DAY (from Mrs. Harwood and Mrs. Vinzant)
- Flute
- Oboe
- Bassoon
- Trumpet
- F Horn
- Trombone
- Tuba
LIVE links to instructional videos
- How to count in compound meter (6/8)
- Concert Ab Major (common pitfalls)
- Practice Essential Elements Book 2 page 21
- Compose 2 measures of rhythm in 6/8 meter.
8th Grade Band
8th Grade Band
Band is offered as an elective course in the 8th Grade. It is a continuation of 7th Grade Band.
Students in 8th Grade Band have full band rehearsals every day for 43 minutes. We also have weekly sectionals for 20-25 minutes. Our curriculum includes concert performances, solo & ensembles, and some marching in the spring. Our students will work with a wide array of technology to develop their playing skills and understanding of music theory, and to begin to compose & arrange their own music.
LIVE Links to Warm-up videos to play EVERY DAY (from Mrs. Harwood and Mrs. Vinzant)
- Flute
- Oboe
- Bassoon
- Trumpet
- F Horn
- Trombone
- Tuba
LIVE links to Instructional videos
- How to count 8th and 16th note combinations
- Concert Ab Major (common pitfalls)
- Warm-up Fundamentals 3A - Intervals and tuning
- Compose 4 measures of rhythm including 8th and 16th note combinations
Rock 'n' Jazz Band
Rock 'n' Jazz Band
Here’s the scoop on the KMMS Rock 'n' Jazz Program:
It is not mandatory, and has no influence on grades. It is solely an enrichment opportunity. Rock 'n' Jazz is open to ANYONE in band, grades 6-8. (There may be a few advanced 5th grade students who may join in the music-making, with my approval. But most 5th graders don’t know enough notes yet.) There are parts written for ALL the instruments.
We will meet Thursdays every week, from 7:30-7:55 a.m. To these rehearsals they need to bring their instrument, music and a pencil.
If you have YouTube at your home and enabled, please allow kids to listen to recordings online. The more they listen, they more they know what they should sound like. Jazz is an aural art, using call and response, improvisation, etc. They need to listen, practice, and internalize the music to make it happen!
The students interested in jazz have signed up in band, and copies of their parts have been made. If anyone wants to do it and they didn’t sign up, they still may join!
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