Purpose
The Lowell Middle School Band Program exists to teach students about music through learning to play a wind or percussion instrument, thereby providing them with an artistic outlet as growing musicians. The program is sequenced in a developmentally appropriate way to take students from the very beginning stages of playing their instrument to strong competency as middle school musicians.
Goals
Students will learn to play a wind or percussion instrument at the highest level each individual can achieve.
Students will learn fundamental playing skills and musical knowledge that will enable them to achieve future success in the band program at Lowell High School or any other school they may attend.
Students will grow as musicians through making positive contributions in the ensemble setting, allowing each ensemble to play at the highest level the group can achieve.
Students will learn ensemble skills through the public performance of quality literature at a high level for their peers, the community, and wider audiences.
Students will develop an appreciation for quality music, in particular that of the wind band repertoire, through the performance of outstanding literature at an appropriate level for each ensemble.
Students will have the opportunity to take their playing experience as far as they would like through optional extras like Solo & Ensemble, honors bands, private lessons, and other performances.
Values
To achieve our goals as a band program, we value high standards for both performance and behavior. Students will learn a strong work ethic: to set goals, to evaluate personal progress and adjust based on those observations, to persevere through obstacles or difficult times, and to see things through to completion. Students will learn the value of teamwork: to strive together for a common goal, to support other team members, and to treat each each other and team leaders with respect. Students will learn to take responsibility: for their own growth as musicians, for their contribution to their ensemble, for proper care and treatment of personal and community equipment, for attendance at performances and other band events, and for appropriate communication with leaders and fellow students regarding any reasons they might not be able to fulfill their responsibilities. These values will help students achieve success not only in the Lowell Middle School Band Program, but in anything they do in life.
Beginning Band 6
Students have the opportunity to learn to play a wind or percussion instrument in a group setting. Classes are structured in like-instrument groupings whenever possible to provide maximum benefit to students at the beginning level. Students are evaluated through individual playing assessments and are expected to practice their instrument at home as a part of their grade. Classes meet every day and students are expected to commit to staying in band for the entire year. For 2025-2026, sixth grade saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and euphoniums meet first hour, 7:50-8:50. Sixth grade flutes, clarinets, and percussion meet second hour - 8:54-9:54.
Concert Band 7
Prerequisite: 1 year of band class or private instrument lessons
Students meet daily with a full instrumentation class to continue to learn and perform on their instrument. The Concert Band is mostly 7th graders and performs in concerts and festivals, and marches in one parade at the end of the year. Students are evaluated through group performances and individual playing assessments and are expected to practice their instrument at home as a part of their grade. Class meets every day and students are expected to commit to staying in band for the entire year. For 2025-2026, Concert Band brass and percussion meets fourth hour, 10:58-11:58. Concert Band woodwinds and French horns meet fifth hour, 12:36-1:36.
Symphonic Band 8
Prerequisite: 1-2 years of band class or private instrument lessons
Students meet daily in a full band setting to continue to learn and perform on their instrument. The Symphonic Band is mostly 8th graders with a few advanced 7th graders, and performs frequently in concerts, festivals, and parades. Students are evaluated through group performances and individual playing assessments and are expected to practice their instrument at home as a part of their grade. Classes meet every day and students are expected to commit to staying in band for the entire year. For 2025-2026, the Symphonic Band meets third hour, 9:58-10:58.
Jazz Band
The Jazz Band is not an actual class but it is a very popular part of our band program! Jazz Band meets before school (usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays) at 7:00 AM, starting around the middle of October each year. Jazz Band is open to students in the Concert Band 7 or Symphonic Band 8 who are members in good standing, and play saxophone, trumpet, low brass/low reeds, drumset/percussion, piano, guitar, or bass, (other instruments are considered case-by-case) and who have demonstrated a good level of proficiency on their instrument by placing well on chair tests. The Jazz Band performs at concerts, festivals, and community events.
As the LAS music faculty we expect all music students in choir, band and orchestra to:
1. Sing or play a varied repertoire of music with expression and technical accuracy.
2. Read, notate and perform the following rhythms and meters: whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted notes and rests, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 and cut time meters.
3. Sight read, notate and perform simple melodies in the appropriate clef for their instrument or voice.
4. Communicate an idea through musical arrangement, improvisation and/or composition.
5. Describe specific music events in a given aural example using appropriate terminology.
6. Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of one’s own and others’ performances, compositions, arrangements and/or improvisations by applying specific and appropriate criteria and offering constructive suggestions for improvement.
7. Understand relationships between music, other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
8. Understand music in relation to history and culture.
9. Analyze the uses of elements of music in aural examples representing diverse genres and cultures.
10. Develop ensemble skills of professionalism and collaboration.