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At Rittman Middle School, students in 6th grade band will meet everyday for 45 minutes and will learn basic music reading skills; proper technique for their chosen woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument; proper care for their instrument; proper performer/audience etiquette; and be exposed to diverse genres, styles, and cultures of music through playing and listening. The 6th grade band has three afterschool performances throughout the year.
A common question is "Can I still join band in 6th grade if I did not join in 5th grade?" The answer to this is YES! You will be in with the 7th grade band and it will take some work on your own outside of class as well as some after school sessions with Mr. C to get caught up, but you are absolutely allowed and encouraged to still join!
Another common question I get asked is "Can I rejoin band if I left and decided I wanted to come back?" The answer to this is YES! You will just need to make sure you get band added back to your schedule.
At the beginning of the year students will have the opportunity to try all the different instruments available in 6th grade to best find what they enjoy and suits them the best and choose their top three. Then we will move into the instrument fittings to finally select their instrument.
The following are the instrument choices students have in 6th grade, instruments marked with an asterisk (*) are capped out at a certain number of players.
Flute
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone*
Trumpet
French Horn
Trombone
Baritone/Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion*
2026-2027 Concert Dates
2026-2027 Concert Dates
All concerts are required graded performances, any absences will need to follow the attendance policy in the handbook.
6-12 Winter Band Concert: Saturday December 12, 2026 at 7:00pm, 6th grade report at 6:30pm
Music In Our Schools Month Concert: Saturday March 6, 2027 at 6:00pm at the High School, 6th grade report at 5:30pm
5-7 Spring Band Concert: Tuesday May 25, 2027 at 7:00pm at the High School, 6th grade report at 6:15pm
Concert Attire
Concert Attire
According to the Rittman Middle School Band Handbook:
The concert band uniform consists of concert black dress clothes. Students may choose to wear a black dress, a black buttoned shirt with black dress pants or a long black skirt and dress shoes and socks.
Concert attire must be school appropriate and the length of any dress/skirt must be ankle length.
Band Handbook
Band Handbook
At the beginning of the year students will be given the Rittman Middle School Band Handbook. This needs to be read and the contract page signed as this contains all the important information about how band class works, concert attire, performance dates, etc. The signed contract and medical form pages will be the first grades of the school year.
Rittman MS Band Handbook.pdfBand Supplies
Band Supplies
In this document you will find all the needed supplies for your instrument. These supplies should not be purchased until the instrument selection is completed. Students will need a pencil everyday, starting day one.
6th Grade Band Supplies.pdfRecommended Brands
Recommended Brands
In this document you will find a list of recommended brands of instruments. Following these brands will ensure you are purchasing a quality instrument if you go the used route. If you are planning on buying a used instrument not from a music store please send me pictures and information about the instrument before purchasing so I can help you make a quality purchase.
Recommended Brands.pdfMusic Store Rental Information
Music Store Rental Information
There are two music stores close to Rittman that rent band and orchestra instruments.
The first is Wadsworth Music Store in Wadsworth, OH. They outsource their rental program through Sweetwater Music. Here is the link to learn more: https://wadsworthmusic.com/pages/sweetwater-instrument-rental
The other closest music store is Pellegrino's Music in Canton, OH. Attached below is their rental brochure.
2026 Spring Band Rental Flyer-One Month Free.pdfSchool Instrument Information
School Instrument Information
Students who play horn, baritone, and tuba will use school owned instruments as these are very expensive and are only responsible for getting the supplies needed for their instrument.
Percussionists will use school equipment during class, but are encouraged to have a practice bell set and snare practice pad to use at home.
The school also owns some flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, and trombones that are able to be loaned out for the year. If you find that you are in need of a school owned instrument I need a signed note from a parent/guardian stating so.
Anyone using a school instrument must turn in the signed instrument loan form attached here.
Instrument Loan Agreement.pdfInstrument Care and Maintenance
Instrument Care and Maintenance
This document provides you with instrument care and maintenance guidelines, important for keeping your instrument working properly.
Instrument Maintenance.pdfPage updated
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