Quick Links

The School District of Onalaska is widely recognized as having a strong and vital music program.  Instrumental music education begins in 6th grade at Onalaska Middle School.  Sixth-grade students have the choice to take band, orchestra, or choir.  In 7th & 8th grade, a non-performance General Music class is available for students to take instead of band, choir, and orchestra. A student in General Music is not in one of the ensembles.

Many students choose to take two music classes, and a select few take all three. Bands meet every other day of a six-day cycle, and students are grouped by participation in one or more music classes.  Students only in band meet on days 1,3, and 5 of the cycle, and students in both band and another music course meet on days 2 and 4.  On day 6, they report to the other music class.  

The bands are combined for several rehearsals before concerts in December and May. All music students receive a small group or individual lesson once every six-day cycle.  The OMS band program currently has over 265 students in three grade-level bands.