8th Grade Band
Eighth Grade Band is a full year course.
Eighth Grade Band meets as a full band class Monday through Friday during the school day. The Eighth Grade Band joins the Seventh Grade Band during marching season and performs in the local Old West Weekend and Veterans Day Parades. They perform concerts in December, February/March, and May. The Eighth Grade Band participates in the Western Nebraska Middle Level Music Contest where they have consistently received SUPERIOR Ratings. Members of the Eighth Grade Band also have the opportunity to participate in the BMS Jazz Band. The Eighth Grade Band attends the "Music in the Parks" Festivals of Music held at Elitch Gardens in Denver each spring.
The Bluffs Middle School Eighth Grade Bands have performed at the NSBA Convention (2000, 2016), at the NMEA Convention (2002, 2018), were asked to perform as a "demonstration band" at the NMEA Convention (2005, 2013), and have received Superior Ratings (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) and Best Overall Jr. High/Middle School Band Awards (2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019) at the "Music in the Parks" Festivals of Music in Denver.
They have also received the "Esprit de Corps" Award for demonstrating proper behavior, being encouraging of others, and possessing the qualities of "highly successful people" (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016) at the "Music in the Parks" Festivals of Music in Denver.
Assignments
Practice
AT HOME PREPARATION: A students progress in band will depend on what is achieved during daily home practice sessions. Learning takes place at school, but proficiency is gained at home.
Students are expected to take their instruments home daily and on weekends.
Students will see more improvement if they practice daily for shorter periods of time than if they try to do all of their practicing in one weekend. In other classes, students have homework. In band, a students homework is their practice time at home.
Parents, a key element to your child's success on his/her instrument will be your support. Very rarely will a child practice without having to be told. Practicing, to the student, becomes a chore, but it is a cycle; practice makes you good, which leads to fun and makes you want to play your instrument more. With the proper guidance and support from you, both you and your child will see the benefits of good practice. Please refer to the back of the practice record or to the web site for some guidelines to help your child at home.
***Reminder: Your REQUIRED practice sheets are DUE each MONDAY (or the first day of the week).
To download, please click on BMS Band Practice Record below.