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Scottsbluff Public Schools - Every Child, Every Day
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. Members of the Eighth Grade Band are encouraged to participate in the Western Nebraska Middle Level Solo Contest in February. 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, 2022), at the NMEA Convention (2002, 2018, 2022, 2025), were asked to perform as a "demonstration band" at the NMEA Convention (2005, 2013), and have consistently received Superior Ratings and Best Overall Jr. High/Middle School Band Awards 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, 2023) at the "Music in the Parks" Festivals of Music in Denver.
Assignments
Week of May 4
Students should practice their A flat Concert Warm-up exercises (Pg. 14), their scales, pages 14-17 in their Essential Techniques Book, their Feature Songs, and Concert music
The students will not have a playing assessment this week. Please use this week to get caught up on any missing playing assessments and to continue to prepare for our upcoming performances.
The SBPS Grade 5-8 Spring Band Concert will take place on Friday, May 8th in the Auditorium at Scottsbluff High School. This concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. Dress for this concert is nice dress clothes (we suggest a skirt or a dress for the girls and dress slacks, a dress shirt and tie for the boys). This is a graded performance and all students are expected to be in attendance. This should be a very special performance as we will combine the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Bands for the final song on the concert. Please c;ick on the link below for more information. This Concert is free and open to the public. Please invite your family and friends to attend!
On Saturday, May 9th, the 8th Grade Band will be traveling to the Denver area to perform for the "Music In The Parks" Festival. The students will perform in the morning at Alameda Jr./Sr. High School in Lakewood, CO. Following our performance, the students will then travel to Elitch Gardens and have some time to enjoy themselves at the amusement park. More details will be made available as we get closer to the date of this trip. This is a wonderful educational opportunity for the students as they will be judged by nationally known adjudicators and will receive comments that will help them improve in the future, as well as a rating/trophy
This will be a one day trip. We will leave early on the morning of May 9th, perform for the festival, enjoy some time in the park, and then return home.
Because this is a competition and a required graded performance, we would like every student in 8th grade band to participate in this festival. We need every member to be in attendance for us to perform at our best. There is no cost to the students for this trip except for money for their evening meal on the way home (fast food stop). The festival fees, park entrance fees, lunch, T-Shirt, and transportation will all be provided through our fundraising efforts.
Parents and other family members are welcome to travel to the festival to watch our performance. We would really appreciate the support. More information will be provided soon on the exact time and location of our performance.
Music In The Parks Trip Itinerary 26
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).
Practice Week #35 (dated 4/27 - 5/3)
is due on Tuesday, May 4
To download, please click on BMS Band Practice Record below.
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