Elementary band and orchestra students have been hard at work with online learning this year! Students practice along with their teacher's weekly lesson videos in Google Classroom and upload their assignment to Flipgrid for their teacher to review. Students also attend Google Meets and virtual rehearsals with their teachers for extra feedback on their playing.

This video compilation features 4th and 5th grade students from Okte, Chango, Arongen, and Shatekon. Between these 4 schools, band and orchestra students have submitted over 1,500 Flipgrid videos, with about 5,000 views! That equates to over 70 hours of student engagement. We are so proud to share their progress on their instruments so far - please enjoy!

The Tri-Building 6th Grade Bands have been working hard learning Dance Celebration by Robert W. Smith. They took advantage of being the only grade in the middle school building on a Virtual Wednesday and recorded in three different groups spaced in the MS auditorium.

The 8th grade orchestras combined virtually for their performance of Brian Balmage's Fantasy on a Japanese Folksong on their winter concert. This song uses the haunting melody of Sakura as its melodic inspiration.

This is the middle school treble choir under the direction of Robyn-Ellen Messare. It consists of all three middle schools for girls in grades 6-8. They have been able to meet after school once every other week and sing at 12 feet apart. This song is by Jim Papoulis called “When I Close My Eyes” .

The West Jazz Band has collaborated at school and at home to bring you their version of the Sonny Rollins standard Doxy. This performance features solos by Chelsea BenAoumeur and Nolan Valero.