We welcome you and your son/daughter to one of the most exciting and rewarding educational ventures our schools have to offer – BAND! It is our hope that participation in band will foster better understanding and appreciation of music, and help students create relationships that will last throughout their lives. Music is an invaluable part of the human experience and people’s lives have been enriched by music throughout history. 

The band has a unique place in the school curriculum. While it is an academic class in the sense of having a definite curriculum and expectations, there are aspects of band membership that requires group cooperation and time investment. Students learn to stay the course and follow projects through to the end. Through band they learn to trust and rely on each other. They become partners, friends, and family throughout their 7 year journey. 

Objectives 

• • To help students realize their full potential and foster a positive image of self-worth.

  • To help students learn good character traits such as responsibility, self-discipline, respect, and work ethic. To learn how to cooperate with others, work as team players, and achieve group goals.

  • To help students develop the necessary skills in order to play a musical instrument.

  • To build a foundation for a skill that can be developed over the next 6 years to go on to a higher learning institute with a scholarship in hand.

  • To promote, build, and educate future audiences and supporters of music.

The J.P. Elder Band consists of several performing groups.  Each of the daily classes represents either a section of a larger group or a complete performance group unto itself.  

VARSITY BAND:  This is an all-year class.  Attendance is mandatory.  Students are required to pass all of their classes in order to be eligible for contests, trips and performances.  This is an elective course, which is not a mandatory class. Students must comply by maintaining performance standards and discipline levels. All members of the Varity Band must attend weekly sectionals and perform at all required concert events. Attendance is required and absenteeism will affect a student’s grade. Students will be required to sign a contract, with a parent’s signature, acknowledging that they understand, and will comply with the requirements of this class.   

INTERMEDIATE BAND:  This is an all-year class.  Attendance is mandatory.  Students are required to pass all of their classes in order to be eligible for contests, trips, and performances.  This is an elective course, which is not a mandatory class. Students must comply by maintaining performance standards and discipline levels. 

BEGINNING BAND:  This is an all-year class.  Attendance is mandatory. This band is for students who are just starting off on their instrument as a beginner. Elements of music are approached through exercises of increasing difficulty, presenting challenging, interesting, and enriching activities for the students. This is an elective course, which is not a mandatory class. Students must comply by maintaining performance standards and discipline levels.