The 6th Grade Beginning Band is a one-year course open to all 6th grade students, running daily during 1st period from 8:35 to 9:25 a.m. While previous musical training is helpful, it is not required. This course provides an introduction to instrumental music for students who are new to playing a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument.
This elective course will focus on fundamental musical concepts, including proper tone production, reading musical notation, and basic music theory. Students will also learn how to care for their instruments and develop the technical abilities needed to perform as a team. Together, we'll build an engaging repertoire and prepare for a number of performances, giving students the chance to discover their musical interests and grow as musicians.
7th Grade Concert Band
The 7th Grade Concert Band is a one-year class that meets during 2nd period from 9:27-10:17, every day. This course is open to all 7th Grade students with at least one year of experience playing a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. This course will build upon foundational skills learned in the 6th Grade Beginning Band Class by developing more advanced technical abilities, expanding musical repertoire, and deepening understanding of music theory. Students in the course will typically perform music comparable to the North Carolina Bandmasters Association (NCBA) Grade I-II list.
Students will learn to work together as a team to create engaging and exciting musical performances. Beyond school concerts, students in this course will represent TMSA at a variety of performance opportunities, including community events and local festivals and competitions. There will also be a chance to audition for regional honors bands, as well as the opportunity to travel for exciting musical and educational opportunities across the Southeastern United States.
The 8th Grade Symphonic Band is a one year class that meets during 4th period, from 12:38-1:35, every day. This course is open to all 8th Grade students with at least two years of experience playing a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. This course will build upon foundational skills learned in previous band classes by focusing on advanced techniques, music theory, and a diverse range of musical repertoire. Students in this course will typically perform music comparable to the NCBA Grade II-IV list.
Students will have opportunities to perform at school concerts, community events, adjudications, and competitions. Students will also have the opportunity to prepare and audition for honor bands, such as the East Central All-District Honors Band, as well as the opportunity to travel for exciting musical and educational opportunities across the Southeastern United States.
High School Beginning Band is a one-year class that meets during 4th Block, “A” Day, 1:59-3:30. This course is open to all high school students who are new to playing a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument, and counts as a fine arts credit for graduation requirements.
This course will cover the fundamentals of music, including proper instrument care, tone production, and how to read music. This class provides a fun and supportive environment for students to develop their technical abilities, deepen their understanding of basic music theory, and learn to work together as a team to create exciting performances.
The High School Wind Ensemble is TMSA's premier performing group for advanced instrumentalists. This year-long course is open to all high school students with at least three years of experience in middle or high school on a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. Students with one or two years of experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis. The class meets daily during "Zero Block" from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and counts as a fine arts credit for graduation. This class also offers Honors level credit.
This course focuses on advanced musical concepts, sophisticated repertoire, and high-level performance skills. Students will deepen their understanding of music theory, refine their technical abilities, and work together to create powerful and artistic musical moments. The ensemble typically performs music comparable to the NCBA Grade III-V list.
As a member of the Wind Ensemble, students will represent TMSA at a variety of high-profile events, including school concerts, community performances, regional and state adjudications, and competitions. Students will also have opportunities to prepare and audition for prestigious ensembles, such as the East Central All-District Honors Band, and to travel to exciting performance and educational opportunities across the United States.