In Concert Band, you have the opportunity to start in the sixth grade! You will be given the chance to try out each mouthpiece of ALL the instruments - that are offered to the Beginner Band. This is so you can find your best fit!
On this page, you will learn about what you can do in Concert Band, and hear from some of our Concert Band members!
In Band, you can do many things. In the beginning, whenever you join, you will learn the basics of your instrument, as well as how to play, rhythms and counting. This will set you up for success!
Once you get to high school, and even some very talented middle schoolers, and you understand your instrument, you may end up playing a secondary instrument, especially for outside of the classroom such as Jazz Band or Marching Band.
Band is an amazing opportunity to make friends and have fun. It is also an amazing opportunity to learn! You can discover so much through band. Our programs at Emerald and Westview offer students many different opportunities to learn, discover, and even travel! Just hear from our students.....
Bobby Shepard
Bobby has been in band since his 7th Grade year in the 2020-2021 school year. He joined band originally because of his parents love for music, and he wants to make them proud. He then fell in love with band himself.
Nathan Shumate
Nathan has a love for music that existed before he even entered the Band programs. He joined band in his 6th grade year in the 2019-2020 school year. And now, he can't see himself doing anything else.
The short answer is... anyone! Everybody can do band! Band is just like any other class, you could go to ELA/English then to Band and then to Math. If you want to do Concert Band, do it! Many of our students would tell you how much they love band, and how much fun it really is.
This is the real question. When you start band, your band director will do a "test" called a "mouth piece test." This test will determine what instrument you SHOULD play. Now, this doesn't mean you have to play that instrument. If you want to play another instrument, that isn't your best fit, tell your Director! They will let you! But first, they will tell you it may be harder to play that instrument.
Nathan Shumate
When Did You Join Band and How Hard Was It?
"I joined band in the 6th grade. It's never easy learning a new instrument, sometimes it get's really frustrating. In 6th grade I took my instrument home almost everyday, I always tried to practice. It wasn't easy and used to get mad all of the time, I tried really hard to get good at the things we would do in band. As a beginner it's difficult, but if you stick with it and you try really hard, things become easier and things like learning new instruments become easier too."
EHS and WMS Region 2 Band Participants
Flynn Dolin
What Is Your Secion Like and What Instrument(s) Do You Play?
"Being a woodwind is really hard at first, especially when you don't really know what you're doing. Once you get the hang of things, it becomes really fun. The music isn't always super easy, and that just makes it so much more fun!
My main instruments right now are flute and piccolo, but I also play saxophone in Jazz Band, and know how to play most percussion and clarinet."
TBA....