Here at Walker Junior High we have 4 bands, all at varying levels:
Beginner Band
If you've never played a band instrument and don't know how to read music, beginner band is for you! There are three beginner band classes: Beginner Woodwinds (clarinet/flute), Beginner Brass (trumpet/trombone/tuba), and Beginner Percussion. In these classes we learn how to read music, both notes and rhythms, and how to play an instrument. We go slowly at first and make sure to cover the fundamentals really well. By the end of the year you'll be able to read music and play an instrument. We usually play 2 concerts, one in December and one in late April. There are no after school practices, but if you want to be good at your instrument practice is necessary, I usually recommend 10ish minutes a night.
Even though it is hard work, I try to make this class as much fun as possible so everyone has a good time.
Concert Band
This is the class 2nd and 3rd year band students only. In Concert Band we play music that is cooler than the Beginner Band plays because we've been playing for at least a year already. When the music gets cooler, it also gets harder. We learn more notes and rhythms as well as new techniques on our instruments that give us more choices as to what we are going to play. If being in Beginner Band is like have the basic 8 crayons in a box, being in Concert Band is like upgrading to the 16 crayons, you'll have a lot more colors so your art can be better looking and more accurate. We also play 2 concerts a year, a December and a late April concert and we meet every day in class to work on our music and fundamental techniques.
Symphonic Band
Symphonic Band is composed of 2nd and 3rd year band students chosen because of their very hard work throughout the year. The members of the Symphonic Band have to learn significantly more material than members of the Concert or Beginner Band classes. They are required to learn 5-10 scales over the course of the year compared to Concert and Beginner band's 2-3 scales. Because of these fundamental lessons, the Symphonic Band members are some of the best musicians in Livingston Parish. There are also expected to be on a higher rhythm chart. All of this extra work is so that we can play music that is at a high school difficulty. In the 21-22 school year the Symphonic Band performed Nebula (Standridge), Carpathia (Owens), and Shakespeare Meets Godzilla (Buckley) which were all high school level pieces. They also get to play at a few of the football games every year so that is another set of music we have to learn. There are still no after school rehearsals but the expected practice time is boosted to least 30+ minutes a day.
Jazz Band
This is a new ensemble at Walker Junior High open to only 2nd and 3rd year band members who excel at their instruments. Only certain instruments are allowed in jazz band: saxophone (let me know if you'd like to play saxophone)/trumpet/trombone/piano/bass guitar/drum set. Piano, bass guitar, and drum set are instruments that we don't teach at school so if you'd like to play one of them in the jazz band you'd have to take lessons. If that is something you're interested in let me know and I can help you get set up with a teacher.