HSCS BAND

1. No, I teach you everything from the ground up.

1. It depends. We test you for instruments you are interested in playing, but many times spots fill up fast. Also, you may want to play a certain instrument, but we will not place you on that instrument if you do not have a very successful audition, and only if spots are available in that section.

1. YES! You have to practice every night on your instrument. Playing an instrument is like riding a bicycle; it takes practice. You also will have some written homework.

1. Yes, we meet everyday just like your other subjects.

1. Only 8th grade band veterans who successfully audition.

1. Only at the Winter and Spring Concerts. (No parades or pep rallies)

1. Your instrument, music books, pencils, and paper, along with any work you need to turn in to me.

1. Yes, but you do not choose the instrument. We test you for a spot in a needed section.

1. Yes, before the first bell rings, you can come in the band room and put your instrument in your locker.

1. Sometimes. It depends on the driver. Many times, bigger instruments just carry their mouthpieces home and buzz or you may have a home instrument and a school instrument.

BAND WISDOM

All-County Middle School Band

The All-County Middle School Band is made up of Alachua County middle school students who have been selected through an audition process using the same type of materials as All-State.  This audition takes place in November.  There are a limited number of students that can be selected for the actual audition, so attendance at these after school sessions is important.

Solo & Ensemble Festival

The Solo and Ensemble Festival of the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) is held during the month of February each year.  The opportunity to be evaluated as a soloist or a member of a small ensemble is a wonderful learning experience.  Participation in the festival by 7th and 8th grade students is strongly encourages by the director.

Music must be selected from the FBA Music List which is available from Mr. Montauk.  An original score must be provided for the judge and an accompanist must be provided with all solos.  (Mr. Montauk will help find an accompanist.)  There is usually a fee for their time practicing, attending rehearsals, and attending the performance.  Once you have made the commitment to participate, if you fail to attend the performance, you could fail the quarter.  Choice of ensembles partners becomes important because you rely on the members of your ensembles to be present for rehearsals and the performance in order to participate. 

All-State Band

The All-State Band is an ensemble drawn, through auditions, from the finest musicians in the state of Florida.  Auditions are held locally each year during the latter half of September.  Rehearsals and performances are held during the Florida Music Educators Conventions in early January in Tampa.  Participation in this event is a great honor.  All students who are capable are urged to prepare the All-State Audition Materials and audition.  Summer is the ideal time for preparation of those materials.  Interested students will be required to attend morning or afternoon rehearsals with the director to prepare for this audition, unless they are studying privately.

CONCERT MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT (MPA)

The Concert Band will perform in the Concert MPA sponsored by the Florida Bandmasters Association.  This performance will be evaluated by three highly qualified judges and rated on a musical scale of Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor.  After their concert performance the band will then go to another room and be evaluated on their ability to ‘sight read’ music they have never seen before by a fourth judge using the same rating scale.

Concert MPA is a valuable experience for many musical reasons and takes place in the latter part of March or the early part of April each year.  Each student in the band must thoroughly prepare for this performance since the whole band is evaluated.  The comments the band receives will enable the ensemble to grow musically as a group and as individuals.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Even though the director will work with all students on an individual basis, the value of private lessons cannot be overstated.  Band class is essentially ensemble practice, while in private lessons students can progress individually at a much faster rate.  The director has a list of names of reputable instructors in the area, please contact Mr. Montauk. 

EXTRA

The following is a list of small items you might consider to buy if you are looking for gifts!

Woodwinds-EXTRA REEDS, REED CASE

Brass- CLEANING SUPPLIES, VALVE OIL, SLIDE GREASE

All- METRONOME, TUNER, FOLDING STAND, FUN MUSIC – (Movie Themes, Pop Tunes, ETC),    

       PRIVATE LESSONS

MORE BAND FACTS!

The U.S. Department of Education recommends the arts to college-bound middle and junior high school students asserting, “Many colleges view participation in the arts and music as valuable experience that broadens students’ understanding and appreciation of the world around them.” In addition, it plays a part in developing “children’s intellectual development.”  The U.S. DOE also suggests one year of Visual and Performing Arts for college-bound high school students.

(Source: Getting Ready for College Early: A Handbook for Parents of Students in the Middle and Junior High School Years, U.S. Department of Education, 1997)

Students taking courses in music performance and music appreciation scored higher in the SAT than students with no arts participation.  Music performance students scored 53 points higher on the verbal and 39 points higher on the math. 

(Source: 1999 College-Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers, The College Entrance Examination Board, Princeton, New Jersey)

Research made between music and intelligence concluded that music training is far greater than computer instruction in improving children’s abstract reasoning skills. 

(Source: Shaw, Rauscher, Levine, Wright, Dennis and Newcomb, “Music training causes long-term enhancement of preschool children’s spatial-temporal reasoning,” Neurological Research, vol. 19, February 1997)

I believe arts education in music, theater, dance and the visual arts is one of the most creative ways we have to find the gold that is buried just beneath the surface.  They (children) have an enthusiasm for life, a spark of creativity, and vivid imaginations that need training…training that prepares them to become confident young men and women.  As I visit schools around the country I see a renewed interest in arts education and a growing concern about the negative impact of cutting art and music out of curriculum.  The creativity of the arts and the joy of music should be central to the education of every American child. 

(Source: Richard W. Riley, Former U.S. Secretary of Education) 

“A grounding in the arts will help our children to see; to bring a uniquely human perspective to science and technology. In short, it will help them as they grow smarter to also grow wiser.” 

(Source: Robert E. Allen, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Corporation)

"Art and the encouragement of art is political in the most profound sense, not as a weapon in the struggle, but as an instrument of understanding . . . I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we too will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit. . ."

John F. Kennedy