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ORCHESTRA PRACTICE LOG

JHMS Band

Welcome to John Hanson Middle School's Band Webpage! Band is open to students in grades six through eight who have had prior experience on wind and percussion instruments.

If your child has not had band before, please contact Mrs. Cancino if you are interested in having him/her joining the band.

Sixth Grade Band

The majority of the incoming sixth graders have had one year of band. At the sixth grade level, the first semester is spent reviewing the material from the fifth grade, learning major scales, continuing good playing techniques, and improving the students' ability to play in a full ensemble setting. This latter skill invol ves developing independence in playing, balancing to the melody, tuning to other instruments, as well as teaching students how to follow a conductor.

By the end of sixth grade, students should be able to play, from memory, 5 major scales in one octave and a chromatic scale in one octave. They will also play grade I band music from the Maryland Band Directors' Association list.

Seventh Grade Band

Seventh graders begin the year with an accelerated review of basic rhythms from the sixth grade materials. The first semester is spent preparing students for All-County Band auditions. Even if all students are not planning to audition, the seventh graders should be at the same level as other students across Charles County who are preparing the same audition.

The second semester is largely consumed by preparations for District Band Festival. Depending on the size of the seventh and eighth grade bands, the seventh graders will usually perform with the eighth graders at concerts.

Concepts of independent playing, watching a conductor, sight-reading, and general playing techniques are reinforced.

Eighth Grade Band

By the eighth grade, students should have a more mature and characteristic tone quality on their instrument. They spend the first semester preparing for All-County Band auditions, as well, but go on during the rest of the year to memorize all twelve major scales and familiarize themselves with the twelve minor scales, in addition. The goal of the eighth grade year is to prepare them to be able to keep up at the ninth grade level, should they choose to continue their instrumental music education.

Eighth graders are involved in District Band Festival during the second semester, and are often crucial to acting as role models, musically, to the seventh graders. At the conclusion of the school year, eighth graders will be expected to audition for the high school band director.