APS Middle School Band - what's the deal?

[Anonymous]

My 6th grader has been playing her instrument since 4th grade and was really excited to start middle school band this year so she could play more "real music" than they did in elementary school. She's not a prodigy at all, but has been practicing regularly for two years and is pretty good at her instrument.

Unfortunately she's been really unhappy in 6th grade band and is now threatening to quit. Apparently the teacher has started from the very beginning to accommodate the new-to-band students so class 1 was holding your instrument, class 2 was making a sound, class 3 was playing a note, class 4 was playing two different notes. That's as far as they've gotten so far and she's miserable. She just doesn't have the patience to sit through 1+ hour each class of listening to the teacher start from the beginning to teach each instrument the basics. Apparently there hasn't been any instruction for the kids who already know how to play.

So tell me, does this get better? Do I need to ask to have her moved to a 7th grade band section (is that even an option)? Should I just let her quit and move to the Wheel or chorus? She loves to play her instrument but absolutely hates just sitting there not playing. Once the new kids can play a few notes will the class jump to harder content and just expect them to catch up or is she going to be bored out of her mind all year? My school growing up would have expected kids who were new to their instruments to catch up on their own, but that isn't how it's been working thus far in APS.

[Anonymous]

I'll add that her band teacher is a substitute, so I have no idea if this is how APS band typically works in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it gets better. The sixth grade band plays multiple pieces at the fall and spring concerts, and not stuff like Hot Cross Buns— more advanced. This is true at Gunston, at least.
You could ask to move the kid to intermediate band (7th & 8th graders take intermediate or advanced)… no idea if they allow that.

Also, middle school is a good time to try another related instrument, which could add to the challenge. For example, they make sax or clarinet players to try the bassoon or tenor sax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it gets better. The sixth grade band plays multiple pieces at the fall and spring concerts, and not stuff like Hot Cross Buns— more advanced. This is true at Gunston, at least.
You could ask to move the kid to intermediate band (7th & 8th graders take intermediate or advanced)… no idea if they allow that.

Also, middle school is a good time to try another related instrument, which could add to the challenge. For example, they make sax or clarinet players to try the bassoon or tenor sax.

I believe our fall concert has been cancelled because the main teacher is out. I'm not sure that bodes well for the class getting to real music anytime soon.

[Anonymous]

You mention the wheel so I assume this is Swanson? The band teacher just rotted after 30yrs so they may still be searching for a permanent replacement.

Ask if there is another section or if she can move up. It will mean juggling her schedule around so I’d do it now before it’s too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You mention the wheel so I assume this is Swanson? The band teacher just rotted after 30yrs so they may still be searching for a permanent replacement.

Ask if there is another section or if she can move up. It will mean juggling her schedule around so I’d do it now before it’s too late.

All APS middle schools have the wheel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You mention the wheel so I assume this is Swanson? The band teacher just rotted after 30yrs so they may still be searching for a permanent replacement.

Ask if there is another section or if she can move up. It will mean juggling her schedule around so I’d do it now before it’s too late.

I believe the pp meant the Swanson band teacher retired. Swanson for many, many decades had the strongest band program at the middle school level.

[Anonymous]

I would ask to switch to the Intermediate class. My 6th grader (who had the same two-years of elementary school orchestra) was automatically placed in the Intermediate orchestra class. There are a lot of 6th graders in it, I think.

[Anonymous]

If this is Hamm, they certainly play more advanced music for the concerts. Some students in 7th grade will be invited to advanced band grade with 8th graders. The APS honors band and all district bands are good opportunities for additional band work. Although, 6th graders play with 4-6 graders for APS honors so the level is not much different than DHMS 6th grade band. I’d say hang in there for now and expect that the concert for end of 6th grade will be much better than an elementary school band concert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You mention the wheel so I assume this is Swanson? The band teacher just rotted after 30yrs so they may still be searching for a permanent replacement.

Ask if there is another section or if she can move up. It will mean juggling her schedule around so I’d do it now before it’s too late.

I believe the pp meant the Swanson band teacher retired. Swanson for many, many decades had the strongest band program at the middle school level.

Thanks, PP. Typing too fast on my phone and immediately left the screen without checking the weird typing errors.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if this is Swanson too. The amazing band teacher retired after last year. He had a policy that if you had never played before and were starting new in 6th grade, you had to join the after-school band, where they went over the basics. I *think* you could also be part of the regular in-school band, but I can't remember. The regular band class played challenging music and were not held back by newbies.

[Anonymous]

I don't think OP is at Swanson, because there is a new permanent band director in place. She seems lovely.

But at Swanson, they do put all 6th graders together in one band, regardless of ability. I think that is for scheduling reasons. Last year, there were three bands-- 6th grade, Symphonic, and Wind Ensemble. All the 6th graders were in the 6th grade band, and then the Wind Ensemble was 7th and 8th-- and then whatever kids were left in 7th and 8th who didn't make Wind Ensemble or who had other scheduling conflicts (which also happens) got put in Symphonic Band. In pre-COVID years, there were enough kids at Swanson to fill all three bands, but last year there were only 15 kids left in Symphonic Band who weren't in Wind Ensemble. It was a really lame experience for the Symphonic Band kids, and as much as people love Mr. Norris (the prior band director), he did treat the Symphonic Band as an after thought last year. There just weren't enough kids in the Symphonic Band to actually play band music. I asked Norris why he couldn't bump up some of the more talented 6th grade kids into Symphonic Band to balance the band sizes, but he said he couldn't because of the way APS does middle school scheduling. Not sure if that applies to the other middle schools, but that's the word I got last year when I asked. It was a shame because the 6th grade band was huge, and like OP's kid, there were definitely kids in there who had the talent to "play up" with Symphonic Band which would have made a better experience for the kids in Symphonic Band too. The Swanson Symphonic Band didn't get to do a competition last year, and they were the only 7th and 8th graders in the Swanson music department who were excluded from the Hershey Park trip-- so it was kind of messed up and caused a lot of tears in our house. Most of the 7th graders from Symphonic Band quit band and aren't doing Wind Ensemble this year because last year was such a disappointing experience-- the dark side of the Swanson Band program under Norris, I guess.

Also, the Wheel stinks at Swanson, so there are many 6th graders who pick up an instrument for one year just to avoid the Wheel. Its not an ideal situation for the 6th grade musicians who are already serious about playing. So OP, you are probably justified in feeling like you do. I just don't know if APS will care.

[Anonymous]

Assuming it’s DHMS, and, yes, my 8th grader isn’t entirely happy with the situation. BUT, it’s not the permanent teacher who will be back from maternity leave in no time. I suspect it’s part of the reason for a bit of a slow start but, I mean, come on and cut the sub a little slack. You couldn’t pay me a bazillion dollars to sit with some stinky MSers blowing loudly and terribly on instruments for an hour a day.

As to challenge, there are loads of options for more advanced playing in Arlington. You’ve been sent some basic information from the regular band teacher about honors etc. bands. If she’s a real band genius, there are places for her to play her instrument in challenging environments.

You cannot “insist” that she be moved to intermediate band. First off, it’s at a different time, meaning she’d have to switch other classes. Next, it’s really not determined by how well you play but how many kids playing that same instrument already are in the “higher” band. For example, if there are five excellent clarinets in 8th grade, no 7th graders go to Advanced (8th grade) Band. By contrast, there are years there aren’t percussionists and so some pretty good sixth graders end up playing with, say, the 8th grades so she can have a full band. It’s complicated and not solely based on what you want for your child.

[Anonymous]

If it’s dhms, this will work itself out next year. They move the advanced kids into the advanced band for seventh grade. Though band is just meant to be fun— if your child is serious about playing an instrument you should probably get them private lessons. They don’t learn enough to ever become “advanced” in band. If your child just is playing because they enjoy it though, just tell them to be patient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s dhms, this will work itself out next year. They move the advanced kids into the advanced band for seventh grade. Though band is just meant to be fun— if your child is serious about playing an instrument you should probably get them private lessons. They don’t learn enough to ever become “advanced” in band. If your child just is playing because they enjoy it though, just tell them to be patient.

Really, the question wasn't about super advanced options. It was just understanding if I missed something and had signed her up for the wrong class and she was indeed in a "beginning" course for those who hadn't played before. That was my kid's impression after two weeks. It's likely that impression was off due to there being a sub who is struggling to manage the class. It sounds like there was another adult in the room this week and that helped somewhat. Hopefully they find ways to support the sub and improve the situation so it doesn't continue to be as rough as those first two weeks. Band should be fun.