Have you and your son met with the MS band director? That's porbably the best way for both of you to get answers about expectations for MS Band.

OP again. Thanks, PP! That is how I has assumed it would be, but my boy asks a lot of questions.

I'm pretty sure it's grouped by grade - at the winter concert, each grade played their own music. But each instrument doesn't have it's own separate class.

OP back.

For the JW parent, how does the school do the band periods? Is it all band members in the same period? Or do they group by grade? Or all kids playing a particular instrument(s) (regardless of grade) in the same period?

My boy seems concerned that it will be "too large". Despite my initial concerns in him doing it as a real class, I would definitely like him to consider band for 6th grade. As another poster pointed out, he could always change for 7th grade.

In 7th and 8th grade the JW bands goes to Hershey Park at the end of the year..good incentive!

Anonymous wrote:I think having band everyday made the biggest impact as my children transitioned from elementary school to middle school. The music is more challenging and practicing is viewed as homework. There are in class quizzes where each student is evaluated and performances are the test grades. As kids move through the band program, there are trip opportunities. The Art Rotation is always available. Your child can try band for 6th grade and if it is not a good fit, switch to another elective the following year. Most kids opt to stay but some switch. It's just hard to opt back in once you stop the program.

pp, did you mean that the initial transition from es band reqs to middle school band reqs was the most difficult time, and then your kids adjusted? Or did you mean that having band everyday made the biggest positive impact?

I think having band everyday made the biggest impact as my children transitioned from elementary school to middle school. The music is more challenging and practicing is viewed as homework. There are in class quizzes where each student is evaluated and performances are the test grades. As kids move through the band program, there are trip opportunities. The Art Rotation is always available. Your child can try band for 6th grade and if it is not a good fit, switch to another elective the following year. Most kids opt to stay but some switch. It's just hard to opt back in once you stop the program.

OP here. Thanks for all this feedback. He brought home his course info and descriptions, so we'll have a chat over dinner. I do think he'll likely have a different attitude about practicing next year since there will be greater expectations than ES band.

Thanks again.

Anonymous wrote:He's not always excited to practice, but I remind him that practice is how you get to move to cooler and better pieces. When I ask him to practice now, he'll do each song about once and stop there.

This was my child in 5th grade, too. In 6th grade, with a great and enthusiastic band teacher (different school), she practices the required 2 hours a week without issue. I think it helps that the teacher has high expectations for the kids. I know of several who decided it wasn't for them and switched to other electives without difficulty.

My son is at Pyle. He is enjoying band this year (6th) and will sign up again. At Pyle, they meet every other day for an hour and a half-ish. I was wondering how he would feel about that much time in band (vs ES), but he seems to have adjusted well. There is an expectation of practice and the kids have to fill out a practice log. I'm not sure what the consequence is if they don't turn in the log or haven't practiced much. They encourage you to have outside lessons, but you don't have to. We have had outside lessons anyway, and now expect him to practice 30 min at a strtech. It was probably 20 min when he started at Pyle, maybe 25. He doesn't practice every day, maybe 4-5 days a week.

He has a very enthusiastic teacher; I'm sure that makes a difference.

My son is currently in 6th grade band at JW - he also plays the saxophone. He likes it, and he's just signed up to take band again next year. He also does jazz band, which is an afternoon activity. They meet once a week, and it's very inclusive (no audition).

Last year, in 5th grade, he wasn't the world's most diligent practicer, but this year he practices a lot more. I think it's a combination of feeling more confident in his abilities (which in part comes from having the class every day) and more complicated and interesting music.

They are expected to practice regularly at home.

My kids were at JW..they both really enjoyed Lights Camera Literacy and I believe that is the most popular elective. Neither did band so I can't comment.

For our MS band student, practice is expected daily for 20 minutes and running through the piece once or twice is not sufficient. We've been told to listen for him working on specific sections repeatedly as well as doing practice exercises in addition to the concert pieces he's learning.

My child will be at Julius West next year for 6th grade. The last 2 years, he's done clarinet (4th) and saxophone (5th) as a band instrument. 1 year of clarinet was required before moving to sax, his preferred instrument.

He's not always excited to practice, but I remind him that practice is how you get to move to cooler and better pieces. When I ask him to practice now, he'll do each song about once and stop there.

We're beginning the registration process. I have my concerns about him taking band as an actual class, not a once a week "specials" sort of thing. However, this decision is 100% his, although I'd like to give him perspective of others. We know other kids at JW, but not in band. They are mostly doing the Arts Rotation this year. From the information meeting last night, I don't know if he'd really like the Arts Rotation.

Just curious how band has worked at your MS - is there expected "HW" (practice outside of the regular class). I would expect additional practice prior to school concerts.

Thanks for your input.