Instrumental
In the Middle School Instrumental Program, students are given a hands-on approach to understanding and performing basic concert band music. As part of the academic curriculum, band teaches students the importance of discipline, practice, and teamwork in the performing arts. In turn, instrumental music in the Middle School plays an important role in the development of the students' social and creative skills.
Middle School instrumental music can be divided into three stages. In the fifth grade, those students who have not previously studied a brass, woodwind or percussion instrument, are evaluated and then a recommendation is made as to what instrument a student should study. In the first weeks the student learns the basic principles involved in holding the instrument, the correct way to breathe, and correct embouchure placement. Percussion students will study drum rudiments and learn notes and scales with the mallet instrument called the Glockenspiel. Together with the technical aspects of instrumental music come the introduction of musical notation and rhythmic study. It is suggested, at this stage, that each boy devote at least fifteen minutes of individual practice on their instrument each day.
In the second stage, sixth and seventh grades, students begin to apply the skills they have developed; they study moderate level concert band literature. Scales and chord studies take on a more serious and demanding role in the study of music in this stage.
When the Middle School musicians reach the eighth grade, the third stage of musical growth takes place. The boys' skills have developed to the extent that they perform difficult arrangements of middle school level concert band literature. For advanced students, there is a jazz band program in which they can study basic blues and improvisation skills.
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