Symphonic Band
Jenny Denis, Director
The Symphonic Band is the top performing group made up of the most advanced 7th and 8th grade students. Students in this band must be proficient on their instrument and must be willing to commit to regular rehearsal and practice time. The Symphonic Band students will have one sectional rehearsal per week (either 7:00am-8:15am OR 3:45pm-5:00pm) as well as extra full band rehearsals throughout the year. Students in this band are required to participate in ALL scheduled rehearsals, concerts, pep rallies, and contests. This includes attendance at evening Fowler football games, clinics, and concerts and contests as listed in the band calendar. Scheduled clinics are deemed as major band events and count as major test grades. In addition, each student will be required to tryout for the All-Region Band and participate in the Solo & Ensemble contest. It is the responsibility of the student and the parent to check the band calendar and incorporate the scheduled events into your family calendar. Please note that due to unexpected district conflicts changes may need to be made to calendar dates. In order to establish and maintain a high level of performance, Symphonic Band students will need to practice 30 to 60 minutes daily as well as study privately with a professional lesson teacher (Private Lessons). For normal progress, all Band students are required to practice at least 2.5 hours per week, which is to be documented on a practice sheet given to each student at the beginning of each semester. SYMPHONIC BAND MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSON PROGRAM ALL YEAR. ALL band students in grades 6-8 MUST take their instruments home EVERY DAY. Symphonic Band students are expected to maintain passing grades in all their classes.
Honor Band
Donald Bruce, Director
Honor Band is the second performing group that is made up of intermediate/advanced 7th and 8th grade students. Students in this band will have one section rehearsal per week (either 7:00am-8:15am OR 3:45pm-5:00pm), as well as some extra full band rehearsals throughout the year. Students in this band are required to participate in the scheduled rehearsals, concerts, and pep rallies. This includes attendance at evening Fowler football games, clinics, and concerts and contests as listed in the band calendar as these are graded events. Scheduled clinics are deemed as major band events and count as major test grades. It is required that the Honor Band students participate in the All-Region Band tryouts and all students are required to participate in the Solo & Ensemble Contest. It is the responsibility of the student and the parent to check the band calendar and incorporate the scheduled events into your family calendar. Please note that due to unexpected district conflicts changes may need to be made to calendar dates. It is strongly recommended that the student study privately with a professional lesson teacher at Fowler MS. For normal progress, all Honor Band students are required to practice at least 2.5 hours per week, which is to be documented on a practice sheet given to each student at the beginning of each semester. HONOR BAND MEMBERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSONS PROGRAM ALL YEAR (It will be difficult, but not impossible, to matriculate to the Symphonic Band without private lessons). ALL band students in grades 6-8 MUST take their instruments home EVERY DAY. Honor Band students are expected to maintain passing grades in all their classes.
Concert Band
Fred Alonzi, Director
Concert Band is considered an intermediate band made up of 7th & 8th grade students. Students in this band will have one section rehearsal per week (either 7:00am-8:15am OR 3:45pm- 5:00pm), as well as some extra full band rehearsals throughout the year based on the bands competition at contests. Students in this band are required to participate in the scheduled rehearsals, scheduled clinics, concerts, and pep rallies. Scheduled clinics are deemed as major band events and count as major test grades. This includes attendance at evening Fowler football games, and Saturday concerts and contests as listed in the band calendar as these are graded events. Scheduled clinics are deemed as major band events and count as major test grades. It is encouraged but not required that the Concert Band students participate in the All-Region Band tryouts and all students are required to participate in the Solo & Ensemble Contest. It is the responsibility of the student and the parent to check the band calendar and incorporate the scheduled events into your family calendar. Please note that due to unexpected district conflicts, changes may need to be made to calendar dates. It is strongly recommended that the student study privately with a professional lesson teacher at Fowler MS (Private Lessons). For normal progress, all Concert Band students are required to practice at least 2.5 hours per week, which is to be documented on a practice sheet given to each student at the beginning of each semester. CONCERT BAND MEMBERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSONS PROGRAM ALL YEAR (It will be difficult, but not impossible, to matriculate to the more advanced bands without private lessons). ALL band students in grades 6-8 MUST take their instruments home EVERY DAY. Concert Band students are expected to maintain passing grades in all their classes.