Eric Whitford

Beginning Band 

This course is for 6th, 7th and 8th Graders who have no music experience with playing an instrument and/or reading music.  In this course, the student will have the opportunity to try out all instruments available to see which one would be the most appealing and would help them learn about music the most.  This group will be expected to perform at least twice a year with a Winter Concert and a Spring Concert, with the goal in perspective of being able to advance to Band 2 or Band 3 the following year with the Director's approval and recommendation. The material they will learn will be Major Scales, basic instrument maintenance, proper horn carriage and posture, basic Music Theory, and rehearsal behaviors according to their instrument and musical ensemble. 

Intermediate Band

This course is for students who have at least 1 full year of Band experience on the instrument they selected from Band 1. This group will be expected to perform the standard 2 Concerts (Winter & Spring) along with other performances that may come in between those two.  Students will have a continuation of learning Major Scales, Etudes, and intermediate level music to be performed throughout the year, instrument maintenance, analyzing other performing groups as well as their own.  The student should be gearing toward being in Band 3 after the completion of the school year with the Director's approval and recommendation. 

Advanced Band

This course is for students who have 2 full years of Band experience on the instrument they selected from Band 1.  This group will be expected to perform the 2 standard concerts (Winter and Spring) along with all other performances that may be scheduled in between.  Students will have a continuation of learning Major Scales for High School Band Auditions, basic maintenance of their instrument, giving advanced evaluations of other performing groups as well as their own., and learning more difficult music appropriate for High School Band preparation.  The student should have in mind being prepared for High School Band by the completion of the school year.