School/Band Information

​Our students make lasting friendships, have fun, learn discipline, and develop important skills needed to succeed in middle school.  More and more colleges are looking for activities that show long term commitment and personal growth.  Not only can band help prepare you for future success- but it is a great way to help your child find a place to belong in middle school.  We work hard, but we have a blast (literally) making music and hanging out with our friends.  We look forward to meeting you and hope you mark band as your FIRST CHOICE elective! 

Instrument Fittings:  Probably THE most important step in the signing up for band is learning what instruments could work for you!  There are a lot of factors that play into this decision and the best option is to meet with a band director to have fun, makes silly noises, and see what you like.  
  • Not sure about band?  Anyone can try the instruments- even if you are not sure if band is for you.  Our 'screening' does not enroll you in band- it is simply a 15-25 minute appointment with a band director to make fun noises and get to know you better.  In some cases we can also push your instrument try out to later in the year- as long as you have band marked as your #1 choice you are automatically enrolled in band. 
  • Signing up FOR SURE!  You will be enrolled in band when you turn in your course card, but we cannot place you in the correct class until screen you on the instruments. This is a process that allows our counselors to begin working on your schedule early.  Every year some students still need to be placed at the start of the school year, so it is truly never too late to try, but it makes the start of the year much smoother if you take care of this early- preferably before spring break.
  • Percussion: Students interested in percussion (drums) will need to make sure to come to an instrument fitting, but also be sure to try woodwind and brass options.   Percussion is usually one of the most popular options so it is always a good idea to have a back up just in case.
  • If you have any questions be sure to reach out to your student's future director (information listed above).

Meet the Band Instruments!

Flute

The flute plays the highest notes in the woodwind family and is known for it's beautiful sound.  Flutes make their sound by blowing a focused airstream into the 'tone hole' at the end of the flute. 

The earliest flutes were hollow bones used by cavemen- today they are made of silver alloy.  ​We are looking for students who are energetic, outgoing, and have great finger dexterity.

Oboe & Bassoon  

Both the oboe and bassoon have two thin flat pieces of wood placed together to make their sound (double reeds).  The oboe is smaller and plays a higher sound and the bassoon is larger and lower.  The bassoon is so big students get to use a 'seat strap' to help them hold it.
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Students who play these instruments should be confident, smart, and independant as there will only be a few students selected for this class (we try to cap the class at 4-5 students).

Since both oboe and bassoon are 'specialty' instruments we ask that families strongly consider private lessons.  Both oboe and bassoon are school owned instruments so families will only need to purchase reeds and supplies.

Clarinet 

Clarinet is one of the largest beginning band classes and is one of the leading 'voices' in the band and has remarkable range from low to high and from loud to soft.
  
Clarinet makes its sound from a single, flat piece of wood called a reed that is attached to a hollow mouthpiece.  Since clarinet gets to play so much of the melody line we are looking for students who loved recorder and can move a lot of air and play with confidence.    

Saxophone   

The alto saxophone looks like a brass instrument, but is a member of the woodwind family.  Alto is a single reed instrument (like clarinet) and it plays a prominent roll both in wind bands as well as jazz bands.

​Since the balance of the saxophone is maintained by the use of a neck strap, it is extremely important that students be able to sit up completely straight when asked to.
 
Alto sax is one of the only instruments we cannot provide, even with financial aid.  All students who are chosen to play Alto Sax will need to rent from a local music store.

Trumpet   

Trumpet is the highest brass sound and the leader of the band!  All brass instruments use a mouthpiece and the vibrations of their air and lips to make sound.  The best trumpet players have thin or smaller sized lips, but this is not a rule.  

​Trumpet is vital in both concert and jazz band.  We are looking for confident students who do not mind being the center of attention and like to be LOUD!  We want a lot of trumpet players- so this is a great choice for you and a friend to learn together.

Horn 

The Horn (sometimes called 'French Horn' is made from around 15 feet of brass tubing circled around.   Like the trumpet, you use your air and lips to make vibrations to change pitches.  The sound is very mellow and changes notes using the left hand.

Horn is a brass 'specialty instrument' and is the most challenging brass instrument to learn. Private lessons are strongly encouraged although not required.  If you have a great 'musical ear' and like the challenge of harder classes (like advanced courses or GT), this instrument might be a good fit for you!

This is a school owned instrument so you will only need to purchase a mouthpiece and other supplies- if you are chosen for this class an instrument is automatically reserved for you!

Trombone

The trombone is very brassy like the trumpet, but has a much lower sound since it plays on a bigger mouthpiece.  This instrument is also an important member of the jazz band.

The most unique feature of the trombone is that they use a 'slide' to change pitches instead of buttons or valves.  It is very important that you hear pitches well to be a great trombone player.  Students who like to experiment and adjust (like in science) and are coordinated (athletics) make great trombone players!

Tuba & Euphonium  

Tuba and Euphonium are combined in one class and are called our 'low brass' since they play the lowest sound in the band!  Tuba is the largest and lowest sounds in band.  We are looking for students who have BIG air and are not afraid of playing such a large instrument.  Since tuba is so big we actually start on smaller instruments and use a tripod to help you balance it- you don't actually pick it up when you play, making tuba actually one of lightest instruments when playing.  Another advantage of having such a large instrument is that tubas get TWO instruments- one for home and one for school, so all you take back and forth is your mouthpiece and music.

Euphonium looks like a smaller tuba, but it plays the same notes as a trombone, but with a rounder, more mellow tone.  If you like the sound of trombone but do not like the slide, euphonium might be a great choice.

Both Tuba and Euphonium are a school owned instrument so you will only need to purchase a mouthpiece and other supplies- if you are chosen for this class an instrument is automatically reserved for you!

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Percussion  Family  

The percussion class is a whole family by itself!  The percussion section helps keep the beat in our music in addition to helping build excitement and adding additional sounds and effects to our music.  In beginning band we primarily focus on mallet instruments, which are similar to piano but played with mallets, and practice pads- which is a quiet version of the snare drum.  Eventually percussionists learn how to play instruments like the bass drum, timpani, accessories like triangles, and more.  Note that beginning percussion does not focus on drumset.  While there are opportunities to perform on set, beginning band focuses on traditional 'concert instruments'

Since there are so many things to cover in this class private lessons are STRONGLY encouraged for all percussionists.  It is also very helpful to have piano experience, but not required.  We are looking for coordinated students who love to work hard and are able to purchase all the needed sticks, mallets, and other supplies as this is one of our few instruments that we are unable to provide much assistance.  

Band is for EVERYONE!

If your child is interested (even remotely) in band THE BEST time to sign up is in Sixth Grade.  Our curriculum is geared towards three years of instruction and  signing up in sixth grade will ensure that your child starts with their peers and are prepared for high school.  If your child is an athlete (or wants to play sports) sixth grade is also the best time for band since athletics is not offered until 7th grade.  We love having student athletes and on average we have 70-80% of our seventh and eighth graders doing band AND athletics- so again, band is the place for you!
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There is no shortage of reasons why your student should be in band!
  • Band is a great way for your child to make friends or continue building on past friendships.
  • You do not need to have ANY prior knowledge or experience to learn to play an instrument!  We start from the ground up and teach you everything from how to read music, how to hold your instrument, to making your first sounds.  You will be performing before you know it!
  • Mr. Wood was on the team that developed our district curriculum which helps to develops organizational skills, goal setting, rewards, and performance opportunities that will help all students develop the traits needed to succeed both inside and outside the band hall.  
  • Band Students are represented in every organization on campus including athletics, art, choir, theatre, NJHS, Student Council, etc.
  • Our staff is happy to work with your family to make band affordable!  We have an amazing booster organization and more school owned instruments than any other campus in the district.  We want your child to continue their music education and are happy to help.  
Staley Middle School    6927 Stadium Ln. Frisco, TX 75033     469-633-4500 (p)
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