Frequently Asked Question's
How do you sign up?
In May each year, the band director will make presentations at the feeder elementary schools for fifth graders for rising sixth graders. The preferred way to join band is to pre-register in the spring of the preceding school year.
However, students frequently join band at different times. Students new to Shelbyville,TN after the start of the school year, or who wish to join later than their peers, should contact a band director to make necessary arrangements. Students who join after the late summer/early fall time may have fewer instrument choices since a balanced mix of instruments is considered as new students are enrolled.
Students may also sign up online.
Who can join band at HMS?
All students, regardless of musical ability or background in music instruction are invited to join the band. Beginning band is first offered in sixth grade at Harris Middle. Students in this class move into seventh grade intermediate and eighth grade advanced band classes as their skills advance to an appropriate level.
When do band classes take place?
Band is scheduled during the Related Arts class periods
Where do I get an instrument?
Parents: Beginners need instruments that play easily, and these will only be quality instruments in good repair! If purchasing a musical instrument is new to you, please call a band director for advice before buying an instrument from anyone other than a recognized musical instrument retailer. The band director is ready and willing to help parents understand what they are purchasing. Do not purchase an instrument on the internet unless you have specific, current knowledge of instrument brands and models. The band directors can provide you with a list of recommended instrument brands.
If purchasing a used instrument from a friend or relative, feel free to ask one of the band directors to evaluate its condition and quality. Bear in mind that hand-me-down instruments may need expensive repair and reconditioning to be suitable for a beginner to play. This can sometimes be as expensive as buying a quality used instrument. The band directors can competently evaluate a used or older instrument, but you should also consider having the instrument evaluated and a repair estimate made by a professional instrument repair shop. Both local music stores, Music Stop and Music and Arts Center, contract instrument repairs to a professional shop, and the band directors also recommend the repair shop.
Aren’t instruments expensive?
You’ll need to visit a music store, such as Music and Arts Center to get a specific answer to this question since makes and models of instruments, whether new or used, vary widely. In general, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, and percussion kits can be rented from $20 to $50 per month, depending on the instrument. (Saxophones are more expensive than others.) The large school-owned brass instruments, such as French horn, baritone, and tuba are supplied by HMS Band.
I don’t know what instrument I want to play? Not a problem - most beginning band students don’t know what they want to play. Each student will have the opportunity to learn, hear, and try out many of the instruments.
What if I’m not successful on an instrument? Mr. Callahan will evaluate each student on each instrument and help guide the student to the instrument that best fit them. Setting your child up for success means finding an instrument that is easy for them to produce a tone on, which makes practice and playing that instrument enjoyable. It also produces a well-balanced band. Each of the instrument sections needs an appropriate number of players to make a band complete.
What if I can’t afford to be in band?
Financial limitations should never stop a student from participating in band. Parents may talk confidentially to the band directors when a student needs financial assistance of any level in order to participate. In addition to the regular school-owned instruments (French horn, baritone, tuba,) the school owns a number of flutes, clarinets, trumpets, and trombones which are available first for students who need financial assistance.
Do you have to be able to read music to be in band? What if you have never had music lessons before?
No previous musical experience or knowledge at all is necessary to participate in band. Students are taught everything “from scratch”. How to read music is taught simultaneously with how to play the instrument.
Can I participate in a sport or be a cheerleader and be in the band?
Absolutely - every year members of all sports teams and cheerleaders can be found in band at all grade levels. Some students have participated in as many as three to four sports activities in the course of a school year while also successfully participating in band! Since band is taught during the school day hours, there is no regular conflict with extra-curricular activities.
Can I be in chorus and in band?
Many band students participate in chorus, an auditioned group, which meets after school one day a week. Contact Mr. Jon Brook, the choir director at Harris Middle School, for more information.
Is after school rehearsal is required? Not much. 7th and 8th grade band students practice their instrument 3 or 4 days per week. These rehearsals are in preparation for concert festivals, concerts in December and May.
What else do I need?
Every student must purchase their own copy of the method book, Essential Elements, Book One, for their specific instrument. This book can be found at area music stores or even ordered through an online book seller like Amazon.com. Students are expected to have their method book in class at all times, replacing it when it is lost. Advancing students purchase Standard of Excellence Book Two of the same method.
Students who play a school owned brass instrument such as French horn, baritone, or tuba are encouraged to purchase their own mouthpiece. In addition, each instrument has specific needs such as reeds, neck straps, oils and greases, which students are expected to have on hand at all times.
In the first year, percussion students must have a practice snare drum or drum pad, a practice bell kit or otherwise suitable keyboard for practice, snare drum sticks and medium-hard keyboard mallets. Advancing students will be required to purchase other types of snare sticks, keyboard mallets of varying strengths and materials, and timpani mallets as they advance to the second year. Percussionists should have a stick bag which will accommodate their growing sets of sticks and mallets over the years.
In May each year, the band director will make presentations at the feeder elementary schools for fifth graders for rising sixth graders. The preferred way to join band is to pre-register in the spring of the preceding school year.
However, students frequently join band at different times. Students new to Shelbyville,TN after the start of the school year, or who wish to join later than their peers, should contact a band director to make necessary arrangements. Students who join after the late summer/early fall time may have fewer instrument choices since a balanced mix of instruments is considered as new students are enrolled.
Students may also sign up online.
Who can join band at HMS?
All students, regardless of musical ability or background in music instruction are invited to join the band. Beginning band is first offered in sixth grade at Harris Middle. Students in this class move into seventh grade intermediate and eighth grade advanced band classes as their skills advance to an appropriate level.
When do band classes take place?
Band is scheduled during the Related Arts class periods
Where do I get an instrument?
Parents: Beginners need instruments that play easily, and these will only be quality instruments in good repair! If purchasing a musical instrument is new to you, please call a band director for advice before buying an instrument from anyone other than a recognized musical instrument retailer. The band director is ready and willing to help parents understand what they are purchasing. Do not purchase an instrument on the internet unless you have specific, current knowledge of instrument brands and models. The band directors can provide you with a list of recommended instrument brands.
If purchasing a used instrument from a friend or relative, feel free to ask one of the band directors to evaluate its condition and quality. Bear in mind that hand-me-down instruments may need expensive repair and reconditioning to be suitable for a beginner to play. This can sometimes be as expensive as buying a quality used instrument. The band directors can competently evaluate a used or older instrument, but you should also consider having the instrument evaluated and a repair estimate made by a professional instrument repair shop. Both local music stores, Music Stop and Music and Arts Center, contract instrument repairs to a professional shop, and the band directors also recommend the repair shop.
Aren’t instruments expensive?
You’ll need to visit a music store, such as Music and Arts Center to get a specific answer to this question since makes and models of instruments, whether new or used, vary widely. In general, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, and percussion kits can be rented from $20 to $50 per month, depending on the instrument. (Saxophones are more expensive than others.) The large school-owned brass instruments, such as French horn, baritone, and tuba are supplied by HMS Band.
I don’t know what instrument I want to play? Not a problem - most beginning band students don’t know what they want to play. Each student will have the opportunity to learn, hear, and try out many of the instruments.
What if I’m not successful on an instrument? Mr. Callahan will evaluate each student on each instrument and help guide the student to the instrument that best fit them. Setting your child up for success means finding an instrument that is easy for them to produce a tone on, which makes practice and playing that instrument enjoyable. It also produces a well-balanced band. Each of the instrument sections needs an appropriate number of players to make a band complete.
What if I can’t afford to be in band?
Financial limitations should never stop a student from participating in band. Parents may talk confidentially to the band directors when a student needs financial assistance of any level in order to participate. In addition to the regular school-owned instruments (French horn, baritone, tuba,) the school owns a number of flutes, clarinets, trumpets, and trombones which are available first for students who need financial assistance.
Do you have to be able to read music to be in band? What if you have never had music lessons before?
No previous musical experience or knowledge at all is necessary to participate in band. Students are taught everything “from scratch”. How to read music is taught simultaneously with how to play the instrument.
Can I participate in a sport or be a cheerleader and be in the band?
Absolutely - every year members of all sports teams and cheerleaders can be found in band at all grade levels. Some students have participated in as many as three to four sports activities in the course of a school year while also successfully participating in band! Since band is taught during the school day hours, there is no regular conflict with extra-curricular activities.
Can I be in chorus and in band?
Many band students participate in chorus, an auditioned group, which meets after school one day a week. Contact Mr. Jon Brook, the choir director at Harris Middle School, for more information.
Is after school rehearsal is required? Not much. 7th and 8th grade band students practice their instrument 3 or 4 days per week. These rehearsals are in preparation for concert festivals, concerts in December and May.
What else do I need?
Every student must purchase their own copy of the method book, Essential Elements, Book One, for their specific instrument. This book can be found at area music stores or even ordered through an online book seller like Amazon.com. Students are expected to have their method book in class at all times, replacing it when it is lost. Advancing students purchase Standard of Excellence Book Two of the same method.
Students who play a school owned brass instrument such as French horn, baritone, or tuba are encouraged to purchase their own mouthpiece. In addition, each instrument has specific needs such as reeds, neck straps, oils and greases, which students are expected to have on hand at all times.
In the first year, percussion students must have a practice snare drum or drum pad, a practice bell kit or otherwise suitable keyboard for practice, snare drum sticks and medium-hard keyboard mallets. Advancing students will be required to purchase other types of snare sticks, keyboard mallets of varying strengths and materials, and timpani mallets as they advance to the second year. Percussionists should have a stick bag which will accommodate their growing sets of sticks and mallets over the years.