Willowwind Band
A world of musical adventures awaits your child when they graduate from Willowwind and venture into middle school. Among the many changes and transitions your child will experience when they begin 7th grade, participating in middle school band can often be a rewarding experience and one that allows your child to meet others in an organized activity. But what does middle school band in the Iowa City schools look like as compared to that of band at Willowwind? I encourage you to read some frequently asked questions and links to the middle school band programs to learn more about what's in store for your child in the coming years.
How do I sign up for band?
When registering for 7th grade classes, be sure to talk to the guidance counselor and/or the band teachers to make sure your child is signed up for band. Auditions are not needed for your child to be in band. Simply register for band with the guidance counselor and your child will be able to participate.
Will my child still have band lessons in middle school?
Yes. Many of the programs in the area require all band students to have small group lessons. While the frequency of these lessons varies due to the different scheduling at each school, you can expect your child to have a lesson about every 5-7 school days. Your child will be assigned a lesson time during the school day, at which time they are responsible for going to their lesson. Similar to Willowwind, lessons consist of working out of method books. These lessons introduce, solidify, and work to master core playing skills and fundamentals. The skills honed in lessons are then applied to a performance setting in large group band rehearsals.
How big is the middle school band?
The size of middle school band will look much different than the Willowwind Band. Your child's band will most likely consist of about 50-70 students. Instead of the 1-2 kids per instrument we have at Willowwind, your child's instrument section could have 8-10 kids in it. This larger size may sound different at first, simply because Willowwind's band is much smaller. However, there are many advantages to playing in a larger band, such as being able to play repertoire with multiple parts and many different instruments that a band of 10-20 would not be able to perform (simply because there are not enough students to cover the parts needed). They will be exposed to a diverse selection of repertoire.
What do band rehearsals look like at the middle school level?
Unlike band at Willowwind, middle school band meets regularly throughout the school week. Again, depending on the school your child could have band anywhere from about 3 days per week to every day. Band is considered a full class during the school day, so anytime the class time takes place during the week, your child will have band.
How many concerts per year will my child perform in?
Middle school and high school band programs typically have 3-4 concerts per year. These usually land in the fall, winter, spring, and possibly the end of the school year. Your child's band teacher will be in touch at the beginning of the school year with these concert dates.
Are there other playing opportunities available beyond concert band and lessons?
Yes, many new musical opportunities open up when your child reaches middle school and even in high school. Jazz band is a popular extra curricular music activity middle school students can be a part of. Instruments in the jazz band include saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, percussion, bass and guitar. Other small ensemble activities could be available as well.
Extra curricular music activities in high school include marching band, pit orchestra (for musicals), pep band (play at sporting events), small ensembles, solo and small ensemble contest, show choir band, jazz band, All-State (by auditions), and other honor bands.
What is the time commitment for jazz band and other extra curricular music activities in middle school?
Extra curricular music activities can take place anywhere from one to a few days a week before or after school. Rehearsals for these special ensembles take place outside of the school day, and may have additional concert(s) throughout the year. Your child's middle school teacher will be in touch with more specific details about these events.
My child wants to do middle school sports. Can he/she be in both band and sports?
Yes! It is very common for middle school and high school students to participate in both band and sports. Rehearsals and practice times are either staggered or shared in order to allow students to participate in both activities. Often rehearsals for music activities such as jazz band take place before school while sports practices take place after school. This arrangement allows students to participate in both activities without having to deal with scheduling conflicts. Be sure to talk with your child's band teacher and sports coach(es) for more details.
Who are my child's middle school band teachers?
Below you will find a list of the middle school band teachers, their contact information and links to their middle school band page.
A world of musical adventures awaits your child when they graduate from Willowwind and venture into middle school. Among the many changes and transitions your child will experience when they begin 7th grade, participating in middle school band can often be a rewarding experience and one that allows your child to meet others in an organized activity. But what does middle school band in the Iowa City schools look like as compared to that of band at Willowwind? I encourage you to read some frequently asked questions and links to the middle school band programs to learn more about what's in store for your child in the coming years.
How do I sign up for band?
When registering for 7th grade classes, be sure to talk to the guidance counselor and/or the band teachers to make sure your child is signed up for band. Auditions are not needed for your child to be in band. Simply register for band with the guidance counselor and your child will be able to participate.
Will my child still have band lessons in middle school?
Yes. Many of the programs in the area require all band students to have small group lessons. While the frequency of these lessons varies due to the different scheduling at each school, you can expect your child to have a lesson about every 5-7 school days. Your child will be assigned a lesson time during the school day, at which time they are responsible for going to their lesson. Similar to Willowwind, lessons consist of working out of method books. These lessons introduce, solidify, and work to master core playing skills and fundamentals. The skills honed in lessons are then applied to a performance setting in large group band rehearsals.
How big is the middle school band?
The size of middle school band will look much different than the Willowwind Band. Your child's band will most likely consist of about 50-70 students. Instead of the 1-2 kids per instrument we have at Willowwind, your child's instrument section could have 8-10 kids in it. This larger size may sound different at first, simply because Willowwind's band is much smaller. However, there are many advantages to playing in a larger band, such as being able to play repertoire with multiple parts and many different instruments that a band of 10-20 would not be able to perform (simply because there are not enough students to cover the parts needed). They will be exposed to a diverse selection of repertoire.
What do band rehearsals look like at the middle school level?
Unlike band at Willowwind, middle school band meets regularly throughout the school week. Again, depending on the school your child could have band anywhere from about 3 days per week to every day. Band is considered a full class during the school day, so anytime the class time takes place during the week, your child will have band.
How many concerts per year will my child perform in?
Middle school and high school band programs typically have 3-4 concerts per year. These usually land in the fall, winter, spring, and possibly the end of the school year. Your child's band teacher will be in touch at the beginning of the school year with these concert dates.
Are there other playing opportunities available beyond concert band and lessons?
Yes, many new musical opportunities open up when your child reaches middle school and even in high school. Jazz band is a popular extra curricular music activity middle school students can be a part of. Instruments in the jazz band include saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, percussion, bass and guitar. Other small ensemble activities could be available as well.
Extra curricular music activities in high school include marching band, pit orchestra (for musicals), pep band (play at sporting events), small ensembles, solo and small ensemble contest, show choir band, jazz band, All-State (by auditions), and other honor bands.
What is the time commitment for jazz band and other extra curricular music activities in middle school?
Extra curricular music activities can take place anywhere from one to a few days a week before or after school. Rehearsals for these special ensembles take place outside of the school day, and may have additional concert(s) throughout the year. Your child's middle school teacher will be in touch with more specific details about these events.
My child wants to do middle school sports. Can he/she be in both band and sports?
Yes! It is very common for middle school and high school students to participate in both band and sports. Rehearsals and practice times are either staggered or shared in order to allow students to participate in both activities. Often rehearsals for music activities such as jazz band take place before school while sports practices take place after school. This arrangement allows students to participate in both activities without having to deal with scheduling conflicts. Be sure to talk with your child's band teacher and sports coach(es) for more details.
Who are my child's middle school band teachers?
Below you will find a list of the middle school band teachers, their contact information and links to their middle school band page.
North Central Junior High School
William Scheidecker, Band Teacher
Cecilia Roudabush, Music Technology courses
Click here to learn more about the band program and teachers!
Northwest Junior High School
Jane Triplett, Band Director
Kevin Brown, Associate Director
Click here to learn more about the band program and teachers!
Southeast Junior High School
Bill Pringle, Band Teacher
Ryan Arp, Band Teacher
Click here to learn more about the band program and teachers!
William Scheidecker, Band Teacher
Cecilia Roudabush, Music Technology courses
Click here to learn more about the band program and teachers!
Northwest Junior High School
Jane Triplett, Band Director
Kevin Brown, Associate Director
Click here to learn more about the band program and teachers!
Southeast Junior High School
Bill Pringle, Band Teacher
Ryan Arp, Band Teacher
Click here to learn more about the band program and teachers!