The Band at Spillane

The band at Spillane offers many school enrichment activities, starting with a great music education. Many studies support that music education is an important part of your child's development:
Current research indicates that the fine arts, especially music, influences the brain and actually stimulates spatial intelligence. Students who participate in an arts program experience important learning transfers in academic areas.
-Dr. Mike Moses, Former Texas Commissioner of Education

A recent study states that music majors have the highest rate of admittance to medical school, a whopping 66.7%. Biochemistry, the subject area closest to medicine, has a rate of 59.2 %,
- Rockefeller Foundation

All-State music students consistently score over 200 points higher on the SAT than non-music students, indicating that high performing students have a strong interest in pursuing serious music interests while excelling in other academic areas.
-TMEA Survey, 1988-98

Band is a great way to have your child in a quality musical activity while having fun at school and being around other goal centered students. The Spillane Band also gives students a chance to be a part of the "Spirit of Spillane". From participating at football games with the pep band to being a part of our Veteran's Day ceremony. Just look at the calendar of activities that the second and third year students participate in. Band is a big part of the student life at Spillane.

Beginning Band

Most students in the Spillane Band have had no prior experience on a wind or percussion instrument prior to joining beginning band. Most students start band in the 6th grade having completed elementary general music. Beginners spend the first year learning the instrument and the basics of music theory in classes of like instruments. There are only two performances that the beginners participate in; the winter concert in December and the spring concert in May. At the end of their first year, beginners are auditioned with the 7th grade students and placed into bands according to ability. Students are strongly encouraged to join band in the 6th grade because of several reasons:

1) Most students require three years of instrumental music before they are ready for high school band.
2) Beginning band classes are scheduled to minimize conflicts with the 6th grade academic schedule.
3) Beginning students in the 7th or 8th grade often find conflicts with 7th grade classes and athletics.

Concert Band 1 and 2

These bands are the intermediate classes for second and third year students. These classes are designed to help kids with a wide range of musical abilities. Younger students get help on the fundamental skills for their instrument while the more advanced students will be working on their scales and concert/contest material. Students from these classes can participate in solo and ensemble contest, the football pep band, winter and spring concerts, concert contests and region band auditions. These classes are scheduled during class periods that eliminate conflicts with athletic classes.

Symphonic Band

This is the advanced band at Spillane. This class is for third year students who already have a firm understanding of scales and other fundamental skills on their instrument. In addition to participating in the same activities as the Concert Band 1 students, Symphonic students are expected to audition for All-Region band and the music is on a more sophisticated level. This band's class period is scheduled to eliminate conflicts with the athletics classes.

We hope that you consider participating in the band at Spillane. Interested 5th grade students can join band by indicating band as their 1st choice on their course selection form that they will receive in the mid-spring semester. Interested 6th or 7th grade students should visit the band hall before or after school or during the advisory period.

Students who indicate band as their elective choice will receive notice about the Spillane Band instrument fairs. The fairs are designed to allow your child to "shop" for their instrument choice. Students at the fair are able to hold and possibly play many types of instruments. Once your child has made some decisions, you will meet with a band director at the fair and make a final decision about instrument choice. The band directors will then send this information to the counselors who will set your child's schedule according to their band class. Representatives from an area music store will be on hand should you choose to set a contract to purchase or rent your child's instrument.

FAQ

What kind of instruments do we have to choose from in band?

Woodwind:

• Flute
• Clarinet (wooden single reed instruments)
• Saxophone (single reed instruments that are made of brass)
• Oboe (wooden double reed instruments- this class has a size limit of 2 students)
• Bassoon (wooden double reed instruments- this class has a size limit of 2 students)
  

Brass Instruments:

• Trumpet/cornet
  
• French Horn
  
• Trombone
  
• Euphonium (a small tuba)
  
• Tuba

Percussion:

Percussion students will learn all percussion instruments, not just the "drums". This includes drums like the snare drum, bass drum, timpani and tom. Mallet instruments include the marimba, xylophone, orchestra bells, vibraphone and chimes. Accessory instruments include cymbals, triangle, and various Latin percussion instruments.

Two years of piano background is suggested for percussionists. Since students are learning so many instruments in one year this makes learning the keyboard instruments much easier.
How much do instruments cost?

Music stores have many payment plans for band families. You can rent or buy and there are new and used instruments available at reasonable prices. You can expect a monthly payment between $30 and $60 depending on the instrument and condition of the instrument. Please call the band hall if you require further help.

How do I get an instrument?

We make it easy. At the band instrument fair in May we will have a music store staff on site to assist you in your purchase/rental of your child's instrument. If you do not get your instrument from the retailer we provide, please keep these things in mind when searching for that instrument for your child.

What can my local music retailer provide?

• A quality instrument that can be repaired. Some foreign instruments are so poorly made that music repair facilities refuse to repair them.
  
• A warranty and maintenance agreement.
  
• A name brand instrument.
  
• If I experience problems, there is a real person who I can go to.
  

Please read A word about getting a great instrument located in this web site.

How do I sign my child up for band?

When your elementary school counselors send home the middle school course selection form in the spring, just circle band as your 1st choice. We will receive your name and address and send you information about the instrument fair. It's that easy.

My child wants to be involved in athletics and other activities in middle school. Doesn't this conflict with band?

Not at all. The middle school philosophy encourages students to try many activities to see what works for them. We have had many students involved in other school activities such as football, volleyball, track, basketball, theater, choir, industrial technology (shop), student council and other classes. Most students choose to start band in the 6th grade when many of these classes are not available and which gives them 3 full years on their instrument before high school band. Then they are free to choose a second elective in the 7th and 8th grade as long as they perform well on the TAKS.

Athletics takes the place of PE and is NOT an elective choice. So, for example, a 7th grade student can be in band, athletics (football or volleyball) and industrial technology. Students that start band in the 7th grade and who are in athletics might have scheduling conflicts with their 1st choice instrument.

As long as you look at your long range class load, including your high school plan, students don't have to make a difficult choice about their electives and activities.