Director, Brooks Holmes 413-538-5074 *6763
Welcome to Michael E. Smith Middle School Bands' Website
Mosier 4th Grade Students look at "Mosier Elementary Band" (to the right) & "Lesson Schedule" Page
Chorus students ~ Your recording of the Star Spangled Banner
is on the left side of this page. Good Job!
Middle School Band meets DAILY during these time blocks.
Students should have instruments every class.
5th Grade Band 9:17 - 9:52 am
6th Grade Band 1:10 - 1:45 pm
7th Grade Band 8:00 - 8:37 am
8th Grade Band 11:25-12:00 pm
Jazz Band meets on Tuesdays after school (2:30- 3:45).
One of my goals as your band director is to provide students opportunities to perform at the State Festivals for Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles. I believe these experiences provide a focal point for ALL of us. We don't compete against other bands but rather we are offered constructive criticism & praise on our attempts to reach what the nationally recognized adjudicators consider the "State Level". Our band program is NOT competition based. Our curriculum is diverse & based upon meeting the needs of the students. We prepare music that will accent our strengths & develop our weaknesses. In addition to performing in State Festivals during the Spring Season our students perform in variety of school / community based venues ~ examples include: Veteran's Day Ceremony, Winter & Spring Concerts, Memorial Day Parade.
4th Grade Band Information is available on Mosier Elementary Band Page
(Just click on the link above "Mosier Band")
4th Grade Band
Students will meet 3 times per week:
1. One group lesson from 7:30 - 8:00 am
2. One Full Ensemble Rehearsal on Friday Mornings from 7:30 - 8:00 am.
3. One Small Group Lesson for 30 minutes at either 1:15 pm, 1:45 pm, 2:15 pm or 3 pm. Check the schedule for your child.
Mondays Flutes
Tuesdays Clarinets & Alto Saxophones*
Wednesdays Trumpets & Trombones
Thursdays Percussion
Fridays Full Band Rehearsal for ALL
After School Opportunities 2011/12
Jazz Band - Tuesdays 2:30 - 3:45 pm
Percussion Ensemble- Wednesdays after-school opposite of Faculty Meeting Days
Starter Band Prep- Thursdays after school 2:30 - 3:10 pm
Jazz Band is our top performing ensemble that will represent our school at both the community and state level. Students who choose this group are expected to be highly motivated and want to take their music to a very high level. They should be taking private lessons outside of school but it is not a requirement. MESMS JB members are invited to join JB Workshop on Wednesdays, but it’s not required. Enrollment by audition.
Percussion Ensemble is for students who wish to play in a band designed just for percussion. We will develop our skills reading complex rhythm patterns and work up hand speed with various sticking patterns. We will play music that uses many different types of drums and xylophones. It is open to grades 5-8. **
Starter Band Prep is for students (5-8) who wish to join band for the first time & don’t read music or know how to play their chosen instrument. It is also a great chance for current band students to learn how to play an additional instrument. These students will have a group lesson once a week on a rotating schedule during the school day, but will also have this class after school on Thursdays till they feel comfortable enough to play in their grade level band rehearsal that meets during the academic enhancement. **
All students should be enrolled in ARTS Block Band Class with Mr. Holmes during the school day.
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Smart Music Software that Mr. Holmes uses in the band room is now available to the students of the South Hadley Music Dept. The cost is usually $90 for a year long subscription but we get it for $36 each, since we have school subscriptions in the band rooms. Click on the PDF File to the left for information on how you can obtain your own copy.
Parents are asked to help at home because students SHOULD be practicing at least 20 minutes per day. Soon we will be updating our use of the Practice Journals that are in the cover of each student's band book. Keep checking for updated info.
Students! Make sure that your NAME is on your Instrument case & Book.
We are having a problem with people misplacing their books and leaving them in the band room. Without your name on front cover, you could be out some money for a new book! I also recomend that you record your serial number of your instrument at home in a safe location. This may come in very useful someday if you suddenly misplace your instrument.
