Director, Brooks Holmes 413-538-5074 *6763
Welcome to Michael E. Smith Middle School Bands' Website
Middle School Band meets DAILY during these time blocks.
Students should have instruments every class.
5th Grade Band 9:57 - 10:32 am
6th Grade Band 1:45 - 2:25 pm
7th Grade Band 8:41 - 9:22 am
8th Grade Band 12:05 - 12:45 pm
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.
Congratulations to the 5/6 Grade Concert Band for their performance at the State Festival (MICCA) on April 4th. They earned a Silver Medal. To listen to the judges comments click on the files to the left. Judges that day included:
Dr. Barber Nebraska University
Professor George Parks UMASS / Amherst
Dr. Pavasaris Lexington Public Schools
Congratulations to the Jazz Band for their performance at IAJE Festival on May 15th. They earned a Silver Medal. To listen to the recordings from that day, click on MP3 files to left. Judges comments are recorded beneath.
Professor Levine Westfield State
Mr. Tom Tisdell Holyoke Schools (retired)
Dr. Orgill Westfield State
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 2 times per week:
1. One group lesson from 7:30 - 8:10 am
2. One Full Ensemble Rehearsal on Friday Mornings from 7:30 - 8:10 am.
Mondays Flutes
Tuesdays Clarinets & Alto Saxophones*
Wednesdays Trumpets & Trombones
Thursdays Percussion
Fridays Full Band Rehearsal for ALL
After School Opportunities 2007/08
Jazz Band - Mondays after school 2:30 - 3:45 pm
Percussion Ensemble- Tuesdays after school 2:30 - 3:10 pm
Jazz Workshop- Wednesdays after school 2:30 - 3:45 pm
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. **
Jazz Workshop is for students interested in exploring the world of Jazz, Rock, & Swing Music. It will be open to any student in grades 5-8 with at least one year of experience playing their instrument and reading music. Performing is not the objective. This class is designed as a learning workshop to get students ready to perform in the MESMS Jazz Band.
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 weekly lessons 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 $20 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.
4th Grade Band
Students will meet 2 times per week:
1. One group lesson from 7:30 - 8:10 am
2. One Full Ensemble Rehearsal on Friday Mornings from 7:30 - 8:10 am.
Mondays Flutes
Tuesdays Clarinets & Alto Saxophones
Wednesdays Trumpets & Trombones
Thursdays Percussion
Fridays Full Band Rehearsal for ALL
