UMS has a lot of music programs! For bands, we have Symphonic, Marching, Concert, Intermediate, Beginning, and Jazz bands. In addition to those, there are Choirs and Clubs. All the Bands mentioned above meet during school hours as elective classes. Choirs and various clubs meet after or before school hours. For information on Choirs and Clubs, please visit:
Choir
Percussion Club
String Club
For bands, 6th grade can join either Beginning or Intermediate Band, depending on experience. The rest of the bands are for 7th and 8th graders. Symphonic and Marching Bands are the same, and require audition. Concert and Jazz Bands are open to experienced students with no audition required. For further details, please see the FAQ below or contact [email protected].
Choir
Percussion Club
String Club
For bands, 6th grade can join either Beginning or Intermediate Band, depending on experience. The rest of the bands are for 7th and 8th graders. Symphonic and Marching Bands are the same, and require audition. Concert and Jazz Bands are open to experienced students with no audition required. For further details, please see the FAQ below or contact [email protected].
Bands FAQ
~For Incoming 6th Graders~
Q: What bands are available for 6th graders? Are they free?
A: We have one Beginning Band and one Intermediate Band. Both are free, however we do ask for a Consolidated Check Donation (“CCD”) of $60 to help with music method books, sheet music, equipment maintenance and purchases. The CCD ask is $140 for Intermediate band, as they perform in a festival which can include bussing costs, and/or registrations fees.
Q: What’s the difference between Beginning Band and Intermediate Band? Will there be an audition?
A: There’s no audition for Intermediate Band. The main difference is that Beginning Band does not require prior experience with a band instrument, and students are not expected to be able to read music. Intermediate Band students usually have 1 to 2 years experience on a band instrument and can read music.
Q: When are the band sessions? Are they before or after school?
A: Beginning Band meets during 5th period, and Intermediate Band meets during 6th period (the last period of the day).
Q: How does the band schedule work with other electives?
A: Choosing a band as an elective means that your 6th grader does not need to pick any other school electives. Non-band students rotate through the same four elective classes.
Q: Will there be practices, rehearsals, and/or performances outside of school time?
A: Students are required to practice at home for 120 minutes per week. There will be a few concerts outside of school hours. Beginning Band doesn’t have any weekend performances. Intermediate band usually has one or two weekend performances during the school year. Also all bands have three night concerts that they do for parents, which usually take place on a weeknight at around 6:30 or 7 p.m. for about 90 minutes.
Q: What instruments are there in the bands?
A:
Q: My student plays violin/viola/cello/guitar/[insert instrument], can they join Intermediate Band?
A: Yes, but they must already play the instrument or be willing to get private lessons outside school, since the band director is not a string instrument teacher.
Q: How does my student know which instrument to choose?
A: For the beginning band, the band director will provide a try-out kit with mouthpieces for flute, woodwind, and brass instruments. Students can see which one feels more natural to them. But even if the students can’t easily produce a sound on any of the mouthpieces, it does not mean they won’t be able to play that type of instrument.
Q: Can my student switch instruments if they didn’t like what they picked?
A: Yes, students in either band can switch instruments if they don’t like their first pick, or if they simply want to explore different ones.
Q: Should my student get a private tutor?
A: Private tutor is encouraged but not mandatory.
Q: Does my student need to carry the instrument to and from school daily? How do they store the instrument during the day?
A: Most instruments need to be carried to and from school daily and can be stored in the lockers in the band room during the school day. For heavier and larger instruments like tubas, baritone saxophone, double bass violin, bass clarinet, bassoon, and other large instruments, the school provides one for school-use and/or one for home. There is a flat donation ask of $120 for the school year for any large instrument.
Q: Do I need to buy or rent the instrument? How much would that cost?
A: No purchase necessary. We recommend renting since students may want to switch instruments during the year. Rental costs anywhere from $40 to $60 per month depending on the type and quality of the instrument. The school also provides rentals for select instruments. Smaller instruments cost $80-90 for the school year, and larger instruments are $120. This is a donation ask, to help with the maintenance of the instrument.
Q: I also hear about choir, percussion or string club. Are they part of the band too?
A: We do have choir, percussion and string clubs. They are all clubs, not an elective class. Their rehearsal/instructional time may be before school on Wednesdays, during either lunch recess or after school. There can/will be auditions for advanced ensembles. Each group/club has specific day and times set for the whole year.
Q: Can my student do both band and clubs?
A: Yes! Since band and club class time are different, they can certainly participate in both.
~For 7th & 8th Graders~
Q: What bands are available for 7th and 8th graders?
A: There are quite a few bands for 7th and 8th graders to choose from:
A: In Marching Band, string players will usually choose another band instrument. The most common choice is percussion.
Q: Which bands/clubs get to go to Disneyland?
A: All symphonic band members go to Disneyland once during the school year. Advanced Choir Club members and Jazz Band go as well, but the Jazz Band may require an audition if there are too many members playing the same instruments.
Q: What bands are available for 6th graders? Are they free?
A: We have one Beginning Band and one Intermediate Band. Both are free, however we do ask for a Consolidated Check Donation (“CCD”) of $60 to help with music method books, sheet music, equipment maintenance and purchases. The CCD ask is $140 for Intermediate band, as they perform in a festival which can include bussing costs, and/or registrations fees.
Q: What’s the difference between Beginning Band and Intermediate Band? Will there be an audition?
A: There’s no audition for Intermediate Band. The main difference is that Beginning Band does not require prior experience with a band instrument, and students are not expected to be able to read music. Intermediate Band students usually have 1 to 2 years experience on a band instrument and can read music.
Q: When are the band sessions? Are they before or after school?
A: Beginning Band meets during 5th period, and Intermediate Band meets during 6th period (the last period of the day).
Q: How does the band schedule work with other electives?
A: Choosing a band as an elective means that your 6th grader does not need to pick any other school electives. Non-band students rotate through the same four elective classes.
Q: Will there be practices, rehearsals, and/or performances outside of school time?
A: Students are required to practice at home for 120 minutes per week. There will be a few concerts outside of school hours. Beginning Band doesn’t have any weekend performances. Intermediate band usually has one or two weekend performances during the school year. Also all bands have three night concerts that they do for parents, which usually take place on a weeknight at around 6:30 or 7 p.m. for about 90 minutes.
Q: What instruments are there in the bands?
A:
- Woodwinds - flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, bassoon.
Note: Saxophone will not be introduced until second semester in Beginning Band. The reasons are that the instrument is bigger and it is better to learn on the clarinet first. Bassoon is generally only offered in intermediate, but this is not a hard fast rule. - Brass - trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba (for tuba it does depend a little on the student’s size and strength in 6th grade)
- Percussions - drums, mallets, timpani, and many many others.
Q: My student plays violin/viola/cello/guitar/[insert instrument], can they join Intermediate Band?
A: Yes, but they must already play the instrument or be willing to get private lessons outside school, since the band director is not a string instrument teacher.
Q: How does my student know which instrument to choose?
A: For the beginning band, the band director will provide a try-out kit with mouthpieces for flute, woodwind, and brass instruments. Students can see which one feels more natural to them. But even if the students can’t easily produce a sound on any of the mouthpieces, it does not mean they won’t be able to play that type of instrument.
Q: Can my student switch instruments if they didn’t like what they picked?
A: Yes, students in either band can switch instruments if they don’t like their first pick, or if they simply want to explore different ones.
Q: Should my student get a private tutor?
A: Private tutor is encouraged but not mandatory.
Q: Does my student need to carry the instrument to and from school daily? How do they store the instrument during the day?
A: Most instruments need to be carried to and from school daily and can be stored in the lockers in the band room during the school day. For heavier and larger instruments like tubas, baritone saxophone, double bass violin, bass clarinet, bassoon, and other large instruments, the school provides one for school-use and/or one for home. There is a flat donation ask of $120 for the school year for any large instrument.
Q: Do I need to buy or rent the instrument? How much would that cost?
A: No purchase necessary. We recommend renting since students may want to switch instruments during the year. Rental costs anywhere from $40 to $60 per month depending on the type and quality of the instrument. The school also provides rentals for select instruments. Smaller instruments cost $80-90 for the school year, and larger instruments are $120. This is a donation ask, to help with the maintenance of the instrument.
Q: I also hear about choir, percussion or string club. Are they part of the band too?
A: We do have choir, percussion and string clubs. They are all clubs, not an elective class. Their rehearsal/instructional time may be before school on Wednesdays, during either lunch recess or after school. There can/will be auditions for advanced ensembles. Each group/club has specific day and times set for the whole year.
Q: Can my student do both band and clubs?
A: Yes! Since band and club class time are different, they can certainly participate in both.
~For 7th & 8th Graders~
Q: What bands are available for 7th and 8th graders?
A: There are quite a few bands for 7th and 8th graders to choose from:
- Symphonic band/Marching band: Symphonic and marching band is one and the same. The band class is during the zero period (starting at 7:30am). Audition is required. In addition to regular at-home practices, there are a few performances and marches throughout the year, either after school or during the weekend. The performance schedule will be posted at the beginning of the school year and updated throughout the year.
- Concert band: No audition is required. It counts as a year-long elective during the school day (usually 1st period) The concert band is essentially the 7th/8th grade version of the intermediate band. It is not a prerequisite to be in beginning or intermediate band in 6th grade in order to be in Concert Band, however that does help.
- Jazz band: No audition is required. It counts as one elective. Jazz Band focuses on jazz music, with popular instruments including trumpet, trombones, saxophone, drumset, auxiliary percussion, guitar, bass guitar, and keyboard.
A: In Marching Band, string players will usually choose another band instrument. The most common choice is percussion.
Q: Which bands/clubs get to go to Disneyland?
A: All symphonic band members go to Disneyland once during the school year. Advanced Choir Club members and Jazz Band go as well, but the Jazz Band may require an audition if there are too many members playing the same instruments.