Welcome to the 2009-20010 AMS Band Students!     

        Remember..."practice makes perfect!"        

AMS BEGINNING BAND CLASS

This class is designed for students who have never before played a band instrument.  It is not necessary to know how to read music before signing up for this class.  In Beginning Band, students will learn how to assemble their instruments; how to take care of their instruments; how to produce a musical sound by developing a healthy embouchure (this is the term for what we do with our mouth in order to play a wind instrument); how to read music, how to breathe together, play together and stop together; and, eventually,  how to play songs with at least three different parts happening all at the same time. 

Students can choose from the following instruments:  flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, tuba and percussion.

The students will also be given practicing advice and strategies and there will be playing tests throughout the year.  It is expected that the students will practice every day in order to develop their embouchures and their finger dexterity and in order to continue making progress with reading the notes. 

The Beginning Band will perform in three concerts this year (please see the calendar page).  At the end of their first year of band, the students will all be qualified to move up into the AMS Concert Band and interested students will be able to audition for the AMS Jazz Band. 

AMS CONCERT BAND

This band is made up of students with previous playing experience on their band instrument.  All 7th and 8th grade band students perform together in this band, and 6th graders who have a head start on their instruments are invited to audition for this band.  The 8th grade band students are given the privilege of mentoring their 7th grade section-mates throughout the year.  Through mentoring and regular practicing at home, the 7th grade band students will find themselves progressing very quickly during this year in band (and they will need to in order to perform up to their 8th grade section-mates level).  This band plays complicated music that requires a lot of independence, a lot of outside practice, and, among the players - a strong desire to strive for excellence in order to perform it musically. 

Our Concert Band participates in the OSU Band Festival every year.  Last year (2007-2008), out of 34 bands from across the state of Oregon, we received the highest overall score!  This result is a testament to how hard the band students work - both personally and as a band.  This band has high expectations and expects everyone to do their best at all times and to help others do their best, as well. 

The Concert Band marches in three parade, performs in three concerts, sends students to the local Middle School Honor Band and the state level Honor Band, attends the OSU Band Festival, and sends every student to the annual Solo and Ensemble Festival.  Please see the calendar page for more details. 

AMS JAZZ BAND

The Ashland Middle School Jazz Band is an audition-only group that meets every Friday from 8:00 - 9:20 a.m.  All Concert Band students/instruments can participate in Jazz Band, in addition, there is a full rhythm section - Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drumset.  Members of the rhythm section all take private lessons in order to gain the proficiency necessary to audition for this group. 

The Jazz Band plays a variety of musical styles including Blues, Swing, Latin, Pop, Ballads and Funk.  In addition, the students learn to improvise using different modes and over different chord changes.  And, all students have the opportunity to solo during a concert.

This group moves at a very quick pace and learns several tunes per term to be used at their many playing opportunities, which include - Art Festivals, First Fridays, Elementary School Tours, Middle School Assemblies, Open Houses and any other special occasions that arise at the middle school or in town.  They also perform in three formal concerts per year.  Please see the calendar for more details. 

AMS Jazz Band performs at Briscoe Art Walk, winter 2008.

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