BE PART OF THE BAND! THOMAS COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL

FAQs

Is Band A Class?

Band is considered a year-long exploratory class. However, several other exploratory classes may be taken along with band throughout the year, including classes like art, PE, computer science, chorus, and many others!

How do I sign-up for band?

As a fourth grader, your homeroom teacher will administer to you the Selmer Music Guidance Survey. This listening survey will give us basic information on the way you hear pitches, chords and rhythms. The second step is an instrument mouthpiece test which will take place in April or May which will help us guide you into choosing the instrument that fits you the best! These tests are only to help us place you into the correct band class. Anyone who is interested in band has the opportunity to join! Once we confirm your interest with your parent or guardian, we will enroll you into the 5th grade beginning band class!

Can I start band in 6th grade?

Yes! Though we encourage students to start band in 5th grade, we still offer a Beginning Band class for 6th graders. However, space may be limited! Please email a band director if you are interested.

What are the after-school obligations for Band?

In general, there are no after-school rehearsals for 5th or 6th grade beginners. The Beginning Band will perform a Winter Concert in December and a Spring Concert in May. We usually have one after-school rehearsal a day or two right before each concert. The majority of concert prep is done during school hours. As band students move into 7th & 8th grade band, after school rehearsals are more common.

Can band students participate in sports and other school activities?

Absolutely! Our band students are the leaders of our school! Many band students are also involved in sports, cheerleading, chorus, FFA, FCCLA and many other clubs and activities. TCMS has a long and successful tradition of producing well-rounded young people and our administrators support cooperation between campus organizations so that students can flourish in multiple areas!

My child is in the MERIT program and I’m concerned if participating in an activity like band will spread them too thin.

A large percentage of our band students are in the MERIT program! The 2022 TCCHS Valedictorian, 2020 Valedictorian and Salutatorian along with numerous Student Leaders and Honor Graduates are band students who came up through the MERIT program! It has long been recognized that participation in the performing arts enhances long term academic success! The key is time management!

What are the financial obligations?

Students will need an instrument, book, and a few accessory items. We highly recommend that students rent an instrument for their first year of playing. We will hold an Instrument Rental Night in the TCMS Gym on Tuesday, August 16 for parents to meet with reputable music companies to discuss rental plans. Most rental plans average around $35 per month and include a maintenance policy which covers the instrument if it needs to be repaired throughout the year. There is also a one time annual band fee ($20 for 5th and & 6th graders, $60 for 7th & 8th graders) which covers T-shirts and other expenses for the year.

When should I order the instrument?

PLEASE, PLEASE CONSULT one of the band directors BEFORE ordering a band instrument! We encourage everyone to WAIT until Instrument Rental Night to order an instrument. We must first test students to make sure their embouchure fits the instrument, etc. Students will be carefully guided by a band director to choose an instrument which is best suited for them. Also, we want to make sure students acquire a well made band instrument. There are several “off brand” instruments out there which are poorly designed, out of tune and hard to repair. It’s much better to obtain a good affordable used model of a reputable brand than to purchase a brand new “off brand” instrument.