Band
Welcome to the Parkview Middle School Band website!
On this site, you will find important news, events, and useful student resources.
- About
- Forms/Handouts
- Events and Dates
- Student Resources
- Glossary
- Practicing
- Percussion
- Lessons
- Incoming 6th Graders
About
Located in Ashwaubenon, WI, as part of the Ashwaubenon School District, the Parkview Middle School Band program proudly consists of more than 350 members strong, ranging from grades 6-8.
Ashwaubenon Music Program Mission Statement
To provide each K-12 student opportunities to create, perform, and respond through music, fostering a lifelong appreciation of the arts.
About the Ashwaubenon Music Program
The Ashwaubenon Music Program is a multifaceted program that is dedicated to fostering a lifelong appreciation of the arts. The curriculum is focused on developing music literacy for students at all grade levels and abilities as guided by the Wisconsin Music Education Associations (WMEA) Wisconsin Music Standards. The WMEA Standards highlight processes that lead to understanding, independence, and music literacy, while providing a holistic guide to Music Education in the 21st century.
About Our Performing Ensembles:
6th Grade Band
No prior knowledge of playing an instrument is necessary to participate in 6th grade Band. Students will be matched with a band instrument based on their physical traits and interests as well as the needs of the group. Fundamentals of playing an instrument will be taught including: proper care, and maintenance of a musical instrument, reading and writing of notation, musical terms, and music history. Students will perform in concerts, along with receiving small group lessons.
At Parkview there are four different 6th grade bands that all come together to perform at the concerts. Two of these bands are brass and percussion while the other two are made up of woodwind players. This allows more focus attention and learning on their instruments as well as technique, especially as beginners on their instrument.
7th Grade Band
Parkview has two 7th grade bands that perform together for all concerts. These bands have all instruments in both ensembles.
This year-long course provides students with learning and performance opportunities on woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. Students will be introduced to “comprehensive musicianship” through music performance of challenging and varied literature. Skills and concepts from the previous year are developed and expanded upon. In addition to continued refinement of individual performance skills, greater emphasis is placed on ensemble performance skills, which will be expanded through musical expression and technical accuracy. Students will continue to develop their knowledge of music theory, begin to analyze and evaluate music, and use critical thinking skills to make refinements in their performance. Students in these bands will perform in at least two concerts a year at the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center, along with receiving individual and small group lessons. Individual growth and achievement are encouraged through participation in adjudicated solo and ensemble contests, honor bands, and private lessons.
8th Grade Band
Parkview has two 8th grade bands that perform together for all concerts. These bands have all instruments in both ensembles.
This year-long course provides students with learning and performance opportunities on woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. Students will be introduced to “comprehensive musicianship” through music performance of challenging and varied literature. Skills and concepts from the previous year are developed and expanded upon. In addition to continued refinement of individual performance skills, greater emphasis is placed on ensemble performance skills, which will be expanded through musical expression and technical accuracy. Students will continue to develop their knowledge of music theory, begin to analyze and evaluate music, and use critical thinking skills to make refinements in their performance. Students in these bands will perform in at least two concerts a year, along with receiving individual and small group lessons. Individual growth and achievement are encouraged through participation in adjudicated solo and ensemble contests, honor bands, and private lessons.
Jazz Band is an extra-curricular activity that meets outside of the school day, typically before school. This ensemble is open to any 7th and 8th grade band student interested in trying out jazz. All 7th and 8th grade band students are welcome to join, regardless of instrument. An introduction to jazz is taught along with jazz techniques, swing beats, blues scales and more. The Jazz Band performs several times a year including concerts, the student-faculty basketball game, 8th grade graduation and more.
Forms/Handouts
Events and Dates
Please mark these important dates on your calendar and check back often for updated information
Band Concerts
Concerts are a fantastic opportunity to show the community the hard work students have put in. Student attendance at concerts is a mandatory part of being in band.
Winter Concert: Dec 8
Spring Concert: May 4
Location: Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center
Time: 6th grade at 6:00pm (meet at 5:40pm)
7th grade at 6:45pm (meet at 6:30pm)
8th grade at 7:30pm (meet at 7:15)
High School Football Halftime Performance
Who: 8th grade band students
Date: Oct 3
Location: Ashwaubenon High School
All 8th grade band students perform with high school band during halftime of an Ashwaubenon High School varsity football game.
Band program fundraiser - Club's Choice
Who: all band students
Start Date: TBD
End Date: TBD
Delivery Date: TBD
Location: Parkview Middle School Commons
7th Grade Milwaukee Symphony Trip
Date: TBD
7th Grade Band students will have the opportunity to travel via coach buses to Milwaukee to see the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra perform. This will be a great opportunity for students to hear professional musicians perform on their instruments. We will stop at McDonalds on the way home for lunch. Students will return to school around 2:30. More information to come.
Solo and Ensemble Festival
Date: TBD
Date: TBD
This festival is held at Preble High School. This is not required but highly encouraged to our students with at least one year of experience on their instrument.
Date: TBD
Location: Tundra Lodge
8th grade students have the opportunity to perform, be critiqued and listen to other bands perform at the N.E.W. Festival of Music held at the Tundra Lodge. In addition to performing, students will also have time for pizza and the waterpark that day. More information to come. Please check out the website for more information.
Blizzard Game Performance
Date: TBD
Location: Resch Center
7th and 8th grade band students have an opportunity to perform during halftime at the Green Bay Blizzard game. 6th grade students may come to support their fellow band members.
All students participating in this event will receive a complimentary ticket to the game. Students will, however, need at least one parent/guardian at the game for supervision and transportation purposes as there will not be transportation provided by the school. Parents/guardians may purchase as many tickets as desired for a discounted price.
Elementary Tour
Date: TBD
8th grade band students
Every spring the 8th grade band takes a day to tour the different elementary schools in Ashwaubenon to perform for the students. It is a great opportunity to share our love of music with the younger students.
Student Resources
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Glossary
Use this glossary of terms to help you understand different band terminology
Accent - to emphasize a note
Accidental - a sharp, flat or natural sign that raises or lowers the notes
Anacrusis - a pick-up note - a note or some music right before the beginning of music that is not a full measure
Articulation - how to separate or attack the notes typically with the tongue on wind instruments
Bar line - a line that divides the measures
Breath Mark - looks like an apostrophe and means to take a breath
Chord - playing two or more notes at the same time
Common time - also know as 4/4 time signature
Divisi (div.) - split parts where some performers play one line of music while other performers play another line
Double Bar Line - two lines at the end of music signaling the end of the piece
Duet - where two people or two groups of people play together at the same time
Dynamics - how loud and soft the music is played
Embouchure - how to form your mouth to produce the correct sound on your instrument
Flat - lowers the note by 1/2 step
Grip - the proper way to hold the sticks or mallets while playing percussion instruments
Half Step - the smallest interval between notes
Harmony - Two or more notes played at the same time that typically sounds good together
Improvisation - creating and playing your own music on the spot
Interval - the distance between two notes
Key Signature - sharps or flats located at the beginning of a piece of music to signify what notes are sharp or flat throughout the entire piece
Ledger Line - small lines used for notes above and below the staff
Measure - space between two bar lines
Natural - cancels a sharp or flat
Orchestration - the decision on what instruments will play the music
Phrase - a musical sentence
Pick-Up Note - a note or several notes right before the beginning of the music
Posture - the proper way to sit or stand while playing your instrument
Repeat Sign - a sign that signifies to go back and replay a section of music
Round - Music in which the same part is played by several people but offset at different times
Sharp - raises a note by 1/2 step
Sight-Reading - when reading and playing music for the first time
Slur - an articulation sign meaning to not tongue
Soli - a small group of people playing
Solo - only one person playing
Staff - the lines and spaces notes are placed on
Syncopation - when a strong emphasis is placed on a weak beat
Tempo - the speed of the music
Tie- when two or more notes are combined and played together as one note
Time Signature - at the beginning of a piece of music that tells you how many beats are in the measure and what note equals one beat
Trio - three people playing music at the same time
Tutti - everyone playing together
Unison - everyone playing the same sounding notes
Whole Step - Interval between notes that are made up of 2 half-steps
Practicing
Practicing is the key ingredient to success in playing an instrument. It is imperative students are practicing in order to build the muscles and memory necessary to feel successful on their instrument. At Parkview, it is required that all students practice the minimum of 20-30 minutes daily.
Helpful Practice Tips:
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Set aside the same time each day to practice - this helps establish a good practice routine
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Always warm-up before beginning to play
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Brass Players- warm up with lip-slurs and sirens
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Woodwind Players - warm up with long tones
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All 7-8th graders - warm up with scales
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Use a metronome, download a metronome app for free from the app store, or use a free online metronome (see link below), to help keep a consistent tempo. Then practice and play along with the metronome, always!
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Use your pencil! Mark, circle, and write helpful hints and tips all over your music that will help you perform better. Leave yourself notes - you don't have to remember everything! Feel free to write in tricky rhythm countings, write in accidentals in the music or an odd fingering here and there, but DO NOT get into the habit of writing in all of the note names or fingerings as this will only hurt you in the long run.
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Play through the challenging music - when you come across a measure that is tough: Stop, Slow Down, and Break Down tough measures or sections. Practice those parts or measures over and over until they are more comfortable. Then put it back together with measures surrounding it and eventually speed back up to the tempo.
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Use helpful listening tools
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Download or listen to the accompaniment tracks for every exercise in your red, blue or green band book. Play along with these accompaniment tracks so you can hear the correct pitches and feel like you are playing with a band! Check the back cover of your book for either a CD or a unique online code that can be used to access the IPS (Interactive Practice Studio) to download or play along with practice tracks. The best part is.... IT'S FREE when you purchased your book! (See link below to the IPS practice studio)
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If you are practicing sheet music, listen to the professional recordings of the pieces found online. JW Pepper has a lot of great recordings that you can listen to for free. Simply search the name of the piece and/or composer in the search bar and listen to the recording of the song. (See JW Pepper link below)
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End with something fun to play or something you feel successful at.
Practice Journal-Please see your Google Classroom for band to fill out the electronic practice log Google Form.
Percussion
Check out all of the Resources for Percussionists
Awesome videos demonstrating all percussion instruments
Rudiments Poster with all 40 Percussive Arts Society Rudiments
Click on each rudiment to listen to it and watch a video of it being demonstrated
Excellent rhythm exercises to download and play along with
Learn to identify the different percussion instruments
A rhythm generator which you can play along with that helps with rhythm and sight reading abilities
drummer ITP appdrummer ITP Demo video
A paid metronome app that tracks your accuracy while playing different rudiments
Make sure you have all of your required percussion equipment
6th Grade Percussion Binder
(Need to be logged into Ashwaubenon Google Account to access)
7th Grade Percussion Binder
(Need to be logged into Ashwaubenon Google Account to access)
Lessons
About Lessons
Lessons are small groups of students in the same grade playing the same instrument and are vital for student growth on their instruments. These pull out lessons that happen during the school day are only 20 minutes in length. Depending on the quarter and the director's availability, students may receive 1 - 2 lessons per quarter. Students are notified at the beginning of each quarter when their lessons will be and are given hall passes for those lessons. They also know it is their responsibility to notify the teacher of the class they will be briefly pulled from, ahead of time.
Lesson Grades
All students will receive full credit for simply attending their assigned lesson on time. The lesson date that appears in the Powerschool does not necessarily reflect the actual date of the lesson given (as this date cannot be changed for every student), rather it is typically the start of the lesson cycle. If students do not attend their lesson for whatever reason, they will receive an NHI (Not Handed In) which is a 0 in the gradebook, until their lesson is made up. Once it is made up, the lesson grade will reflect full credit.
Missed Lessons
If students do not attend their lesson for whatever reason, they will receive an NHI (Not Handed In) which is a 0 in the gradebook, until their lesson is made up. Students who miss a lesson will need to fill out a missed lesson form and turn in to one of the band directors. A make-up lesson time will be scheduled for them. If the make-up lesson is attended, full credit will be received for the lesson. Please be advised that due to time constraints, we cannot offer additional make-up lessons for missed make-up lessons, therefore the NHI will remain.
Incoming 6th Graders
Congratulations and welcome to band at Parkview! We are very excited and honored to help you and your child on their musical journey with their instrument! Below is some very helpful information to help you feel prepared for next year at Parkview. Welcome to the family!
Step 1: Attend the Instrument Fitting Meetings
Instrument Fitting Meetings
Dates TBD
It is vital to attend one of these meetings in order to receive all of the necessary information regarding playing in band.
At this meeting you will:
Be given more information regarding band at Parkview and how to choose an instrument
Receive one-on-one help with fitting an instrument to your child.
Receive a packet of information with a list of everything your child will need with their instrument.
Meet with local music stores to receive instrument rental information so you can take care of renting at this meeting as well.
Step 2: Choose Your Instrument
One-on-one help with picking instruments will be given during the band fitting meeting as listed above. This is the best and easiest time to pick out your instrument.
If, for whatever reason, you are not able to attend that fitting, local music stores are also happy to help with that process when you stop in. Please then call/email one of the band directors with the student name and instrument choice.
Instrument Choice
Students can choose between the following instruments:
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Saxophone
- French Horn*
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Baritone*
- Tuba*
*Students who choose to play these instruments are able to use school owned instruments
Percussion Auditions
all percussionists Must fulfill all these prerequisites in order to be considered for percussion at Parkview:
- Have completed AT LEAST two consecutive years private piano lessons
- Be able to read all of the notes in both treble and bass clef
- Complete a successful audition with one of the Parkview band directors
- At the audition, students are to perform one of their piano pieces
- Students will also be asked musical questions to see how much they understand the music.
Step 3: Rent or Purchase Your Instrument
You can take care of renting or purchasing the instrument and necessary supplies at the Instrument Fitting Meeting as there will be a local music store on hand with rental information. You may also take care of renting/purchasing an instrument at a local music store at a later date.
If you choose to rent, have the instrument and other supplies delivered directly to Parkview for the summer lessons. If purchasing through an outlet other than a music store, please leave the instrument in the case until summer lessons so your first instruction is with a teacher.
Also, if you are going to be using or purchasing a used instrument, please make sure to have that instrument looked over by a professional music repairer, or music store, to be sure it is in top working condition before you child begins playing the instrument.
Please click here for VERY important information regarding instruments as well as a list of everything else needed for band.
Step 4: Attend Summer Band Lessons
All incoming 6th Grade Band students will attend Summer Band Lessons. June 10-13, 2025 however the time is from 12:15 pm-1:15pm. Please sign up using THIS FORM Summer school classes end at 11:45am and lunch is served from 11:45am - 12:15pm at Parkview.