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Our Bands

6th Grade Beginning Band

The beginning band program at Killian Middle School is the foundation for the entire band program. Beginning band is structured to teach each student the fundamental music skills required to be successful on their instrument. Private lessons are strongly encouraged.

During the school year, the Killian Middle School Beginning Band has the following goals and objectives:

  • To learn and demonstrate the band content standards as outlined by the Texas State Board of Education
  • To learn and demonstrate the process of creating and perfecting music through various concerts and performance opportunities
  • To introduce and master fundamental instrumental technique and musical ability
  • To develop and grow music vocabulary and theory
  • To prepare for middle school band playing standards

Beginning Band has multiple performances, including:

  • Winter Concert
  • Spring Concert
  • Spring Festival Trip (including a ‘fun’ activity like Main Even or Hurricane Harbor)

Concert Band

Director:  Trevor Ousey / Jenna Lenhard

Meeting: All-Year, 7th period

Prerequisites: One or more years of band. Also in good academic and behavior standing with the Killian band department.

Concert Band emphasizes the development of individual and full-band performance skills in preparation for promotion into the Symphonic Band or Honors Bands. The class is geared for students in the 7th and 8th grades who had 6th-grade beginning band, but need additional reinforcement of fundamentals. The class is taught at an accelerated pace, and therefore private lessons are strongly encouraged. The students learn basic fundamentals and the basic elements of melody and harmony are introduced. A basic level of technical playing proficiency is developed and enjoyed in multiple performing opportunities. Concert band is a group that focuses on improving the individual student.

Symphonic Band

Director: Jenna Lenhard / Trevor Ousey

Meeting: All-Year, 4th period

Prerequisites: One or more years of band. Also in good academic and behavior standing with the Killian band department. Successful audition from the previous school year.

This intermediate-level band class emphasizes the development of full-band performance skills in preparation for concerts and UIL contest. The band is a full ensemble which plays grade 1-2 literature. The students continue to reinforce basic fundamentals, increase music ability and range, and prepare students for high school band or Honors Band. The elements of more basic melody and harmony and interpretation are reinforced, and a higher level of technical playing proficiency is developed and enjoyed in multiple performing opportunities. Individual growth and achievement are encouraged through solo and ensemble performance, Pre-UIL Contest, UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest, All-District band auditions, TMEA Region Honor Band auditions, and various concerts. Students will attend one weekly co-curricular section practice, or “sectional,” which will last for 60 minutes either before or after school. These are scheduled the first week of school and will be the same day each week and will continue into the month of May. Attendance at these are mandatory, graded, and are considered an extension of classroom instruction. Private lessons are strongly encouraged.

Honors Band

Director: Trevor Ousey / Jenna Lenhard

Meeting: All-Year, 6th Period

Prerequisites: One or more years of band. Also in good academic and behavior standing with the Killian band department. Successful audition during the previous school year.

This advanced-level band class emphasizes the development of full-band performance skills in preparation for concerts and UIL contest. The band is a full ensemble which plays grade 2-4 literature. The students continue developing solid fundamentals, increase music ability and range, and prepare students for high school band. The elements of more complex melody and harmony and interpretation are addressed, and a higher level of technical playing proficiency is developed and enjoyed in multiple performing opportunities. Individual growth and achievement are encouraged through solo and ensemble performance, Pre-UIL Contest, UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest, the Dallas Wind Symphony Windband Festival, All-District band auditions, TMEA Region  Honor Band auditions, and various concerts. Students will attend one weekly co-curricular section practice, or “sectional,” which will last for 90 minutes either before or after school. These are scheduled the first week of school and will be the same day each week and will continue into the month of May. Attendance at these are mandatory, graded, and are considered an extension of classroom instruction. Due to the rigor of Honors Bands, private lessons are strongly encouraged.