To have BAND added to next year's class schedule, you can send an
email to the email address listed on our CONTACT PAGE. Please include
the student's first and last names, the phrase "Please add band
to my schedule", and the name of the parent/guardian. If
at all possible, please include a phone number for the
parent/guardian in case we need more information. We look
forward to having you in band class! Brian Rhodes ...
Angela Rhodes ... Bearcat Band Members
Check out this Video: "A Conversation About Band" where
you can meet the band directors,
Brian Rhodes and Angela Rhodes, and some students (2024) as they
discuss various Band topics:
Music education incorporates a study of just about all of the
disciplines offered in public education:
Arts, Self Expression
Language (music is its own language including syntax,
structure, symbolic alphabet, etc.)
Math (rhythms, quantity, duration, etc.)
Science (tone production, timbre,
harmonic series, etc. is a full field of scientific study)
Social Studies (every society on earth incorporates
music into daily culture)
Kinesthetics (fine motor skills, gross motor skills,
muscle training, and physical education activity)
Band takes these fields of academic study to the
next level by offering an immediate and direct application of the skills
learned. By learning a music instrument, the students see
firsthand how their knowledge of the language, math, science, etc. of
music will affect their performance.
Band is also the ultimate team-oriented activity. Unlike many
other team-oriented activities, there is no "second string" in band.
Every note in the music is important, every instrument part is
necessary, every student is essential. The students must,
therefore, develop strategies that positively affect the team as a
whole. They learn to work together in the ultimate team.
Band emulates the concept of excellence. If
a student misses 10% of an academic test, that student will still
receive a 90% "A" for the test. In music performance, however, if
10% of the notes are missed, the performance would come across as a "D"
or even an "F" performance. In band, therefore, students learn how
not to settle for average and they learn how to set goals that lead to
real, measurable achievement.
- The arts are one of the six subject areas in which the College Board
recognizes as essential in order to thrive in college.
(Source: Academic Preparation for College: What
Students Need to Know and Be Able to Do, 1983 [still in use], The
College Board, New York )
- Students taking courses in music performance and music appreciation
scored higher in the SAT than students with no arts participation. Music
performance students scored 53 points higher on the verbal and 39 points
higher on the math. (Source: 1999
College-Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test
Takers, The College Entrance Examination Board, Princeton, New Jersey)
- Lewis Thomas, physician and biologist, found that music majors
comprise the highest percentage of accepted medical students at 66%.
(Source: As reported in “The Case for Music in the
Schools,” Phi Delta Kappan, February 1994.)
- Student involvement in extracurricular or cocurricular activities
makes students resilient to current substance use among their peers,
according to a recent statewide survey of Texas Schools. Secondary
students who participated in band, orchestra or choir reported the
lowest lifetime use of all substances. (Source:
1994 Texas School Survey of Substance Abuse Among Students: Grades 7-12)
There really is no "typical" band student. Unlike what the movies
or tv shows might project, the band is actually made up of a lot of
different kind of students. Band students are outgoing, shy,
driven, playful, serious, mellow, active, friendly, reserved, etc.
just like they are tall, short, dark haired, light haired, and any
combination. Since there is no "typical" band student, it is not
really possible to say what a "typical" band student is like.
The Booneville Band Program will consist of three different band levels:
Beginning Band: This band is open to
students in grades 7, 8, 9, and it may be possible for older students to
join as well. Since students will learn to read music and play an
instrument at a fundamental level, no prior music performance experience
is required.
Intermediate Band: This band is open to
students who demonstrate a specified level of proficiency on an
instrument. Most students who successfully complete Beginning Band
will automatically progress to Intermediate Band. Students who
learned their band instrument at a previous school or through private
instruction will be tested to ensure their skills are ready for
Intermediate Band.
Advanced Band: Because of rules set
by the state, only those students who are in the 9th grade or older have
the opportunity to qualify for this group. Advanced Band students
also must exhibit a high enough skill level on their instrument to be
able to learn and perform the advanced level of literature. Most
students who successfully complete Intermediate Band and who are in the
9th grade will be able to progress to Advanced Band. The Advanced
Band is the group that performs as the Marching Band and will compete in
a variety of marching and concert competitions.
During the spring, students who
are interested in joining Beginning Band for the next year will need to
meet with the band director to determine which instrument would be a
best fit. Sixth Grade students will have some opportunities to
conduct their instrument testing through their elementary music classes
and through a number of scheduled testing opportunities. Seventh
grade students and older should simply make an appointment to meet with
the band director.
CONTACT US
The Booneville Bearcat Band is fortunate to have a
vibrant band booster organization. This group of band parents help
raise funds so that the band can go on trips and purchase new
instruments and uniforms. The organization also offers support for
band students and band parents in lot of other ways as well.
