Band Programs
Overview
MBMS Band Program
The band program at Manhattan Beach Middle School offers a strong educational curriculum designed to further each child’s technique and musicianship on wind, brass and percussion instruments.
Participating in the band program at MBMS provides an immediate sense of identity and purpose as the student acclimates to a larger school setting with new schedules and routines.
MBMS band ensembles encourage and promote academic excellence, and rehearsals and performances are compatible with the students’ academic responsibilities. Band members are involved in concerts, festivals, recitals and honor groups.
Band students at MBMS have music class every day, translating to a more extensive and rapid musical progress. Continuing with music at MBMS allows for a successful transition into the band program at Mira Costa High School, further enhancing the possibilities for college admissions and even scholarships!
There are four levels of band classes available at MBMS: Introduction to Band (level 0), Cadet Band (level 1), Concert Band (level 2), and Symphonic Band (level 3).
Students interested in joining one of the higher level bands are required to audition. The audition process is designed to help determine which class will best meet the needs of each student. It is important for student learning to be natural and gradual, so it is in the best interest of the student to be placed in a group that will be challenging but not frustrating.
ENSEMBLE Levels
Introduction to Band
For new students wishing to a band instrument, whether they are new to music or switching instruments.
Cadet Band
All incoming 6th grade students currently enrolled in 5th grade band automatically qualify and do not need to audition for this level band.
The curriculum of the Cadet Band class is a continuation of the curriculum that was taught in the elementary school string program and the Elementary Honor Band. The Cadet Band is designed to meet the educational needs of students who took part in band in elementary school, making the Cadet Band the next natural step for student learning.
Concert Band
The Concert Band harnesses the skills and experience of playing music daily from the year before. This gives the band a wider variety of music to play – from classic early 17th century music to popular contemporary tunes.
A small percentage of incoming 6th Grade students may be eligible for this higher level band. These are usually students who have done extensive practice and/or have had private tutoring outside of the elementary school program. Most have played in the Elementary Honor Band.
Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band historically garners top ribbons at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Festivals. In addition, Symphonic Band participates in the annual Elementary Schools Tour where both the Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Band spend one school day playing a selection of classical and modern tunes at each of the 5 elementary schools
A very small percentage of incoming 6th Grade students may be eligible for this higher level band. These are usually students who have done extensive practice and have had private tutoring outside of the elementary school program.
Other Information
Auditions
Before the end of the school year there are auditions for membership to all of the ensembles so as to appropriately place students in the correct classes. Students playing popular instruments may decide to switch to instruments that are not as common. This helps in the instrumentation needs of each group, and also alleviates competition to advance into the next group. Placements into the next level group are based solely on the audition. Students in Concert Band and Symphonic Band who are currently 6th and 7th graders do not need to audition again, but must maintain an average of 90% in the class to remain in the group the following year.
Concerts, Recitals & Competitions
There are two MBMS concerts per academic year - the Winter Concert in December and the Spring Concert in May. These concerts are held in the MBMS Gym. Additionally, there is an All District Band Concert held in February at the Mira Costa Auditorium. Each of the bands perform in all these concerts and participation is mandatory.
Recitals are usually held twice a year and participation is optional. Students are encouraged to work on solos and in small ensembles to improve their musicianship and to give themselves opportunities for different musical experiences. They get to perform pieces in front of their peers, family and friends.
The Manhattan Beach Rotary Club sponsors the annual Instrumental Music Solo Competition. Top students are encouraged to participate in the competition. First place winners will get to perform for the Rotary Club, usually taking place in January.
Symphonic Band participates in the annual Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Festivals, which usually take place in the Spring.
Private Lessons
Because the MBMS instrumental program is devoted to the study and performance of literature for a large group, members of the instrumental ensembles must gain the individual technique that is essential to this experience. Each musician will find that as the quality of individual playing improves, a greater body of literature is available for study and experience, thus enhancing the quality of the band as well. A student who attains a high level of musical achievement in middle school often continues to play a musical instrument in high school, college and in adult life.
Although as much individual help is provided during rehearsals and sectional rehearsals as possible, each band member is encouraged to study with a private teacher who is a specialist in that person’s instrument. Such a teacher is available to devote the entire lesson toward solving the problems of that individual student. The results of this kind of attention simply cannot by attained in a group situation.
School Instruments
MBMS owns a limited number of musical instruments. They are the larger, more expensive, and unique instruments necessary to complete a well-balanced instrumentation. Any student who checks out a school instrument must have an instrument check-out card on file with Mrs. Haslop. Students may check out school instruments but they are responsible for the instruments’ care, safety, upkeep and repair, as if they were their own instruments. There is no charge for using the instruments but a donation is requested to cover the yearly maintenance expenses.
The MBMS Instrumental Music program has been fortunate to have the support of the MBMS PTA and the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation for the purchase of these instruments. Students who have been using the school instruments for a year may be asked to rent/purchase one for the next year, so as to allow new incoming students to use the school instruments.
Instrument Storage
Students may store their instruments in the instrumental music room during the school day.
OTHER BAND PROGRAMS
Elementary Band
Mira Costa Bands
BAND Director
Matthew Chavez
Matthew Chavez is in his first year as the Band Director at Manhattan Beach Middle School. He recently graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Music Education from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1992. He also was section leader of the UCLA Bruin Marching Band and played Tenor Saxophone.
As a part of the UCLA B.A. Music Education program, he served as a volunteer student teacher of general music at Charnock Road Elementary School. Under the guidance of Dr. Lily Chen-Hafteck, Professor of Music Education, he worked with four different classes of Pre-K and Kindergarten students for two hours every week.
When he's not teaching or directing, Matthew enjoys composing music; his pieces have been performed by the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) Wind Ensemble and the UCLA Symphonic Band, and playing chess in his free time.