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Band
The Waller ISD Band program
is designed to provide opportunities for
each student to develop his/her creative talents in a number of ways.
The Band
program begins in the sixth grade where members of the program
are enrolled in classes of similar instruments. These classes meet daily and focus
on establishing and developing basic musical and performance skills.
The classes
combine on two or more occasions during the year to present concerts for the parents and
public, usually during December and May.
In the seventh and eighth grades, students are provided
with their first
opportunity to be a member of a full band. The
seventh and eighth grade bands perform several concerts during
the year, including performances for the UIL Concert and Sight-reading contest
and the Blinn College Invitational Concert Contest.
Students may elect to participate in solo and
ensemble contests or All-Region and Honor Bands in order to further their individual
musicianship. Rehearsal outside the school day is usually limited to one sectional
each week and one or two special pre-contest rehearsals with guest clinicians.
In the ninth through twelfth grades,
Waller High School band
students are introduced to the marching band with
extra after-school rehearsals, football games, and marching contests that are an
important part of the marching season.
Band is a "performing arts" class.
The purpose of band
class is to increase understanding and appreciation of music through ensemble performance.
As with English, math, science, and history classes,
band classes are part of
the basic curriculum in Texas secondary schools. Performing arts
classes are unique in that public
performances are essential to the learning process, and these
classes require time for public performance. In
addition, in performing arts classes, each individual is
depended on and dependent upon every other individual in the class.
Everyone is
affected when one person is absent. Each person is important and any rehearsal or
performance is diminished in quality when a person is missing.
Extra-curricular is the designation for an activity that is not part of the
basic curriculum. There are some
band events that are
extra curricular, but the majority of band is curricular. And
in order to fulfill class requirements, students must attend performances scheduled outside of class time.
Band classes are offered in different ability
levels in order to best meet
the needs of individual student
development. The degree of musicianship and technical skill
of the individuals in an ensemble determine the music the
ensemble is able to play. An
evaluation of basic knowledge, tone, rehearsal skills, musicianship, and technical skill
determine class (band) placement.
Each class has similar goals and
criteria, but each utilizes music and exercises
that best suit the level of musical skills in that class.
Only the best literature will be used - at
a difficulty level that will challenge the ensemble, but
will not sacrifice quality in rehearsals or performances.
The
emphasis is on serious band literature through solo, small ensemble and full band
performances. Concerts, festivals, and contests provide platforms for this caliber of
performance.
Jazz Bands are offered at both
Waller High School and Waller
Junior High School as after
school programs. Both groups enter
selected competitions and give several performances during the year.
For further information, please contact any of the band directors at the
following school band halls:
Waller High School
- (936) 372-9215;
Waller Junior High - (936)
372 - 4119; Schultz Middle School
- (936) 372-2063
Scholar $$
are awarded to SMS students
every week based on good behavior, a signed agenda, doing good deeds, and
other things. Teachers make direct deposits into the students' accounts
which are overseen by bank manager Mrs. White and the SMS Computer Club
students.
In December, the SMS Christmas Store
provides the opportunity for students to shop and spend their Scholar
$$ on Christmas presents for
their family, friends, and teachers. Donations
to the SMS Christmas Store are greatly appreciated.
Anyone interested in making any type of
donation should contact Sheila White by e-mail at swhite@waller.isd.esc4.net
or by phone at
(936) 931-9103.
STARS -
Super Terrific Absolutely Remarkable Students. The
STARS
program, put in place by Commissioner Steve Radack,
is designed to recognize those students who might not ordinarily
receive much recognition but who, nonetheless, are deserving. The
criteria for identifying these students is simple:
1.
Demonstrates the qualities of a good citizen by helping another student,
a teacher, or the school.
2.
Shows a special effort in some area such as improvement of grades,
attendance, behavior, attitude, etc.
Students
receive a congratulatory letter and a free prize coupon.
Following each reporting period, STARS-nominated students and their
parents are invited to a donut breakfast at the school.
Technology
Theatre Arts students at Schultz Middle
School learn a variety of
skills designed to enhance their acting
ability: developing voice, exercising the
imagination, theatrical stages, stage areas, group imagery and movement,
pantomime, physical character and control, storytelling, improvisations,
puppetry, choreography, masks, costuming, make-up, sound effects, the
structure of plays, commercials, radio theatre, and the production
process. Students also gain knowledge of the history of theatre. |