5th Grade Concert Band meets on Wednesdays at 7:45am in Room 113A and is directed by Mr. Ben Green. 5th Grade Band is open to any fifth grader who currently plays a band instrument. Students who wish to begin an instrument in 5th grade will participate in beginning band sectionals first before performing with the 5th grade band.

     Concert Band is a co-curricular program. Students are graded on a letter scale: O = Outstanding, S = Satisfactory, and U = Unsatisfactory. Rehearsal attendance, sectional attendance, participation, and attitude are the contributing factors to students grades. 

     Sectionals refer to small group instruction that occur during the day on Wednesday. Sectionals are based on a rotating schedule so that students do not miss to much of one class. Below is an example of the schedule:

     6th Grade Concert Band meets on Thursdays at 7:45am in Room 113A and is directed by Mr. Ben Green. 6th Grade Band is open to any sixth grader who currently plays a band instrument. Students who wish to begin an instrument in 6th grade will participate in beginning band sectionals first before performing with the 6th grade band.

     Concert Band is a co-curricular program. Students are graded on a letter scale: O = Outstanding, S = Satisfactory, and U = Unsatisfactory. Rehearsal attendance, sectional attendance, participation, and attitude are the contributing factors to students' grades. 

     Sectionals refer to small group instruction that occur during the day on Thursday. Sectionals are based on a rotating schedule so that students do not miss too much of one class. Below is an example of the schedule:

     7/8 Concert Band meets on Tuesdays at 7:45am in Room 113A and is directed by Mr. Craig Gonci. 7/8 Band is open to any seventh or eighth grader who currently plays a band instrument. Students who wish to begin an instrument in 7th or 8th grade will participate in beginning band sectionals first before performing with the 7/8 band.

     Concert Band is a co-curricular program. Students are graded on a letter scale: O = Outstanding, S = Satisfactory, and U = Unsatisfactory. Rehearsal attendance, sectional attendance, participation, and attitude are the contributing factors to students' grades. 

     Sectionals refer to small group instruction that occur during the day on Tuesday. Sectionals are based on a rotating schedule so that students do not miss too much of one class. Below is an example of the schedule:

     Jazz Band is an extra-curricular auditioned group open to all 5/6 grade instrumentalists enrolled in either Concert Band or Orchestra (Piano and Guitar players are exempt). The ensembles will meet on Thursday afternoons from 3:15PM-4:15PM. Traditional Jazz instruments include saxophone, trumpet, trombone\baritone, guitar, drums, bass, and piano. All other band instruments are invited to participate as well.

     Jazz Ensemble is an extra-curricular auditioned group open to all 7/8 grade instrumentalists enrolled in either Concert Band or Orchestra (Piano and Guitar players are exempt). The ensemble will meet on Thursday afternoons from 3:15PM-4:15PM. 

    Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble are both auditioned groups. Audition music is available during the first week of school. 

5th Grade chorus is open to all fifth graders who enjoy singing and is directed by Mrs. Rebecca Reid. Rehearsals are on Tuesday Mornings in the Auditorium from 7:45AM - 8:25AM. In addition to morning rehearsals, small group sectionals occur during activity period once a week. 

Mondays - Boys \ Tenors

Tuesdays - Treble II

Wednesday - Treble I

6th Grade chorus is open to all sixth graders who enjoy singing and is directed by Mrs. Rebecca Reid. Rehearsals are on Friday Mornings in the Auditorium from 7:45AM - 8:25AM. In addition to morning rehearsals, small group sectionals occur during activity period once a week. 

Mondays - Boys \ Tenors

Tuesdays - Treble II

Wednesday - Treble I

7/8 chorus is open to all seventh and eight graders who enjoy singing and is directed by Mrs. Rebecca Reid. Rehearsals are on Thursday Mornings in the Auditorium from 7:45AM - 8:25AM. In addition to morning rehearsals, small group sectionals occur during activity period once a week. 

Wednesdays - Altos & Sopranos

Thursdays - Tenors & Baritones

Friday - Accompianists & Soloists

Valley Forge Singers is an auditioned group for seventh and eighth graders who enjoy singing and is directed by Mrs. Rebecca Reid. Rehearsals are on Wednesday Mornings in the Auditorium from 7:45AM - 8:25AM. In addition to morning rehearsals, small group sectionals occur during activity period once a week. 

Mondays - Tenors & Baritones

Tuesdays - Altos & Sopranos

   5/6 Orchestra meets on Mondays at 7:45am in Room 113A and is directed by Mr. Ben Green. 5/6 Orchestra is open to any fifth or sixth grader who currently plays a string instrument. Students who wish to begin an instrument in 5th or 6th grade will participate in beginning band sectionals first before performing with the 5/6 Orchestra.

     5/6 Orchestra is a co-curricular program. Students are graded on a letter scale: O = Outstanding, S = Satisfactory, and U = Unsatisfactory. Rehearsal attendance, sectional attendance, participation, and attitude are the contributing factors to students' grades. 

     Sectionals refer to small group instruction that occur during the day on Monday. Sectionals are based on a rotating schedule so that students do not miss too much of one class. Below is an example of the schedule:

   7/8 Orchestra meets on Fridays at 7:45am in Room 113A and is directed by Mr. Craig Gonci. 7/8 Orchestra is open to any seventh or eighth grader who currently plays a string instrument. Students who wish to begin an instrument in 7th/8th grade will participate in beginning band sectionals first before performing with the 7/8 Orchestra. Wind instruments can audition for 7/8 Orchestra as well.

     7/8 Orchestra is a co-curricular program. Students are graded on a letter scale: O = Outstanding, S = Satisfactory, and U = Unsatisfactory. Rehearsal attendance, sectional attendance, participation, and attitude are the contributing factors to students' grades. 

     Sectionals refer to small group instruction that occur during the day on Friday. Sectionals are based on a rotating schedule so that students do not miss too much of one class. Below is an example of the schedule:

     Beginning instrument lessons are open to all VFMS students who are interested in starting a band or string instrument. Students will learn the basics of music performance, proper playing technique, correct posture, breathing, instrument maintenance, and sectional balance.  We will use “Standard of Excellence Book 1” lesson books which are available to purchase online or at a local music store. 

     Students involved in beginning band lessons will attend one sectional per week on Fridays starting in October. Sectionals occur during the school day, based on a rotating pullout schedule so that they do not miss too much of one class. Students taking beginning band lessons will be placed in a Schoology group called “Beginning Band”. The weekly sectional schedule will be posted on schoology, outside the music classrooms and in the 5th grade halls.

     Daily practice time is essential for student success. All beginning students should spend a minimum of 20 minutes each day on individual practice, especially in the beginning. The guidelines below will help to organize your practice time:

-   Practice in the same place each day. Be sure there are no distractions. If possible, practice in front of a mirror to check your embouchure, hand position, and posture.

-   Start with proper breathing and posture. Sit up straight. When you breathe in, your stomach and sides should move outwards like a balloon filling up. Shoulders should not move.  When you exhale, make a ‘s’ sound and push the air out. Try to make your air stream last 4 beats, then 8 beats. You should feel you stomach contracting. USE HOT AIR!........as if you were trying to fog up a mirror. 

-   Next, play long tones. Concentrate on producing a pleasing sound. Think about your breathing. Produce a steady and controlled air stream. No two musicians have the same tone. Always make sure that your tone is clear and beautiful.

-   Practice your assignments. Work on the parts that you cannot play. Practice them slowly at first and then increase the speed. Work one measure at a time for difficult parts.

-   Practice to a metronome.  Tap your foot with the beat. You can use a hardware metronome or a app on your smartphone or tablet.