ROGERS MIDDLE SCHOOL

ROCKET BAND!
THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY:

1. Those that WANT to do band

2. Those that DO NOT want to do band

3. Those who don’t know yet!

• Reminder: You may only join band in 6th grade. You will not
be able to join band in 7th grade or beyond. This is your only
chance!
 WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I
SIGN UP FOR BAND?

1. Counselors will give the Band Directors a list of students

who have signed up for Band.

2. We will have a virtual band parent meeting in March after

Spring Break.

3. We will set up an appointment in APRIL and MAY with each

student to help you choose an instrument and get you the
information you need.
 WHAT IF I ALREADY KNOW THE
INSTRUMENT I WANT TO PLAY?
• GREAT! Make sure you have three instrument
choices to choose from.

• We want to find the instrument that fits you

BEST and that you will be the most successful
playing! Keep an open mind!

• Each instrument requires certain physical

characteristics that we look for when pairing you
with the right instrument. We do this to check
that the instrument will be a good fit for you. We
want you to be successful, comfortable, and
enjoy playing the instrument!
 LET’S MEET THE INSTRUMENTS

• Woodwinds: Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, and Alto Saxophone

• Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba

• Percussion: Snare Drum, Marimba, and Timpani

 FLUTE
• Makes a sound by
blowing air across a
tone hole.
• Plays the highest
notes in the band.

q Sir James Galway plays flute!

q Lizzo plays flute!
 CLARINET
• Uses a reed to make a sound
• Plays both high and low

q Julian Bliss plays Flight of the

Bumblebee by Rimsky-Korsakov

.
q Golden Globe nominated actress
Eva Longoria played clarinet!
 ALTO SAXOPHONE
• Plays in the middle range
• Uses a reed to make a sound

q Golden Globe winner Jennifer

Garner plays saxophone

q NBA athlete Vince Carter played saxophone

 OBOE
• Uses a double reed
• Soloist Instrument!
• Very Unique!

q Katherine Needleman, professional

oboist, plays Old Town Road by Lil Nas X

q Shaq played oboe (once)!

BASSOON
• Uses a double reed
• Soloist Instrument!
• Very Unique!
• Like oboe, but bigger and lower
voice

q Actor Rainn Wilson

plays bassoon
 TRUMPET
• Makes a sound by buzzing
your lips together into a
mouthpiece
• Plays mostly higher notes
• Often plays the melody

q Astronaut John Glenn played trumpet

 FRENCH HORN
• Makes a sound by
buzzing lips together
into a mouthpiece
• Plays low and high
• Has the biggest range!
q Jedi Ewan McGregor played French
horn
q Samuel
Jackson
played
French
horn
 TROMBONE
• Makes a sound by buzzing lips
together into a mouthpiece
• Changes notes by moving a slide
• Plays lower notes

q Scarlett
Johansson
played
trombone!
 EUPHONIUM
• Makes a sound by
buzzing lips together
into a mouthpiece
• Plays lower notes

q Astronaut Neil Armstrong played

euphonium
 TUBA
• Makes a sound by buzzing lips
together into a mouthpiece
• Plays very low notes

q Famous singer Aretha Franklin played tuba

q Pro football player Fozzy Whittaker
played tuba (he’s from Pearland!)
 PERCUSSION
• Includes multiple instruments
• In 6th grade, you will focus on snare
drum, marimba, and timpani
• You get to play cool percussion only
ensembles in addition to band music

q Will Ferrell was a percussionist!

SO, WHY SHOULD I JOIN BAND?

• It’s the largest organization at RMS and BMJH!

• You get to learn something totally new!
• You get to perform and do concerts!
• You get to play cool music!
• You get to make new friends!
• You get to compete with your peers!
• You get to move on to Junior High and High
School Band (marching band is fun!).
 WHAT HAPPENS IN BAND AFTER RMS?

• Lots of concerts, contests, traveling and

fun

• Winning trophies and medals

• Social Events
SOME BAND PICTURES
SOME BAND TRAVEL
 RECAP OF TODAY
• If you want to join band, select it as your FIRST
choice on your course selection form.

• Come to the virtual parent meeting in March.

• Come to the interview time we set up for you and

bring a parent (and an open mind!).

• Have THREE instruments that you are interested in.

• Be ready to have fun and learn something new!