About the Bands

What We Do

Beginning Band

The beginning band program at Haltom Middle School is the foundation for the entire band program. Beginning band is structured to teach each student the fundamental music skills required to be successful on their instrument. No experience required!

During the school year, the Haltom Middle School Beginning Band has the following goals and objectives:

To learn and demonstrate the band content standards as outlined by the Texas State Board of Education
To learn and demonstrate the process of creating and perfecting music through various concerts and performance opportunities
To introduce and master fundamental instrumental technique and musical ability
To develop and grow music vocabulary and theory
To prepare for middle school band playing standards

Beginning Band has multiple performances, including:

Winter Concert
Spring Concert
Spring Festival Trip (including a ‘fun’ activity like NRH20)

Symphonic Band

Director: Long Nguyen

Meeting: All-Year, 6th period

Prerequisites: One or more years of band. Also in good academic and behavior standing with the Haltom band department.

Symphonic Band emphasizes the development of individual and full-band performance skills in preparation for promotion into the Honors Bands. The class is geared for students in the 7th and 8th grades who had 6th-grade beginning band, but need additional reinforcement of fundamentals. The class is taught at an accelerated pace, and therefore individual practice at home is required. The students learn basic fundamentals and the basic elements of melody and harmony are introduced. A basic level of technical playing proficiency is developed and enjoyed in multiple performing opportunities. Students will attend one weekly co-curricular section practice, or “sectional,” which will last for 60 minutes either before or after school. Symphonic band is a group that focuses on improving the individual student.

Honors Band

Director: Chris Sebesta

Meeting: All-Year, 5th Period

Prerequisites: One or more years of band. Also in good academic and behavior standing with the Haltom band department. Successful audition during the previous school year.

This advanced-level band class emphasizes the development of full-band performance skills in preparation for concerts and UIL contest. The band is a full ensemble which plays grade 2-4 literature. The students continue developing solid fundamentals, increase music ability and range, and prepare students for high school band. The elements of more complex melody and harmony and interpretation are addressed, and a higher level of technical playing proficiency is developed and enjoyed in multiple performing opportunities. Individual growth and achievement are encouraged through solo and ensemble performance, Pre-UIL Contest, UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest, All-District band auditions, TMEA Region Honor Band auditions, and various concerts. Students will attend one weekly co-curricular section practice, or “sectional,” which will last for 60 minutes either before or after school. These are scheduled the first week of school and will be the same day each week and will continue into the month of May. Attendance at these are mandatory, graded, and are considered an extension of classroom instruction.

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