Elementary & Honor Bands
The Watterson Area Feeder School Program consists of 5th-8th grade students from most of our feeder schools. There are five bands in which students can participate: Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, Advanced Band, Honor Band, and Honor Jazz Band. All of these groups perform in the two Area Band Concerts and have the option to participate in the Ohio Music Education Association’s Solo and Ensemble Contest in the spring of each year.
Elementary Honor & Jazz Band
The Watterson Honor Band is made up of students in 6th-8th grades who are already a part of the Watterson Area Band Program. This group auditions for the directors in mid-September and rehearses every Tuesday evening from 6:30-7:45 from October through December, and from 6:30-8:00 from January through May. The Honor Band has been performing grade 2½ to 3 music and is expected to do a lot of outside practice on their own. This ensemble also has the pleasure of a guest conductor each year. Honor Band students in 7th and 8th grade are often asked to perform in ensembles at Solo and Ensemble, and many decide to perform solos as well. Any interested students should talk to their Area Band director at the start of the year for information regarding Honor Band.
The Watterson Honor Jazz Band is made up of students from the Honor Band who wish to play a different style of music than in the traditional concert band setting. All Honor Band woodwinds, brass, and percussionists playing drum set are also part of the the Jazz Band. Piano, guitar and bass players who are not in the Honor Band are welcome to audition in mid-September as well, and should contact the Honor Band Directors at the beginning of the school year for audition information. Jazz Band only members (piano, guitars) will rehearse from from 7:15-7:45 every Tuesday evening from October through December, and then 7:30-8:00 January through May.
The Honor Band and Honor Jazz Band perform at the Christmas Concert (no Jazz Band), the Spring Concert, OMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest, the Honor Band Tour in May, and the annual adjudicated event in May.
Performances
There are two concerts that the Watterson Area Band Program puts on each year: one in December and the second in May. The Christmas Concert features the members of the Beginning Band, the Intermediate Band, the Advanced Band, and the Honor Band. The Spring Concert features the same groups with the addition of the Honor Jazz Band. Each concert has extra rehearsals to put all nine feeder schools together. They are normally scheduled the Tuesday, Thursday, and day before each concert, and are extremely important to the success of the concerts. All Watterson Area Band students are invited to participate in the Solo and Ensemble Contest, usually at the end of March/beginning of April. The directors will have information should students be interested in this event.
Elementary Honor & Jazz Band
The Watterson Honor Band is made up of students in 6th-8th grades who are already a part of the Watterson Area Band Program. This group auditions for the directors in mid-September and rehearses every Tuesday evening from 6:30-7:45 from October through December, and from 6:30-8:00 from January through May. The Honor Band has been performing grade 2½ to 3 music and is expected to do a lot of outside practice on their own. This ensemble also has the pleasure of a guest conductor each year. Honor Band students in 7th and 8th grade are often asked to perform in ensembles at Solo and Ensemble, and many decide to perform solos as well. Any interested students should talk to their Area Band director at the start of the year for information regarding Honor Band.
The Watterson Honor Jazz Band is made up of students from the Honor Band who wish to play a different style of music than in the traditional concert band setting. All Honor Band woodwinds, brass, and percussionists playing drum set are also part of the the Jazz Band. Piano, guitar and bass players who are not in the Honor Band are welcome to audition in mid-September as well, and should contact the Honor Band Directors at the beginning of the school year for audition information. Jazz Band only members (piano, guitars) will rehearse from from 7:15-7:45 every Tuesday evening from October through December, and then 7:30-8:00 January through May.
The Honor Band and Honor Jazz Band perform at the Christmas Concert (no Jazz Band), the Spring Concert, OMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest, the Honor Band Tour in May, and the annual adjudicated event in May.
Performances
There are two concerts that the Watterson Area Band Program puts on each year: one in December and the second in May. The Christmas Concert features the members of the Beginning Band, the Intermediate Band, the Advanced Band, and the Honor Band. The Spring Concert features the same groups with the addition of the Honor Jazz Band. Each concert has extra rehearsals to put all nine feeder schools together. They are normally scheduled the Tuesday, Thursday, and day before each concert, and are extremely important to the success of the concerts. All Watterson Area Band students are invited to participate in the Solo and Ensemble Contest, usually at the end of March/beginning of April. The directors will have information should students be interested in this event.