Welcome to Franklin Middle School Band!!!!

• General Info about FMS Bands

• Performance Schedule
• Jazz Bands at FMS
• State Standards
• Grading Procedures
• Music Boosters
• Elementary School Band Information
• Resources

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!!!! 

7th & 8th Grade:  G-flat Major Scale is due on Friday, September 10th.

6th Grade: Theory Lesson #1 is due on Wednesday, September 8th.  Playing Tests and Practice Cards are due on Friday, September 10th.

6th Grade Rehearsal Schedule   7th & 8th Grade Rehearsal Schedule

          The goal of the FMS Band is to foster a life long love of music and making music.  Mr. Brown hopes to see all students who join 6^th Grade Band at FMS go on to play in their respective High School Band when they graduate as 8^th Grade students. 

          Students in the FMS Band Program will learn all 12 Major and Natural Minor Scales and Arpeggios and how to read all basic rhythms and how to decipher the more complex rhythms of advanced music.  Students will study and perform all styles of music from Orchestral Transcriptions up to current Modern Techniques of composing and performing.  Band meets everyday at Franklin M.S. and at the following times:  7th Grade @ 8:59-9:42, 6th Grade @ 9:46-10:30, 8th Grade @ 10:31-11:14, 6th Grade AVID Band @ 11:20-12:04 and 7th Grade AVID Band @ 2:12-2:55.  Visitors are always welcome, all I ask is that you let me know when you are coming. 

Performance Schedule
          Performances with a Blue background are mandatory performances for the ensemble listed and those with a White background are for individuals who choose to attend.  Other events will be added throughout the year.  Please check back often.

          The Franklin Jazz Program has been in existence since 1995.  Any student who is a member of the Concert Band or Orchestra and wants to learn about Jazz and how to play it may participate in the Lab Jazz Band.  Mr. Brown will invite students who exhibit an excellent attitude and work ethic to participate in the Franklin Middle School Jazz Ensemble if there are enough students to have 2 groups.  This group will be a traditional Jazz Band with only Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, Piano, Bass, Drums & Guitar and only 1 person on each part.  If a student wishes to participate in the Jazz Ensemble, they must exhibit an excellent attitude and work ethic during the Lab Jazz Band rehearsals.  Information will be sent home at the end of September.

          Click here to go to the Illinois State Board of Education website and view the Illinois Learning Standards for the Fine Arts.  Information is also available for all academic areas along the right side of the web-page.

          The Franklin Instrumental Music Boosters is a group made up of all Band & Orchestra parents and anyone else who wants to help support the Franklin Instrumental Music programs.  The main goal of this group is as an advocate for the students and directors.  In the past, the Music Boosters have provided scholarships to Summer Music Camps, paid for University of Illinois students to come and teach weekly Master Classes, purchased a TV/VCR and Video Camera as well as lending support as chaperones and "roadies" whenever the band and orchestra travel to elementary schools and festivals/contests.

          Our main fundraiser is the Patronage Drive, which lasts all year.  Anyone can donate any amount of money to the music boosters and will receive recognition in our concert programs as well as at the school board meetings.  These donations are also tax deductible.  We also have one traditional fundraiser each year.  The Music Boosters sell boxes of Fannie Mae candy.  The Fannie Mae kick-off will be held at the Fall Concert on October 16th. 

          If you have any questions about the Music Booster activities, or would like to volunteer your time or talents, contact the Music Booster President,  Lisa Kocheril. 

          Below are some links to other web pages that may be of interest to you.  If you have found a site that other band students and parents should know about, please send me the address and I will check it out and possibly add it to our list.

University of Illinois School of Music               Illinois Music Educators Association              

Illinois Grade School Music Association         The Music Shoppe               Samuel Music

Windplayer Magazine          International Trumpet Guild-Youth Site          Percussive Arts Society

          This portion of the web page is devoted to information for the students at Dr. Howard and Garden Hills Elementary Schools.  More information will be given out when it becomes available.

Keep practicing at home and bring those instruments so we can hear the wonderful sounds of beginning band!!!!!!

this page last updated September 03, 2010