8th Grade Band
Effort = Success
by Mike Koch
August 22, 2007
Eighth grade band meets as a full band class Monday through Friday during the school day. The eighth grade band joins the seventh grade band during marching season and performs in the local Old West Weekend Parade where they have consistently received SUPERIOR ratings. They perform concerts in December, March, and May. The eighth grade band participates in the Western Nebraska Middle Level Music Contest where they have consistently received SUPERIOR ratings. Members of the eighth grade band also have the opportunity to participate in the BMS Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, and Woodwind Ensemble. The eighth grade band attends a concert band festival held at Elitch Gardens in Denver each spring.
The Bluffs Middle School Eighth Grade Bands have performed at the NSBA Convention (2000), at the NMEA Convention (2002), received a SUPERIOR rating and the First Place trophy in their class at the Music In The Parks Concert Band Festival in Denver, CO (2005), were asked to perform as a “demonstration band” at the NMEA Convention (2005), received a SUPERIOR rating and the First Place trophy in their class at the Music In The Parks Concert Band Festival in Denver, CO where they also received the trophy for Best Overall Junior High/Middle School Concert Band (2007 and 2008).
BMS 8th Grade Band Wins Colorado Contest
The Bluffs Middle School 8th Grade Concert Band, under the direction of Mr. Michael A. Koch, won top honors for the second year in a row during the “Music in the Parks” Festival on Saturday, May 10.
The musicians performed at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado. The band was adjudicated by two judges on tone quality, intonation, rhythm, technique, and musicality. They performed two pieces for the judges: “Under The Double Eagle” arranged by Robert Thurston and “Midnight Escape” by Larry Neeck.
The band received a Superior Rating from both of the judges and the First Place trophy for Class A (schools of 750 or less). BMS competed against seven other schools in this classification. The band also received the trophy for Best Overall Junior High/Middle School Concert Band (receiving a score of 97 out of 100 points). The Band competed against 13 other middle school bands for the overall trophy.
Please go to the Pictures page of the Band web site to see pictures from the "Music In The Parks" Festival.
2008-2009 SHS Band Chair Test Results
*You will need to download Finale Performance Assessment Software (free download - see bottom of page) to access the All-State Etudes
Flute All-State Etudes
Triple Grace Note - Audio File
Clarinet All-State Etudes
Bass Clarinet All-State Etudes
Alto Sax All-State Etudes
Trumpet All-State Etudes
Trombone/Baritone All-State Etudes
Tuba All-State Etudes
Download Finale Performance Assessment
