Band

Teacher Information:
Patrick Collins
pcollins@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Courses Offered:

6^th Grade Woodwinds and Percussion
6^th Grade Brass and Percussion
7^th Grade Band
7^th Grade Symphonic Band
8^th Grade Band
8^th Grade Symphonic Band

Extracurriculars:

Pep Band (7^th and 8^th Grade)
6^th Grade Advanced Band (Spring)

What is Band?

Band is a Connections class that meets every day for the entire school year that you can choose to join in any grade. We teach all of the instruments of the woodwind, brass and percussion instrument families. Sorry, no string instruments.

No experience is needed. We start from the basics of music reading and teach you everything you need to know about how to play your instrument. Band is inclusive and all students are welcome to join.

Learning music is a lifelong activity that will enrich your life. Music adds meaning and value to who we are, and it reinforces language, math, science, and social studies concepts. Students who learn to play an instrument or sing often academically outperform their non-musical peers.

Make great friends, have great experiences, and go on great adventures by joining one the largest groups in the school!

What do parents say about band?

"They learned to play an instrument, learned discipline through practice, made friends, and had great adventures!" – Winifred (Mother of 2 Band Students)

"Not only has the band program helped my children with an enriching and challenging musical experience, it has also helped them with gaining a strong and supportive group of friends. In middle school, where the students move from class to class mingling with different sets of friends, the band program provided them with a stable group of supportive friends. I find Band to be an anchor for my children in their middle school years where things are constantly changing around them." – Raji (Mother of 2 Band Students)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I have to be selected to join Band? No, we take any and every student who is interested in learning to play an instrument. No experience needed.
2. How do I pick an instrument? We will help you! We host instrument fitting events where professional musicians will work with you to try different instruments and help you decide which one will be the most successful fit for you.

3. Do I need to buy an instrument? Some instruments are provided by the school (such as Tuba and Bassoon) and some will need to be rented or purchased from a reputable music dealer.

4. Can I still take Chorus/PE/Marketing/Engineering/Etc.? Yes, you can still experience all the other connections classes - you do not have to choose one over the other!
5. Can I be involved in other activities and clubs? Yes, our band students are active in every club and organization on campus, as well as participate in school sports (football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, golf, track, cross country, cheerleading, etc.) and activities outside of school (Boy Scouts, Softball, Baseball, Lacrosse, Dance, Ballet, Drama, etc.). Many politicians, athletes, scientists, and entertainers played in the school band!
6. Why should I do Band? There are lots of reasons, but here are a few:
   1. Development of cooperation, accountability, teamwork, self-expression, responsibility, discipline, perseverance, patience, self-esteem, listening skills, and a life-long enjoyment of music.
   2. Research findings suggest that children who are in music programs see significant benefits in reading, math, and logical-sequential thinking.
   3. High school students who remain in a quality music program average 20 to 40 points higher on the SAT in both the math and verbal portions.
   4. Music Majors see the highest medical school acceptance rate of any major at 66% (compared to Biochemistry Majors at 44%).
   5. National Merit Scholars are involved in music programs more than any other single activity in school.