The Sixth Grade Band is a class that meets five days a week. The prelude to the class is a music aptitude survey that is given during the spring of their fifth grade year. This survey determines if the student can discern between pitch, rhythm, and chords which helps direct the student to choosing the best instrument for which they may be suited. Upon starting the sixth grade, the students are asked to have two or three instruments in mind that they would like to play choosing from the flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombone, or percussion. The students are then fitted to the instrument that best fits the physical characteristics of their facial mask. We ask that any student wishing to play in the percussion section have a good background in piano skills with at least two years of private instruction prior to the sixth grade.
The Band itself is split into like instrument classes that meet during the sixth (high brass, saxes, and percussion) and seventh hour (low brass, woodwind) periods. The band performs three concerts during the school year: the annual Toys-for-Tots/Holiday concert in December which takes place during the school day, the winter concert in February, and the spring concert in April. The sixth grade band also performs for the fifth graders at the end of the school year when they make their trip to the middle school for their orientation. Following the winter concert students are given the opportunity to audition for “specialty instruments” consisting of the: oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, tenor sax, bari sax, baritone, and tuba. Students chosen will be asked to take lessons in order to catch up with the other students.
The sixth grade uniform consists of black pants (no skirts, leggings, or yoga pants), black socks, black shoes, and a yellow Mattawan Bands t-shirt that is provided to the students.
Parents are encouraged to attend any or all of these events to support their children and the Mattawan Bands.