Band at EMS
Typically, students start band in 5th grade at EMS in quarter 2, after an instrument selection night. Any students in 6th through 8th grade are welcome to join the band at any time if they didn’t join in 5th grade! It’s as easy as talking to Mr. Profitt, Mr. Wyland, or Mr. Roth.
For 5th grade students, instrument selection night is when they get to come in and try their top three instrument choices. After they try the instruments, they check out with one of the band directors, and then we decide which instrument they can play. Students can play any of the typical band instruments, with one exception: if you want to play saxophone, you have to play clarinet for a year first. The instruments you can choose from are flute, clarinet, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone/euphonium, tuba, and percussion (students will learn how to play mallet instruments as well as snare drum).
Other things to note about EMS bands: once students are in 7th grade, they can join our jazz band (The Swingin’ Hornets), which plays at the Barn III, the Spring Arts Festival in downtown Peoria, and also tours Congerville/Goodfield Elementary School. 5th and 6th grade students have two concerts a year: a Christmas concert and our Spring Fling concert in May. 7th and 8th grade bands have an October concert called the Spooktacular Concert, where we play movie and Halloween music. In September, we perform with the high school marching band at a football game, perform at the February Dinner & a Concert Night, attend a large group festival, and perform at the Spring Fling Concert.
Mr. Profitt teaches the EHS band, pep band, and marching band, as well as all the bands at EMS with Mr. Wyland.
I asked Mr. Wyland what band means to him, and here’s what he said:
Band, for me, has always been the place where I feel the most at home. I always did well in school, but didn’t really love any of my classes. I always liked learning, but when I started taking private flute lessons in middle school, I realized that with hard work and a good mentor, you can improve quickly. When I was in middle school, my band director let me practice flute in the band room every day during lunch. I realized in 6th grade that I wanted to be a middle school band director, and now I’m living the dream!
Band is a place where you can learn a new skill (like playing an instrument!), meet new friends, perform for friends and family, and grow as a person. Band has been the most influential thing in my life.
Here is why some people joined band:
Milo Stalter: I joined band because my brother did, and it sounded fun.
Solo Mooney: I joined band because I grew up playing drums.
Aaron Stoller: I joined because I thought it would be fun.
Here are the instruments these students play:
Milo Stalter: I play the trombone, which is the best.
Solo Mooney: I play percussion (snare drum).
Aaron Stoller: I play trombone.
