Mountaineer Middle School Band

Mr. Michael Cale, Director

Mr. Eric Stoneking, Assistant Director

ABOUT THE MOUNTAINEER MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND

The Mountaineer Middle School band is directed by Mr. Michael Cale and consists of just over 230 students grades six through eight.  The seventh and eighth grade bands are separated into brass/percussion and woodwinds, while the sixth grade has two classes of mixed ensemble.  There is also a “call-back” period in which most seventh grade students who are not in choir get a 30-minute sectional lesson once per week. 

Our assistant band director is Eric Stoneking.  He is the head band director at Liberty High School.  He comes up to Mountaineer Middle once per week to assist in after school private and sectional lessons and also helps in many ways with our concerts and other functions.  We also have an “unofficial” assistant in Mr. Sam Brunetti.  Mr. Brunetti teaches the music classes at M.M.S. and helps in any way he can.  He is a master band teacher with around 30 years experience teaching band, choir, and music.  The expertise and devotion that these individuals give, and the great support we receive from our administration and staff, is invaluable to the success of our band.  

In addition to occasional special public events at M.M.S., the seventh and eighth grade bands perform 3-4 times per year:  Once for a winter concert in December, a spring concert in May, and for the Region 10 annual band adjudications at Bridgeport Middle School on April 24.  The sixth grade will perform one concert during the “Music In Our Schools” month in March (date t.b.a.).

Coming Soon:  The Mountaineer Middle School band calendar.  Information on all happenings of the band program will be posted, including M.M.S. Band concerts, Liberty H.S. band functions and other information that may be of interest to the students and parents of band members.  There may also be a e-mail list to help with communication between the director and students/parents.

2008 All-County Cadet Band

Every year there are auditions designed to bring out the best band students in the county.  They audition to be a part of the annual All-County Cadet (Middle School) Band.  This year’s edition will consist of approximately 65 students in grades six through eight from six county middle schools:  Bridgeport, Lumberport, Mountaineer, South Harrison, and Washington-Irving Middle Schools as well as Heritage Christian Academy.  The band will meet 4 or 5 times on Thursday evenings in February and March at Lincoln High School and perform a concert at the beginning of March (stay tuned for date).

We would like to enthusiastically congratulate the students that will be a part of the All-County Band this year:

Flute:  Haley Currey and Nancy Patterson

Clarinet:  Cassie Baker, Elaina Newlon, and Brittany Todd

Tenor Sax:  Grant Bowles

Trumpet:  Erik Fuller, Alex Loar, and Cole Magruder

Trombone:  Ben Doughty

Tuba:  Ben Hutson

GRADING POLICY & SNAPGRADES

Mountaineer Middle School has instituted an online grade book that is easily accessible by all students and parents.  Just go to http://snapgrades.com and enter your login information.  If you have any questions on how to use snapgrades, go to the Mountaineer Middle School homepage and follow the links for snapgrades.

Students get 5 points daily for participation.  Additional assignments and grades will be announced on this site and on snapgrades.com.  Students will be notified one week prior to any assignment being due.

PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS

There is no better way to get the most out of your music than private lessons.  In addition to lessons on their band instrument, students can benefit greatly from private study on strings, guitar, piano, and voice (among other things).  I strongly advocate private lessons to any student wanting to be the best musician they can be.  Please check with me for an extensive list of resources for private music lessons.

LINKS

SmartMusic – The best computer-based music tool on the market.  Click on the link to see a demonstration of everything that this awesome program is capable of doing.  Brings the fun back into practicing.

Liberty High School Band – Great high school band website with some information relative to middle school students.  Includes mailing list, practice tools, audio/video, calendar and much, much more.

Shinnston Community Band – An excellent alternative to school band, this band (also directed by Mr. Cale) is comprised of musicians from Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, and even Pocahontas Counties.  The SCB accepts all interested musicians that want to extent their instrumental music experience beyond school bands.  We have had members as young as 6th grade and as old as 90!  In fact, there are a few Mountaineer M.S. students that are members.  See Mr. Cale for more information.