Do you have to know how to read and play music to be in 8th grade band?

Question

not honor, all-star, or pep

Answer 1

Yes, if you are joining band late, like in your case 8th grade, then you have to know it. But if you don't, I think that they teach you how to do everything that everyone else knows already early on that year so you wouldn't be left behind. That's what they do in my school.

Answer 2

Hi again,

  If you want to be in the band... your parents can get you in if they are persistent.    You will be required to be in the beginning band... and that is with the 6 graders... but don't let that discourage you.   Within the first 12 weeks you are taught how to read and play music.  The rest of the year, you are taught the basics.

In the 9th grade you will be placed in the 9th grade band... and if I can offer some valuable advice....  get a teacher to help you even if it is for just a couple of months.  You can catch up and be as good as any of the other players... as long as you practice every day.  And here I will tell you that not all of the students are practicing every day... SO, every day you DO practice, is another day you begin to catch up with them.

You will love being in the band if you are not shy to working and practicing.  High school band is much more fun to be in than Jr High band.   It is something you can look forward to.

If you really want to get a good head start... try to find that teacher now.   Your band director will appreciate it and you will go right to the head of the section in a matter of weeks.

Don't give up this dream !!!

Thanks for reading.

And Best of Luck to you

Answer 3

if you don't know how when you start, you better know how when yougraduate!!!!

Answer 4

Nope they usually start from the very beginning:) Good Luck

Answer 5

some schools dont, some schools do, but if you dont, then you need to learn some because if you dont know any music, then chances are people arent gonna teach you, and if you know just a little, then you can catch up.

Answer 6

No, but in my school, they expect you to take lessons if you don't know how to play your instrument. You might run into problems if they do individual seating tests (they take you into a room and ask you to play a piece in order to seat you; they might ask if you take lessons).

Why would you want to join the band if you didn't know the instrument? Unless you joined percussion (they usually read only cue notes unless you're not playing timpani), you would have to read some kind of music.  

Answer 7

In my school, we start instruments in 5th grade if we want to, and after 5th grade you cannot join orchestra or band, only chorus, and once you're in high school you cannot join chorus, but that is in my school. They vary depending on what school you go to.