Dear Future Band Family,

We are so excited that you are going to be a part of the Ocoee Middle School Band family.  We truly believe that there is nothing better for students than music education.  

Because of the current situation with COVID- 19, we have to modify our usual instrument selection process.  Any student can be a part of the Ocoee Colt band! Usually we have two evenings at Ocoee where students come in and try all of the beginning band instruments.  Beginning band instruments are: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or percussion.  Students then meet with a band director and express their top three instrument choices.  The band directors then look over the information collected during the “try out” and place the student on the instrument that we feel the student will be most successful with.  We consider things like the physical structure of the child’s face and mouth, and also how well they were able to make a sound on each of the instruments, as well as the student’s choice.  We also have to keep a balanced ensemble in mind as we place students on instruments.  A band cannot be successful without this.  If a football team is made up of only quarterbacks, they will not win any games.   We do our very best to ensure that as many students as possible are placed on their first or second choice instruments.   Occasionally a student may have to be placed on their third choice.

Obviously we cannot do this at this time for many reasons.  While we will not be able to make any final decisions on instruments until we are all back in school in the fall,  we would like to place as many students as possible in the correct class (woodwind class, brass class, percussion class) to make things easier for creating schedules.  In the fall, we will be able to get a better idea about what instrument a student will be most successful with.  Please watch the instrument videos with your student and discuss which instrument they might like to play, then fill out the google form to help us with class rosters. If your child is unsure, that is perfectly fine.  They may still sign up for band and we will figure out the instrument in the fall.  

No instrument selection is final without the decision of the OMS band directors.  

We look forward to having you as a member of the Ocoee Middle School Band.  If you have any questions, the best way to contact us is through email:
kburroughs@bradleyschools.org        shughes@bradleyschools.org


Thank you, and be well.
Kelley Burroughs
Spencer Hughes
Ocoee Middle School Band Directors