Ransom Middle School Band strives to give students the foundation needed to be successful in music. The Symphonic & Jazz Bands earn consistent superior ratings at District MPA.  Ransom is consistently represented at the Florida All State Band & All-County Band. Students also participate in the Solo & Ensemble MPA each February. The Ransom Band has competed in festivals in Atlanta, Tampa, Panama City & Orlando. In 2008, the Symphonic Band earned the highest marks at Festival Disney earning the “gold” for the festival. Most recently, each band performed a 30 minute concert in Walt Disney World as a part of the Disney Performing Arts program. Most of our students continue their music education in high school & even in college bands.

Join the band to “plug into” a positive & encouraging middle school experience.

The Ransom Middle School Band offers 3 levels of bands:  Beginning Band, Concert Band, & Symphonic Band. These bands meet daily during the school day.

Beginning Band

Beginning Band is divided into 3 classes: Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion. There is no musical experience necessary to join the Beginning Band. 5^th Grade “Try-Out” Nights are usually held in May. Students are able to take all the instruments for a “test drive” & select the instrument that is the best fit. The purpose of this class is to become proficient in order to move to an advanced class by the second year. The Beginning Band presents 2 concerts each year. (December & May) There are no after/before school rehearsals.

Woodwinds: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone

Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba

Percussion: Snare Drum & Bells

After the first year in Beginning Band, students are placed in one of the advanced bands.

Concert Band

Concert Band includes students with 1-2 years of playing experience. Students in this band are still in the developing stages of tone quality & rhythm reading skills. This is a performance class (concerts & District MPA). While not the top performing ensemble, this class will place demands on the student in the areas of commitment, attitude, behavior and performance.

Symphonic Band

Symphonic Band includes students with 1-2 years of playing experience. The band is a performance class (Concerts, District MPA, & other special events). This band is the highest level of band taught at Ransom and is open by audition only.Students demonstrate a mature tone quality, high rhythm reading skills, & a knowledge of major scales.  It is reserved for students who pass the audition satisfactorily, is willing to do more than the minimum, and who is willing to practice consistently at home for musical and personal improvement. This class will place demands on the student in the areas of commitment, attitude, behavior and performance.

Other ensembles that are a part of the Ransom Band are Jazz Band, Brass Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble & Percussion Ensemble. The smaller ensembles meet before or after school.

Jazz Band

Our Jazz Band is a group of dedicated & motivated 7^th & 8^th grade students. Membership is based on an audition in August. The Ransom Jazz Band earns consistent superior ratings at District MPA. The group performs throughout the community. The Jazz Band has also been selected to perform in Walt Disney World in 2004 & 2008. Jazz Band rehearses on Tuesday & Thursday mornings from 8am-9am.

Student Instruments: Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, or Percussion

Students who wish to play these instruments need to contact the local music store for information on instrument rental/purchase programs.

School Owned Instruments: French Horn, Baritone, Tuba

Students who wish to play these instruments pay a yearly rental fee to the band to use the instrument. The rental fee covers a yearly cleaning of the instrument.