Hello! My name is Cathy Brown and I am the Band Director at JFHMS. I have the best job in the world, and I think EVERYONE should give Band a try at some point in middle school! It is easier on you to start Band during the first term of 6th grade, but we do have beginner Band members at all grade levels. Just because you didn't do it last year doesn't mean it's too late to start now. Band is always for everyone!

Band is a full-year class that allows students plenty of time to get comfortable with their instrument. Reading music is like learning another language, and it takes time to become fluent; if you can count to four and know your alphabet A-G, you know more than enough to get started in Band. Mrs. Brown will help you figure out what instrument is the easiest for you to play and teach you how to play it. Instruments can be rented through a local music store, but in some cases, we might have an instrument you can borrow for free!

Strong first-year players can join the JFH Pep Band during the second semester and play rock music at basketball games. Starting in your second full year of Band, you can also participate in fun events outside of our school, including the JMU Lab Band, the City-County Honor Band, or even compete to earn a spot in the All-District Concert Band and the All-District Jazz Band. 7th and 8th grade Band members also get to travel to perform with the JFH Concert Band and JFH Jazz Band at the Music in the Parks competition in Busch Gardens/Williamsburg.

Guitar is a semester-long class that will offer you the opportunity to learn to play guitar while reading music, reading TAB, and reading chord charts while strumming and fingerpicking. In guitar class, students can grow at their own pace and play the music they enjoy from various books and websites.

There are no competitions for Guitar class members at the moment, though we do use Guitar and Bass in Pep Band and Jazz Band, offering you a chance to use your skills in those ensembles if you are interested. Guitar class members also have the option to perform at the Small Ensemble Showcase events offered in the fall and spring.

Guitar is a semester-long class that will offer you the opportunity to learn to play guitar while reading music, reading TAB, and reading chord charts while strumming and fingerpicking. In guitar class, students can grow at their own pace and play the music they enjoy from various books and websites.

There are no competitions for Guitar class members at the moment, though we do use Guitar and Bass in Pep Band and Jazz Band, offering you a chance to use your skills in those ensembles if you are interested. Guitar class members also have the option to perform at the Small Ensemble Showcase events offered in the fall and spring.