Future Members

Welcome to the University School Middle School Band!  We are the largest organization in the middle school, with over 100 members!!!  We play for many USchool events as well as travel around the state of Florida to show off our skills and our love of music!  Students who sign up for band in sixth grade will be a part of the beginning band. Anyone can join, regardless of previous music experience!!   Students will pick an instrument during the first two weeks of school, and then we'll start at the very beginning.  All students perform their first concert after only 6 weeks of playing!!.

Top 10 Reasons for Joining Band:

• 10 - You'll meet lots of new friends!
• 9 - You learn to play a cool new instrument!
• 8 - AWARDS!!!!  The band program has brought home over 100 awards this year!
• 7 - You'll play many exciting performances!
• 6 - You'll have the Convocation Center as your own personal hangout!!!
• 5 - There is almost always CANDY available to you!
• 4 - Band is FUN - You'll laugh more in this class than any other
• 3 - NO HOMEWORK!!!
• 2 - GREAT TRIPS!!!!  (Disney, Universal Studios, Naples Jazz Festival, MPA, etc)
• 1 - Unlike other classes....you will NEVER forget band.  These memories will stay with you for the rest of your life!

Check out some of the fun music we've played this year.

Wind Ensemble playing The Flintstones on our Fall "Costume" Concert

Wind Ensemble playing SpongeBob SquarPants at UNIVERSAL STUDIOS!!!!

Wind Ensemble playing The Chicken Dance at UNIVERSAL STUDIOS!!!

Jazz Band playing Blue Beamer at the Naples Jazz Festival

• Blue Beamer

All of the kids on these recordings got their start in beginning band.  No experience is necessary to play in beginning band.  We go through the whole process together.  We learn how to read music and we discover what instrument will be the right choice for YOU!  You get to make the decisions with Mr. Russo's help and guidance.

If you have ANY questions, don't hesitate to ask.  You can email Mr. Russo anytime!  We look forward to seeing you next year in the Middle School Band program!!!

Here are pictures from some of this year's performances:

Jazz Band's THREE trophies from the Naples Jazz Festival	Jazz Band in the clinic at the Naples Jazz Festival	Mr. Russo as Fred Flintstone for the Costume Concert	Renata at the Costume Concert
Our 13 All County Band Members	Jazz Band playing at a Florida Panthers Game	Beginning Band Posing for their Yearbook Photo	Wind Ensemble's Percussionists at the Costume Concert!

Frequently Asked Questions about the Middle School Band
Have a question that you don’t see here? Email Mr. Russo!

Q. I already play an instrument. Do I need to start in beginning band?

A. No - If you already have experience on a band instrument, contact Mr. Russo. Sixth grade students with prior experience on a band instrument can be placed into Symphonic Band.

Q. What if I don’t know what instrument I want to play yet?

A. That’s not a problem - most beginning band students don’t know what they want to play before the school year starts. During the first two weeks of school, you will have a chance to learn about and hear every instrument. At the end of the second week, you will try some of the instruments. Then you and Mr. Russo will decide what instrument is best for you.