CONTESTS
The Seventh and Eighth Grade Band will participate in the Region U.I.L. Concert and Sight-reading Contest in the spring. The Sixth Grade Band will compete at the Sandy Lake Festival and Jacksboro Festival. The Seventh and Eighth grade bands may participate in one or more invitational contests in the spring semester.
JR. HIGH DISTRICT BAND
All-District Band tryouts are required. This competition will enhance the students' musical achievement, and benefit the band as a whole. Students selected to the bands will work with guest conductors and perform a public concert at the conclusion of the clinic.
SOLO AND ENSEMBLE CONTEST
Students who are interested in performing a solo or participating in an ensemble will be given the opportunity to do so. Seventh and Eighth graders are STRONGLY encouraged to do so. Students who earn a first division on their events will receive a medal for their performance. This is one of the finest opportunities of the year for students to enhance their performance capabilities. This contest is generally held in April.
PUBLIC CONCERTS
Any band concert is open to the public and free of charge. The bands will present a Fall Concert, a Holiday Concert, a pre-U.I.L. contest concert featuring our contest selections, and a spring concert of popular selections.
All students will be properly attired for these events. The Director will designate appropriate dress for the event. ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED!
TRYOUTS
The seating arrangements for the Graham Junior High School Bands are based on a tryout and challenge system. Once a student has been placed in a chair, the student may challenge another student for their chair. STUDENTS MUST ACCEPT A CHALLENGE or forfeit their chair.
Students will complete a challenge form by selecting one exercise from the band tryout materials. Each student will be responsible for both exercises selected. The students will draw for playing positions before the challenge.
The band director(s) will judge the tryout based on tone quality, technique, and musicianship. In the event of a tie, the director will choose another exercise to break the tie. If the challenger wins, the challengee moves down one chair. If the challengee wins, no seating change occurs. Students will have one week to prepare challenge materials. The challenger may delay the challenge, by student illness, or at the discretion of the director.
Challenges may begin in the second month of school, and continue until the week before concert contest. Challenges will resume following concert contest. A student may be scheduled for only two challenges at a time, and three days must elapse between the hearings of challenges.