GCMS Music Programs

Rotation Schedules

2021-2022 GCMS 7th/8th Grade MUSIC ENSEMBLE- ROTATION SCHEDULE- STUDENTS WHO PLAY IN BAND & ORCHESTRA AND SING IN THE CHORUS

Required Coursework

• One cycle of General Music for all sixth and seventh graders.
  • Students meet in the GCMS MIDI LAB (room 316) with Mr. Varano.
  • Students gain an appreciation for music as well as have the opportunity to interact with a variety of media and computer software applications.

Elective Coursework

• Sixth Grade Concert Band, Sixth Grade Orchestra, and Sixth Grade Chorus.
  • Each group rehearses separately two times per week, one on a designated morning before school and the other during the school day on Thursdays.
    • The band meets with Mr. Larsen in the band room 
    • The orchestra meets with Mr. Downey in the orchestra room
    • The chorus meets with Ms. Larsen in the auditorium.
  • The students prepare for several performances throughout the school year (winter, early spring, and late spring).
  • In May, all three groups attend an adjudicated festival at a high school in southern New Jersey followed by an afternoon at Great Adventure.
  • All students that play in the GCMS bands and orchestras are required to study their instrument in a small group setting of like instruments once a week throughout the school year.
    • These instrumental music lessons are critical in the development and musical welfare of the student for they focus on the finer details of the physical components with instruction delivered by a music teacher who specializes on that particular instrument.
    • Students' lessons are designed on a rotating schedule meaning they meet on the same day of the week but the lesson rotates to a different block of time as the weeks progress.
    • Students do receive a grade exclusively for instrumental lessons in addition to the grade they receive in band and/or orchestra.
    • Please refer by clicking on the links GCMS Instrumental Music Grading Policy and GCMS Instrumental Music Grading Rubric listed on the menu located on the left for more detail. Each student taking instrumental music lessons will receive this information at their first lesson by their instrumental music teacher and will be asked to keep with their materials.
  • Most of our students in these elected courses started an instrument and/or sang in elementary school but some decide to begin in sixth grade. If your son/daughter wishes to begin an instrument and/or sing in the chorus, contact Mr. Meyer.

• Seventh Grade Concert Band, Eighth Grade Concert Band, combined Seventh/Eighth Grade Chorus, and combined Seventh/Eighth Grade Orchestra.
  • Each group rehearses separately two times per week, one on a designated morning before school and the other during the school day on Thursdays.
    • Seventh grade band meets with Mr. Larsen in the band room;
    • Eighth grade band meets with Mr. Varano in the band room.
    • Seventh/eighth grade orchestra meets with Mr. Downey in the orchestra room
    • Seventh/eighth grade chorus meets with Ms. Larsen in the auditorium.
  • The students prepare for several performances throughout the school year (winter, early spring, and late spring). In June, all four groups attend an adjudicated festival at a high school in the Allentown, PA area followed by an afternoon at Dorney Park.
  • All students that play in the GCMS bands and orchestras are required to study their instrument in a small group setting of like instruments once a week throughout the school year.
    
    • These instrumental music lessons are critical in the development and musical welfare of the student for they focus on the finer details of the physical components with instruction delivered by a music teacher who specializes on that particular instrument.
    • Students' lessons are designed on a rotating schedule meaning they meet on the same day of the week but the lesson rotates to a different block of time as the weeks progress. 
    • Students do receive a grade exclusively for instrumental lessons in addition to the grade they receive in band and/or orchestra.
    • Please refer by clicking on the links GCMS Instrumental Music Grading Policy and GCMS Instrumental Music Grading Rubric listed on the menu located on the left for more detail. Each student taking instrumental music lessons will receive this information at their first lesson by their instrumental music teacher and will be asked to keep with their materials.
  • Most of our students in these elected courses started an instrument and/or sang in elementary school but some decide to begin in seventh or even eighth grade. If your son/daughter wishes to begin an instrument and/or sing in the chorus, contact Mr. Meyer.

• GCMS also has a Sixth Grade Jazz Band, a combined Seventh/Eighth Grade Jazz Band, and the Con Brio Chamber Players.  
  • Seventh/Eighth Grade Jazz Band rehearses on Thursday morning from 8:00-8:30 and the Sixth Grade Jazz Band rehearses on Friday morning from 8:00 to 8:30 with Mr. Larsen. and the Con Brio Chamber Players rehearse on Thursday for an hour after school.
  • Most wind and percussion players are invited to perform with the jazz bands. Con Brio Chamber Players are for students who play string instruments. In addition to performing in concerts with the larger music ensembles, these groups receive invitations to perform at a number of venues outside the school when the opportunity presents itself. The jazz bands also host the All-District Jazz Band Festival held each April in the JCHS cafeteria.