Ms. Cabrel-Watson, Band Director

Fall 2026 Events

August 13th: 7th/8th First Day with Instruments

August 17th: ALL GRADES Parent Meeting/New Member Instrument Fittings

• The meeting will begin at 6:00pm in the WHMS gym. After the meeting, new members will be dismissed to instrument fittings in the cafeteria.

August 19th: Percussion “Auditions” 4pm - 5pm

August 21st: 6th In-class “Sorting Ceremony” Party

September 3rd: 6th Band Skills Concert and 7th/8th Solo & Ensemble

• West Hall High School Fine Arts Center
• Students must be on stage by 6:00pm. The concert will begin at 6:30pm.

September 4th: ALL GRADES Signed Syllabus and Band Fees Due

September 14th: Fundraiser Kickoff Meeting at 6pm

Fall 2026 (Date not yet decided): 7th/8th Spring Trip Parent Meeting

October 8th - 9th: 8th Grade Night with West Hall High School Band of Silver

November 20th: Tentative in-school Pep Rally

December 3rd: 6th First Band Concert

• West Hall High School Fine Arts Center
• Students must be on stage by 6:00pm. The concert will begin at 6:30pm.

December 5th: District Honor Band Auditions (for participating students)

December 8th: 7th/8th Winter Showcase

• West Hall High School Fine Arts Center
• Students must be on stage by 6:00pm. The concert will begin at 6:30pm.

December 10th - 12th: UGA Midfest Music Festival (for participating students)

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Spring 2027 Events

January 9th: All State Band Auditions (for participating students)

January 22nd - 23rd: District Honor Band Event (for participating students)

February 23rd: 7th/8th Pre-LGPE Concert

• West Hall High School Fine Arts Center
• Students must be on stage by 6:00pm. The concert will begin at 6:30pm.

Week of March 15th: Tentative 7th/8th grade LGPE

Week of March 22nd: Tentative 6th grade Elementary schools visits

April 2nd from 2:50pm-3:15pm: 7th/8th Performance time at Southern Star Music Festival

May 1st: Tentative 6th First Year Honor Band (for participating students)

May 7th: Tentative ALL GRADES Spring Showcase (date will be announced once testing schedule is finalized)

May 14th: Tentative ALL GRADES Spring Showcase (date will be announced once testing schedule is finalized)

• The concert will be held outside of WHMS. Our rain plan will be the West Hall High School Fine Arts Center.
• Students must be on stage by 6:00pm. The concert will begin at 6:30pm.

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Morning Band Practice

Only students auditioning for Midfest are allowed in the band room this morning. Please drop off instruments and be dismissed.

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Thank you!

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Do you have everything you need?

You are graded weekly on Participation. This includes having all class materials.

1. Instrument
2. Music Binder
3. Essential Elements Book
4. Pencil

Please place all backpacks and non-band materials on shelves.

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Rules of WHMS Band

6. You do not touch other people’s instruments

7. You only ask questions that are relevant to what we are currently learning.

8. You leave the room cleaner than you found it.

9. You show all helpers the same respect you show me.

10. You are silent during all intercom announcements

(ex. morning, check-outs, dismissal)

1. When the bells rings, you are ready for class.
2. When the teacher is talking, no one else is talking.
3. When the teacher is working with another student/group, you are not making sounds.
4. You listen diligently to all feedback given, even if it’s not for you!
5. We all play or no one plays.

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8th Grade Band

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Announcements

• Southern Star/Fundraising meeting October 19th, Next Monday!
• Midfest Auditions Due Friday
• Winter Showcase December 8th at 6:30pm

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Agenda

• Young Ensemble Warm-ups
• Flexibility 2 - next pass-off
• Emilie Rhythm
• New Pep Rally sheet + new song
• Into the Blizzard or Byzantine

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Rhythms of the day:

Learning Target:

I will be able to make characteristics sounds on my instrument through long tone, articulation, and scale studies. I will deeply understand accidentals. I will read all my music for 8th Grade Night.

Rubric for Pass-off Friday

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Key Signatures

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7th Grade Band

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Announcements

• Southern Star/Fundraising meeting October 19th, Next Monday!
• Winter Showcase on December 8th at 6:30pm
• Midfest Nominations Due Friday

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Rhythm of the day:

Agenda

• Full Band Set #5 Warm-up
• Spartan Time Group: Pep Rally Tunes
• Full Band: Worksite

Learning Target:

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I will be able to make characteristics sounds on my instrument through long tone, articulation, and scale studies. I will deeply understand slurs and ties.

Enharmonics

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7th Grade Eb Scale

Flutes/Low Brass/Percussion: Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb

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Clarinets/Trumpets: F - G - A - Bb - C

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Alto Saxes: C - D - E - F (natural) - G

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Horns: Bb - C - D - Eb - F

With our NEW note

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6th Grade Band

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Announcements

• Have all required materials for class: Instrument, Essential Elements book, band uniform
• Southern Star/Fundraising meeting October 19th, Next Monday!

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Rhythm of the day:

Learning Target:

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I will be able to properly care for my instrument and begin fundamental first sounds. I will be able to say and play my first 5 notes.

Agenda

• 6th period: Be seated for attendance and wait for instructions for the pep rally.

Flutes & Mallet Percussion

Trombones & Euphoniums

Clarinets & Trumpets

Tubas

Alto Saxophones

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

• 2. 3. 4. 5.

• 2. 3. 4. 5.

Spartan Time

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Please sit or stand in your general seating areas! If you need to move a chair or get a stand, do it!

Have your band binder to put new music in.

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General Seating Areas

Today’s Percussion Assignments:

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Bradley, Amelia, Miguel: Snare

Molly and Avery: Crash Cymbals

Brandon: Bass Drum

Learning Target:

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WHHS Pep Rally Shorties

Choker (Dies Irae x Imperial March)

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Reminders

Goal: Everyone to have an instrument starting after Labor Day

It’s not too late to go to Jackson’s Music! In the long run, it is so much better to own your instrument.

• For those of you that are renting from me, the instruments are not at pristine and shiny as one from a Music Store. My instruments have been loved on for many years!

Please have an Essential Elements book by next Tuesday!!

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Upcoming Assignments

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6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

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Macro & Micro Learning

Macro 1

• Rhythms
• Roadmap
• Key signature/Correct notes

Micro 1

• More right notes
• Dynamics
• Balance

Micro 2

• Articulation
• Phrasing
• Listening Responsibilities

Macro 2

• Intonation
• Shaping
• Performance Tempo & Endurance

Let’s do this!

Articulation Studies

Articulation Studies

The Pyramid of Sound - Balance

The Pyramid of Sound -

Melody and Harmony

If Ms. Cabrel-Watson is NOT working with your part…

1. Silently finger through your part
2. Number your measures
3. See if you can learn from what Ms. Cabrel-Watson is teaching the other part
4. Sit quietly and think happy thoughts!
5. Count to 100 in your head!
6. Mark your music with any important information from previous feedback
7. Be ready to be called on next!

What is District Honor Band?

The top band students in the state participate in a Friday - Saturday event in preparation for an all-star performance.

Auditions are December 5th at Gainesville Middle School West.

If selected, students will travel to an off campus venue for the event.

Being selected for Honor Band is a prestigious achievement for a middle school band student. Students are recognized by the district of their musical skills for their grade level.

Who?

When and Where?

Why?

For more information, see Ms. Cabrel-Watson.

Southern Star Music Festival

7th and 8th grade combined band.

Six Flags, located in Austell, GA.

April 2nd - April 3rd, 2027

Friday - Saturday

Students participate in a performance experience similar to our annual LGPE concert in March, in which musicians are evaluated on their overall ability to connect, respond, perform, create music to our state’s standards.

Who?

When?

Where?

Why?

For more information, see Ms. Cabrel-Watson.