Explore the Program

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Parochial Schools:

6 schools united!:

The Bellarmine Parochial Band is proud to serve six of our K-8 Parochial schools in the greater Tacoma Area. With Bellarmine Preparatory School's support, we have created a unique band program that unites these schools under one banner. Students meet new friends from other schools that play their same instrument and perform beside them in our seasonal concerts. 

The schools include:

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All Saints Catholic - Puyallup

Saint Francis Cabrini - Lakewood

Saint Patrick's - Tacoma

Saint Charles Borromeo - Tacoma

Visitation STEM Academy - Tacoma

Saint Nicholas' School - Gig Harbor

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Ensembles:

Beginning Band:

This group consists of 4th-5th graders who are just starting to learn how to play a new instrument. First year players (a mix of 4th and 5th graders) learn the basic fundamentals of good musicianship and how to take care of their instruments. They also perform their first concerts together with second year players (usually 5th graders). Our second year players act as leaders and mentors in the beginning band and continue to hone their musical skills throughout the year. 

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Advanced Band:

This group consists of advanced players in 6th-8th grade. Most students have previous experience from beginning band, but first year players are able to join if they are at least in 6th grade and just starting out. Advanced Band members take on larger musical challenges and go to the Commencement Bay Middle School Band Festival every year to compete with other middle school ensembles and get feedback from professional adjudicators from around the area. This group strives to give students opportunities that will prepare them for playing in band at the high school level. 

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Jazz Band:

Students in 6th-8th grade have the option to play in our volunteer jazz band if they want. It does not cost extra to be in jazz band, and students in this ensemble get to work with Bellarmine's Director of Bands and Jazz Studies Mr. Casey Whitson. The Jazz band meets once per week in the afternoon and collaborates with the Bellarmine Prep Jazz bands to perform for the Fall Swing Dance Fundraiser. 

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Classes/Rehearsals:

Band Class: Each Parochial school provides time and space for each ensemble to meet twice per week before, during, or after school. These classes are taught by Ms. Hope Bales (Parochial Band Director) with occasional coaching from Bellarmine's Music department staff and Music Education Majors from Pacific Lutheran University. 

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Evening Rehearsals: In order to be united for our seasonal concerts and various performances, all students from each school meet in Bellarmine's band room (Allen Hall) once or twice per month to rehearse together. These rehearsals normally happen on Wednesday evenings from 5-7pm. 

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Performances and Events:

The Bellarmine Parochial Band strives to provide enriching musical experiences for young players by providing a wide variety of performance opportunities. These events help to encourage confidence, teamwork, and lifelong musicianship. 

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Lion-Cub Night: Early Fall

This event gives young students an opportunity to experience what it is like to play in a highschool pep band at a football game! They are mentored and guided by the Bellarmine Preparatory High school pep band members. 

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Fall Swing Dance: Late Fall

Parochial students host a swing dance fundraiser in order to raise funds for events throughout the year. Special guests include the Bellarmine Jazz Band and students who volunteer in the Parochial Jazz Band. Parochial Students are in charge of setting up, decorating, providing food & Drink, and tearing down after the event. It is a family friendly swing dance with live jazz music that all are welcome to attend! 

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Christmas Concert: December

The entire parochial Band Program performs at the annual Parochial Band Christmas concert. This is a grand event to celebrate the beginner's first ever performance, and the advanced members' completion of the first part of the year. It includes various Christmas pieces and festive santa hats! This concert is part of a greater concert series put on by the Bellarmine music department that also includes the Bellarmine Prep Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz I & II, Concert Choir, Vocal Ensemble, and Orchestra. 

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Solo & Ensemble Contest: Late February

For those advanced members seeking more musical challenges, students can compete as a soloist in their instrument category at the Commencement Bay Middle School Solo & Ensemble Contest. Students prepare a solo or duet/trio and work with an accompanist of their choosing. This is a volunteer event. 

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Spring Concert: March

Like the Christmas concert, all ensembles gather together to celebrate their musical growth. The concert is held in the Bellarmine Booster Gym and collaborates with the Bellarmine Preparatory high school ensembles. Beginning, Advanced, and Jazz Band perform. 

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Middle School Band Festival: Late March

The Advanced Band takes their spring concert music to the Commencement Bay Regional Band Festival to compete with other middle school bands from around the greater Tacoma area. The band receives scoring and a clinic from professional adjudicators from around the area. 

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The Jr. Daffodil Parade: Late April

Both bands learn how to march like a true marching band and get to showcase their skills in the Jr. Daffodil Parade in Tacoma Proctor. This Parade is a great opportunity for young players to experience performance in parade style that they would not normally get. It is great fun, an bring a raincoat! 

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Recruitment Concerts: Mid May

In order to inspire more students to join the program, the Advanced Band takes two days to perform at each of the parochial schools. They perform 6 concerts in 2 days (3 concerts per day!) and have the opportunity to show the schools how each instrument type sounds and what they are like. The band members love spending those two days on the big Bellarmine bus bonding and spending time with each other. 

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Music in May - End of the Year Concert: Late May

In order to celebrate the end of the year, the Parochial band once again collaborates with the Bellarmine Preparatory high school ensembles and showcases some fun movie, video game, and pop music to end the year with a bang! It is a great way to wrap up the year and all of the hard work the students have put forth. 

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Distance Learning:

Currently, the Parochial Band is using this website as a hub for all Distance Learning opportunities. Feel free to check out our classroom pages by clicking on the Parochial Band tab at the top of the page. The Beginning and Advanced Band pages are updated every week with new material. 

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Curriculum:

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Here is a general overview of what students at each grade level will be able to accomplish by the end of the school year (both in-person and through Distance Learning models):

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Band Student Benchmarks:

 

4th Grade:

• Instrument care: A basic understanding of instrument safety, proper cleaning, and maintenance.

• Tone: How to make a characteristic sound, form proper embouchure, use proper air support/ stick technique

• Rhythm: How to count, audiate, and perform rhythms consisting of whole, half, quarter, and 8th notes.

• Reading: How to read all notes in the staff for either treble or bass clef (for use with their instrument). How to recognize sharp, flat, and natural signs. How to read time signatures in 4/4 and 2/4

• Musicality: The ability to deliberately manipulate their playing to create contrasting sounds according to informed musical decisions.

• Rehearsal: The ability to maintain composure and professionalism in a rehearsal setting and how to contribute positive, effective work towards the rehearsal process. 

• Performance: To gain experience and confidence in a performance setting. To recognize proper performance etiquette, uniform, and behavior for the benefit of the performing ensemble.
  Community: To gain positive peer and teacher relationships that benefit the student’s musical growth and the ensemble as a whole. To recognize teamwork, responsibility, and good work ethic for the greater good of a larger multi-school community. 

• Spirituality: To gain positive friendships and interactions with other students who play their same instrument and who go to different parochial schools but share the same spiritual goals. To gain an appreciation for music and how it can be incorporated into their personal spiritual growth. 

 

5th Grade:

• Instrument care: (See Above) + How to solve basic maintenance issues independently without teacher assistance. 

• Tone: (See above) + How to identify embouchure and air issues in order to improve tone quality and stability. 

• Rhythm: (see above) +  How to count/perform dotted half notes and how to identify 16th notes

• Reading: (See above) + How to read notes in the staff quickly without written letters and recognize ledger lines. How to recognize  key signature symbols and accidental markings. How to read time signatures in ¾. How to recognize and understand basic dynamic markings. 

• Musicality: (See above) + How to play 4 bar phrases and take deliberate breath mark spots with the ensemble.

• Rehearsal: (See above) + How to lead by example and help beginning peers (4th grade) have proper etiquette. To take on the role of section leaders. 

• Performance: (See above) + How to lead by example and help beginning peers (4th grade) have proper etiquette. 

• Community: (See above) + How to help bring excitement to band events/rehearsals from prior experience and expectation. 

• Spirituality: (See above) + To utilize music as a way to make connections with peers and a conduit for spiritual growth. To see the importance of music in the mass setting, etc.  

 

6th-8th Grade:

•  Instrument care: (See Above) + How to deep clean instruments and navigate instrument repair with parents and the instrument repair shop (Ted Brown Music) 

• Tone: (See above) + How to identify bad, fair, and good tone qualities and make adjustments. (i.e. use a harder reed for more stable tone, adjust embouchure for particular partials, etc.)

• Rhythm: (see above) +  How to count/perform 16th note combinations and triplet figures. 

• Reading: (See above) + How to read time signatures in ¾, 5/4,  and 6/8. 

• Musicality: (See above) + How to play 4 bar & 8 bar phrases and plan out/take deliberate breath mark spots with the ensemble.

• Rehearsal: (See above) + How to lead by example and help peers have proper etiquette. To take on the role of Advanced section leaders. 

• Performance: (See above) + How to lead by example and have proper uniform and etiquette. How to maintain professionalism in a competitive setting (COMBMEA Festival). 

• Community: (See above) + How to help younger peers gain resilience and commitment to the band program. To gain relationships and connections with the Bellarmine HS Band players through various event connections in order to be prepared for the high school band experience.   

• Spirituality: (See above) + To make deliberate spiritual musical choices for the benefit and service of the community and to perform in church worship/school/community settings where possible. 

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