This guide provides an overview of music programs available for students at Boyce Elementary, Cooley Elementary, Johnson-Williams Middle School (JWMS), and Clarke County High School (CCHS). Each section details the available programs and participation requirements.
Elementary School (Boyce and Cooley)
5th Grade
- Instrument Selection:
- Students meet with the music teacher at the beginning of 5th grade to try different instruments.
- 5th Grade Band:
- Students who sign up have band class daily in the 5th grade.
Johnson-Williams Middle School (JWMS)
6th Grade
- Introduction to Instrumental Music:
- Designed for students with no prior band experience
- No required performances
- Prerequisite for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Band
- Beginner Band:
- For rising 6th graders who participated in 5th Grade Band
or 7th and 8th graders returning to band after a break - 4 required performances
- Prerequisite for Intermediate and Advanced Band
- For rising 6th graders who participated in 5th Grade Band
7th and 8th Grade
- Intermediate Band:
- For students who completed Beginner Band
- Advanced Band:
- Audition required
Specialized Music Courses (Semester Courses)
- Percussion 1:
- Open to band students and other students with instructor permission
- Prerequisite for Percussion 2
- 1 required performance
- Percussion 2:
- For students who completed Percussion 1 or have special permission
- Must be in Intermediate or Advanced Band
- 1 required performance
- Woodwinds 1:
- For Beginner Band students playing flute, clarinet, alto sax, or tenor sax
- Also available to Intermediate/Advanced Band students learning a second instrument
- No required performances
- Brass 1:
- For Beginner Band students playing trumpet, horn, trombone, or tuba.
- Also available to Intermediate/Advanced Band students learning a second instrument
- No required performances
Advanced and Extracurricular Opportunities
- Jazz Band:
- After-school club for middle school students
- 8th Grade Eagle Band / Marching Band:
- JWMS students travel to the high school daily for 8th block class
- Advanced Band members only
- Audition required
- Must attend summer rehearsals (1 per week)
- Must attend band camp in August (Sunday – Friday)
- Must attend after-school rehearsals during marching season (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and some Fridays)
- Perform at all home football games
- Perform in 3 parades (Homecoming, Berryville Christmas, Apple Blossom), and Berryville Memorial Day Service
- Must attend all competitions during marching season (Saturdays)
- Perform at CCHS winter & spring concerts
- Fee required
- Indoor Drumline:
- Must attend rehearsals during drumline season (December–March)
- After school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
- Sunday afternoons
- Must attend all competitions during drumline season (Saturdays)
- Fee required
- Must attend rehearsals during drumline season (December–March)
- CCHS Musical Pit Orchestra:
- Students must be enrolled in Concert Band, Jazz Band, or Percussion Ensemble (special exceptions are made with director’s approval)
- Rehearses after school once a week from January–March
- Mandatory tech week participation
- Perform in all 3 performances of the high school musical
- 8th Grade Eagle Guard (Color Guard):
- Tryouts required
- Must attend summer rehearsals
- Must attend band camp in August (Sunday – Friday)
- Must attend after-school rehearsals during marching season (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and some Fridays)
- Perform at all home football games
- Perform in 3 parades (Homecoming, Berryville Christmas, Apple Blossom)
- Must attend all competitions during marching season (Saturdays)
- Option to join Winter Guard (January–March)
- Fee required
- Spin Club:
- Open to students interested in learning Color Guard basics
- No tryouts required
- Practices are held after school on Wednesdays (January–March)
- Perform at CCHS Friends & Family Night (March)
- Fee required
Clarke County High School (CCHS)
9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Grade
- Concert Band (Core Band Class):
- No prerequisites
- Meets daily during school
- 3 required performances (Winter and Spring Concerts, and Berryville Memorial Day Service)
Specialty Bands & Ensembles
- Jazz Band:
- Prerequisite: Enrollment in Concert Band, Eagle Band, or Percussion Ensemble; exceptions made by director approval).
- 2 required performances (winter and spring concerts)
- Perform at fundraising events
- Steel Drums:
- No prerequisites
- Practice daily
- 2 required performances (Winter and Spring concerts)
- Perform at fundraising events
- Percussion Ensemble:
- Director approval needed
- No required performances
- Acts as the drumline in Marching season and the battery in the indoor drumline
- Marching Band (Eagle Band):
- Must be enrolled in Concert Band (exceptions by director approval)
- Must attend summer rehearsals (1 per week)
- Must attend band camp in August (Sunday – Friday)
- Must attend after-school rehearsals during marching season (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and some Fridays)
- Perform at all home football games
- Perform in 3 parades (Homecoming, Berryville Christmas, Apple Blossom), and Berryville Memorial Day Service
- Must attend all competitions during marching season (Saturdays)
- Fee required
Advanced and Extracurricular Opportunities
- Indoor Drumline:
- Must attend rehearsals during drumline season (December–March)
- After school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
- Sunday afternoons
- Must attend all competitions during drumline season (Saturdays)
- Fee required
- Must attend rehearsals during drumline season (December–March)
- CCHS Musical Pit Orchestra:
- Students must be enrolled in Concert Band, Jazz Band, or Percussion Ensemble (special exceptions are made with director’s approval)
- Rehearses after school once a week from January–March
- Mandatory tech week participation
- Perform in all 3 performances of the high school musical
- Marching Guard (Color Guard)
- Tryouts required
- Must attend summer practices
- Must attend band camp in August (Sunday – Friday)
- Must attend after-school rehearsals during marching season (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and some Fridays)
- Perform at all home football games
- Perform in 3 parades (Homecoming, Berryville Christmas, Apple Blossom)
- Must attend all competitions during marching season (Saturdays)
- Fee required
- Winter Guard (January–March)
- Open to students interested in learning Color Guard basics
- No tryouts required
- Practices are held after school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (January–March)
- Must attend all competitions during the season (Saturdays)
- Perform at CCHS Friends & Family Night (March)
- Fee required
- Spin Club (Intro to Color Guard)
- Open to students interested in learning Color Guard basics
- No tryouts required
- Practices are held after school on Wednesdays (January–March)
- Perform at CCHS Friends & Family Night (March)
- Fee required
Quick Reference
| Program | Grade | Participation | Performances Required | Fees |
| 5th Grade Band | 5th | Class | Yes | No |
| Beginner Band | 6th-8th | Class | Yes | No |
| Intermediate Band | 7th-8th | Class | Varies | No |
| Advanced Band | 7th-8th | Class | Varies | No |
| Marching Band | 8th-12th | After School & Class | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor Drumline | 8th-12th | After School | Yes | Yes |
| Color Guard | 8th-12th | After School & Class | Yes | Yes |
| Winter Guard | 8th-12th | After School | Yes | Yes |
| Pit Orchestra | 8th-12th | After School | Yes | No |
| Spin Club | 6th-12th | After School | Yes | Yes |
Clarke County High School Band 