8th Grade Band
Welcome to 8th Grade Band!
Dear 8th Grade Band students and families,
Welcome back to another amazing year of music-making and learning at LMS! Students in 8th Grade Band can expect to work on more challenging music, the chance to play in chamber groups/small ensembles, additional field trips, DCMEA Jr. High All-County, and more performance opportunities, like music-competition festivals and local community events.
No matter where you are in your musical journey, my job is to help you grow and develop your love of music. Communication between school and home is key for each student's success.
Students: during the school day, you can almost always find me in my office (in the Band Room) or somewhere in the music/art wing!
Parents and families: never hesitate to contact me via email (sryan@acsdny.org) or phone (845-486-4880 x70940). You can also text my Google Voice number (845-243-0382) and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Check this page for updates on required materials, "first week" details, upcoming concert/performance dates, and other important information. I'm looking forward to a great year!
-Mr. Ryan
Meet YOUR teacher
This will be my fourth year of teaching here in Arlington, having taught band at both LaGrange Middle School and Union Vale Middle School. Since being at Arlington, my job has changed a bit, but I've taught 8th Grade Band at LMS each year and am excited to be back at it for the 2023-2024 school year!
Originally from the Capital Region, I went to Ithaca College for my B.M. in Music Education, and I'm currently attending Colorado State University during the summers to obtain a M.M.E. in Conducting.
When it comes to band, I'm passionate about programming music by newer and underrepresented composers. My goal is to make band enjoyable and educational, while making sure we're all proud of our final product. We're a team, and it's important that we're all on the same page to achieve our goals.
Outside of school, you can find me teaching private trumpet lessons to students around the Mid-Hudson region, traveling somewhere new (22 countries and counting!), exploring a new place to eat (or a nearby Chipotle), or running on the Rail Trail.
What does A typical week in 8th grade band look like?
A 41-minute rehearsal each day during a fixed-period
A 41-minute group music lesson each week during a rotating period
A short, graded video assignment based on what we're working on in band or lessons
*Written homework is rarely assigned. A student's daily homework is to practice their band and lesson music before class the next day!*
Over the course of a year in 8th grade band...
We perform in three concerts, including our annual Pops Concert in March
Select 8th graders are invited to perform at community events, like the Overlook Flag Day Parade, Open House, and Moving-Up
We compete at a music festival (Music in the Parks or Trills and Thrills) and spend the day at an amusement park
We get to work with guest conductors and special musical guests from around the area - last year we had Laura Estes as our composer-in-residence
We attend a field trip to Arlington High School in the fall to work with the award-winning AHS Marching Band