Wiley Band Camp

A Week of Musical Learning Especially for Wiley Band Students

Wiley Elementary Band Camp is offered each year for students in both Beginning and Continuing Bands at Wiley. Held the week before school starts, August 16-20, Wiley Band Camp is designed to give students the support they need to feel comfortable with their instruments before regular rehearsals begin. At Band Camp, students work both in small groups and as a full band to learn the basics of their instruments.

Why do we have Band Camp?

The beginning of a child's musical career is quite a busy time. There's an instrument to figure out, fingerings to learn, and many new skills to understand. Skills like instrument assembly, embouchure (mouth placement), and fingering are a necessary foundation for a child's success in beginning band. Wiley Band Camp provides beginning students with individualized instruction and frequent support to help them grasp these crucial skills. Band Camp gives Continuing Band students a chance to spend quality learning time with their instruments and bandmates before the busy school year begins.

What will Beginners learn at Band Camp?

What will Continuing Band students learn at Band Camp?

At Band Camp, Continuing Band students will receive a thorough review of the concepts they learned in Beginning Band, and will begin polishing their musical skills to achieve higher levels of performance. At Band Camp, Continuing students will work on sharpening their rhythmic skills, building a beautiful tone and more solid playing technique, and performing homophonic music (music with different parts for each section) with their bandmates. Band Camp prepares students for the exciting musical possibilities they'll discover in Continuing Band!

Do I have to come to Band Camp?

Yes! All band students at Wiley are required to attend Band Camp. At Band Camp, students will recieve a comprehensive introduction to the basics of their instruments--this introduction sets the stage for students' future success in band! When regular rehearsals begin, students will be expected to have an understanding of the skills presented at Band Camp. Also, the cost of Band Camp is included in the fee for Band; when you attend, you get more bang for your buck!

How much does Band Camp cost?

Band Camp is included in the cost of joining the Wiley Band. There are NO extra charges for any Band Camp activities!

What's the schedule for Band Camp?

Wiley Band Camp is divided into two parts: sectionals (for beginners only) and full band rehearsals. In a sectional, a group of like instruments meets with a teacher to learn skills specific to that instrument. In a trombone sectional, all the beginner trombone students will work with Ms. Thompson on trombone-specific things like slide techinque and breath control. Sectionals will be held during the first three days of Band Camp and are for Beginning Band students only.

During the last two days of band camp, we'll have full-band rehearsals for both Beginning and Continuing Band students. In full-band rehearsals, students will get a chance to meet their new friends in other sections and play together as a band. During full-band rehearsals at Band Camp, Beginners will solidify and share the knowledge they learned in sectionals, and Continuing students will start the year off strong with a thorough review and extension of their existing musical skills.

Sectionals - Monday, August 16 - Wednesday, August 18 (Beginners Only)
Flutes meet 9:00-9:45am
Clarinets meet 10:15-11:00am
Saxes meet 11:30am - 12:15pm
Percussionists meet 1-1:45pm
Trumpets meet 2:00-2:45pm
Trombones meet 3:15-4pm

Thursday, August 19 & Friday, August 20 (For all students)
Full Band Rehearsals for all Beginning Band students: 10:30-11:30am
Full Band Rehearsals for all Continuing Band students: 1-2pm

What should I bring to Band Camp?

Need more info about Band Camp?

Check out the Wiley Band Handbook
Email Ms. Thompson