Band General Information

Students can elect to join our Basalt band program starting in 5th grade, which serves over half the student body in 5th through 8th grades at Basalt Middle School. The program continues through high school, and there are currently over 300 participants between the middle and high school bands. Students also have the opportunity to audition for Colorado honor bands, including All Valley and District Honor Band. The program offers a variety of performances annually, ranging from sporting events to street performances to formal concerts

5TH GRADE: Students in 5th grade can elect to be part of the 5th grade Band with Mr. Davis. Each spring, the current band students give a presentation to the incoming 5th graders to help them choose an instrument. Students are placed in either Brass or Woodwinds class depending on their preference. Brass class is for trumpet, trombone, and baritone - Woodwinds class is for flute, clarinet, and saxophone. Each student will have two trimesters of band: classes are divided into brass and woodwinds for the first and second trimesters, and the third trimester is mixed.

6TH GRADE: In 6th grade students move to having band all year long with separate classes for Brass and Woodwinds taught by Mr. Davis. 6th graders also have the option to explore new, more advanced instruments like percussion, tenor saxophone, and tuba.

7TH GRADE: In 7th grade, band is no longer split into Brass and Woodwinds classes. All band students have class together as one large ensemble with Mr. Davis. A music enrichment class titled Exploring Music Creation is also offered, which focuses on music technology and some guitar basics.

8TH GRADE: 8th grade band is set up just like the 7th grade ensemble with Mr. Davis. The 8th grade enrichment class offered is the History of Popular Music, which tracks the evolution of popular music throughout the last century.

Staff Members
Music Programing Extras

In addition to our music programs, Basalt students regularly receive visits from Aspen Music Festival & School and Jazz Aspen Snowmass visiting musicians who perform, offer instruction to students, and answer questions about careers in music.