The football band is a very visible part of the school and community. We play at all home and away games in addition to our homecoming parade and Murfreesboro Winter Parade. We rehearse one day a week (Thursdays 3:45-6) through the football season as well as a summer band camp; typically the week prior to school starting. Our football show is an entertaining and fun show - suited for the crowds at football games. Our rock band is part of the football band which makes playing in the stands lots of fun. We have 30+ charts in our football folder and the students love playing, dancing, and singing in the stands. It's something we are very proud of - and something our school and community love and support. We do not do marching competitions; and have made the decision not to do so for many reasons...

First off, we feel the importance of performing music for the sake of music and that enjoyment; not just to have a trophy on the wall. We really feel our students LOVE music and LOVE playing their instruments. We are continually getting feedback about how our students just seem to love what they are doing.

Secondly, Blackman band students are allowed to participate in other extracurricular activities, sports, church events, etc. We feel it's important for students to be able to explore their interests and not have to pick "just one thing" to do during high school. We have band members who are in almost every sport and or club offered. We work with each individual student so that the schedule is worked out far in advance.

Bands who participate in competitions usually spend several hours outside the school day in marching rehearsals. They also may practice their marching band music during the school day - in class - every day for the first 3-4 months of school. The way our program is set up allows us time to do other things. Our classes consist of fundamentals and technique studies, rehearsal of concert band literature, sight reading, small ensemble literature, and theory, ear training, & listening activities. We have heard feedback from college music professors saying that Blackman Band students are well prepared for their college music classes. That is something we are definitely proud of! We not only have several graduates who have gone on to pursue something in the field of music; but many who continue to play (and get scholarships) without being music majors.

We do not utilize a front ensemble of pitched percussion instruments during football band. Percussionists audition for a position in the drumline (battery) and will be placed according to audition ability on snare, tenors, bass, auxiliary rack or cymbals. We are VERY fortunate to have an EXTREMELY excellent inventory of percussion instruments for concert and ensemble use. This includes numerous top of the line marimbas, vibraphones, timpani, xylophone, as well as a whole host of the myriad of percussion instruments. Percussion meets as a separate class during the school day and each percussionist will receive individualized instruction to make each student a TOTAL PERCUSSIONIST! They will then be assigned music for concert band selections as well as take part in numerous percussion ensembles- we are extremely proud of the percussion class curriculum we have manifested.

Our school calendar is set up with 6 periods of 6 weeks. During each 6 weeks students get a list of objectives they need to complete or play for their grade. This is a great way for us to assess each student so that each student is getting the help they need to move to the next level.