Band
Middle School Band
Middle School Band begins in the fifth grade and is the first exposure to instrumental music for students at Fort Worth Country Day. Students have the opportunity to learn traditional band instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, percussion, and tuba), plus several nontraditional instruments like the guitar, bass guitar, and piano. The goal of the middle school band program is to create excitement for learning a new instrument, a level of individual musicianship with regard to reading notes and rhythms, and fundamentals of performance. The band students participate in three to four concerts per year depending on their grade, in addition to a solo and ensemble contest, and an optional honor band audition. The pace of class is such that all students can participate, regardless of their level of practice or commitment, while giving the more advanced students ample opportunity for growth.
Upper School Band
The US Band is the primary performing ensemble in the US. The US Band performs at all home football games, pep rallies, the ISAS Arts Festival and a concert at the end of each semester. Students in the US band meet as a normal class during the school day. Some students may also elect to participate in the US Drum Line which meets once or twice a week before school during the fall semester. Students who are not enrolled in US Band may participate in the drum line provided they attend the morning rehearsals. The US Band performs a wide variety of music styles at each concert. Music ranges from traditional wind band literature to jazz and rock selections. Students in the US Band also have an opportunity to audition for the TPSMEA All State Band, ATSSB All State Band, and TPSMEA Solo & Ensemble.
Upper School Jazz Combo
The jazz combo is a select group of 4-8 musicians. Membership for the Jazz Combo is by audition and director selection. As a rule, the instrumentation for Jazz Combo will closely follow a traditional small jazz ensemble set-up. The group will include drum set, piano, bass, guitar and two or three wind instruments (saxophone, trumpet, and trombone). During the course of the year the students involved in the combo work to improve their understanding of various styles of small group jazz and consistent growth as creative improvisers will be expected. The jazz combo performs on all of the concerts with the large jazz ensemble. It is recommended students also enroll in the Rock History or Music Theory course.
Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD) is a JK-12 private, independent, coeducational, nondenominational college-preparatory school located on approximately 100 acres in Fort Worth, Texas. The mission of Fort Worth Country Day School is to foster the intellectual, physical, emotional, and ethical development of capable students through an academically rigorous college preparatory program that integrates the arts and athletics.