The Ames High Band is a school-sponsored extracurricular activity with a focus on music. It is comprised of students and led by staff. Band has several side activities associated with it, like Jazz Band or Marching Band.
The side activities that can optionally come with Band allow for its members to engage in Band in a lot of ways and these side activities can have different group sizes as well. Additionally, the way Band meets for practice allows large group activities with whole group practices and smaller practices with members you’ll grow more familiar with in the form of sectionals.
It’s this variety in the way the members can interact with it that makes Band so accessible to students. Other activities like All State allow for members to be as competitive as they want when they engage with Band as well.
Band also allows students to become more familiar with a wide variety of students they might not have known otherwise. In fact, Band is a great way to meet more people at the school and make new friends.
The Ames High Band also has some surprising traditions, like Band Raid or the trip to Disney World. These traditions encourage teambuilding which can allow further familiarization with new people.
Because Band is comprised of small groups put together into a whole organization, it allows for bonding on multiple levels. There are tight-knit groups of friends and the larger unit too.
The Band often visits athletic events to cheer on our other school organizations. The focus on school pride and raising spirits is another thing largely unique to band.
Because Band cheers on teams for more than one sport, it can raise school spirits around the year. This also means that the Band can play in a lot of different areas.
Pictured here is the Ames High Drumline, another part of the larger Band family. They are often featured particularly prominently when the band plays at school events.
Band isn’t all serious. There are many opportunities for normality and getting to know people. As seen here, some of these times one is still expected to play, but the formality the band usually has is gone.
An important aspect of Band is celebrating the group’s successes. Recognizing accomplishments is a very significant thing, and Band members do this together.
Band isn’t all whole group practices or performances. There are plenty of chances for individual activities as well, and this mix is a wonderful aspect of the Band.