Students report 1 day each week to an assigned lesson group.  The groups report on a rotating 5 week schedule.  Schedules are located in the music room and on the front desk in the main lobby.  Most students in the instrumental program have been studying 1-2 years on a concert band instrument.  Beginning lesson groups are extremely limited due to the amount of students in the program.  Transfer instrumental students are welcome to meet with either Mrs. Berchtold or Mr. Seigel to set up an audition for placement into a lesson group.  Students who study Private Piano are encouraged to participate as mallet percussionists.  Advanced Pianists may audition for placement as Choir Accompanists.  No private piano lessons are taught within the Davies Instrumental Program.  Transfer string students may audition and will be placed within the concert band / lesson program.  There is no separate string program in our district or the high school district.

      The Concert Band is open to all six, seventh, and eighth grade students who have studied a concert band instrument for at least one year.  All students must achieve required skill levels to perform in the ensemble.  Students will be tested for seating placement and advanced status.  Students interested in Wind Ensemble or Jazz Band will be required to audition for placement within the group.  Advanced 6^th – 8^th grade band members will be invited to audition for “South Jersey Junior High Band”, perform in the annual Recital Night (March), and perform at the Atlantic County Teen Arts Festival (May).

                7^th and 8^th grade Concert Band meets every “A day” during school for a graded band class. 

(Grading is based upon the following:  Class Participation through Individual and Ensemble Performance, Theory Book Classwork, Worksheets and Question Answer Sessions in Classes.  Knowledge and Performance of all scales / rudiments required for class.  Rhythm Reading and Note Reading performances.  Tone Quality, Articulation, Preparation, and Sight Reading)               

 6^th grade Band for (2007-2008) school year will meet for regular rehearsals on Monday and Tuesday mornings during homeroom.  6^th grade band members who have been accepted into Concert Band will practice with 7^th and 8^th grade band members after school each week when bus transportation is available.  

                Band performances and activities, in the past, have included:  Winter Concert; Spring Concert; Davies Showcase; Elementary schools’ assemblies; co-sponsor the annual Sock op; Davies Graduation Ceremony; 2006 Multicultural Day Concerts and Community Event / Atlantic County Criminal Court House, Mays Landing; NJ Music Educators’ Concert Band Festival at Rowan University; annual Star Spangled Banner performance at the Atlantic City Surf Game, school and community dedication ceremonies.  In May 2005, the Concert Band received an award with Excellent Ratings at the Rowan NJMEA Concert Band Festival and at Music in the Parks, Jackson, NJ.

Students in the Concert Band must have the appropriate concert attire of a Red Performing Arts Shirt, Black Pants and Black Shoes.  Formal Concert attire (Holiday Concert) is a long sleeve White Dress Shirt for Boys and Girls, black pants or skirts, and black shoes.  Boys may wear ties. 

Lesson and Rehearsal Schedules are emailed to all members/parents, and may be found through the school’s web site:  www.hamiltonschools.org.  Search for Related Arts:  Andrew Seigel and / or Donna Berchtold.  

Students will receive instrumental lessons on a “Rotating Basis”.  Students will miss one class every five (5) weeks in order to attend a lesson.

Example:  John is in the advanced trumpet group.  His lesson will be on Tuesdays.  Week 1 he will come to lessons during 1^st period.  Week 2 – Adv. Trumpet will be on Tuesdays – Period 2; Week 3 – lessons will be on Tuesdays – Period 3, and so on……

Music Dept. phone numbers are:  476-6241, x1013 (Mrs. Berchtold) or x1078 (Mr. Seigel).

 Note:  Band members may audition and participate in the Wm. Davies School Choral Program.

Instrumentalists interested in being involved in the Wind Ensemble , Jazz Band, or Percussion Ensemble, (spring semesters only) must first be a member in good standing with the Concert Band.

Students who choose to remain in a regular Related Arts Cycle, throughout the school year, will practice with the Concert Band after school according to the monthly Rehearsal Schedules  - located in the music room or on the table in the Davies Main Lobby. 

           The 6th Grade Band consists of all 6th grade instrumental students in the Instrumental Music Program.  The students audition for the Davies Band program in June of their 5th grade year.  Some members are invited to also become members of the Concert Band ( grades 6,7,8 based upon their audition.) 

               6th Grade Band meets for regular rehearsals on Monday and Tuesday mornings during homeroom.     6^th grade band members who have been accepted into Concert Band will practice with 7^th and 8^th grade band members after school each week when bus transportation is available.  

              Students in the 6th Grade Band must have the appropriate concert attire of a Red Performing Arts Shirt, Black Pants and Black Shoes.  Formal Concert attire (Holiday Concert) is a long sleeve White Dress Shirt for Boys and Girls, black pants or skirts, and black shoes.  Boys may wear ties. 

Show Choir (grades 6,7, and 8) -  Mr. A. Seigel / Mrs. D. Berchtold / Mr. Jim Daniels

             The Show Choir consists of 73 boys and girls in grades six, seven, and eight who audition during the first two weeks of school.  Choir meets once a week during the school day using a rotating schedule.  Students will miss one class every five (5) weeks in order to attend a lesson.

Example:  6th Grade choir will meet on Tuesdays.  Week 1 choir members will report during 1^st period.  Week 2 – 6th Grade choir will be on Tuesdays – Period 2; Week 3 – 6th Grade choir will be on Tuesdays – Period 3, and so on……

            Rehearsals are also held after school each week when bus transportation is available. 

            Advanced 7^th and 8^th Grade Choir Members will be invited to audition for South Jersey Junior High Chorus (November), perform in the annual Recital Night (March), and at the Atlantic County Teen Arts Festival.  Eighth Grade Choir members will perform “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at the annual Surf Game, and the National Anthem at the 8^th Grade Graduation Ceremonies. 

            Sixth Grade Choir Members interested in participating in the annual Elementary Choral Festival sponsored through the South Jersey Choral Directors Association will audition for placement in December for Mr. Seigel and Mrs. Berchtold.  Only 2 Sopranos and 2 Altos are permitted by SJCDA to represent the Davies School in this South Jersey Festival (March).

            The Show Choir performances and activities have included:  2006, 2005 Holiday Broadcast and Taping – Light Rock 96.9 WFPG Radio; 2006, 2005 Multicultural Day Concerts and Community Event / Atlantic County Criminal Court House, Mays Landing; co-sponsoring the annual Sock Hop Dance with the Concert Band; WMGM TV 40 Choral Fest (Shore Mall), the winter and spring concerts, Elementary School assemblies, the Songs for Senior Citizens Holiday concert; Davies Showcase; the NJ Music Educators’ Choral Festival at Rowan University.  School and community dedication ceremonies including, Hess, Davies, the Atlantic County Superior Court House, Atlantic City, the Tony Canale Fire Training Academy, Egg Harbor Township, March of Dimes Telethons, and the Opening Ceremonies for the Atlantic City Convention Center.  The choir also performs the National Anthem with the band at the Atlantic City Surf Game (June). 

In May, 2005, the Show Choir received Excellent and Outstanding Soloist ratings at the Rowan NJMEA Choral Festival, and at Music in the Parks, Jackson, NJ. 

Rehearsal Schedules are emailed to all members/parents and may be found through the school’s web site:  www.hamiltonschools.org.  Search for Related Arts:  Andrew Seigel and / or Donna Berchtold. 

 Music Dept. phone numbers are:  476-6241, x1013 (Mrs. Berchtold) or x1078 (Mr. Seigel).

Note:  Choir members, who play a band instrument, may also be in band. 

Check all School Calendars that come home.  Choir members will also receive information via email.    Parents may also contact the music department by calling the Main Office at 609-476-6241 and asking for extension 1013 or 1078.

 “The Swing Kids” The focus of this ensemble is the training of skilled junior high musicians in the jazz idiom, which will enable them to read and perform in a variety of jazz styles.  We also explore the basics of jazz improvisation.  This is a challenging task, especially when the performer is a young teenager still learning the fundamental skills required to perform on their chosen instrument.  Jazz training requires intensive study and practice, as well as music theory skills and aural (ear) training.    Adherence to rehearsal dates, attendance policies, and student commitment are essential elements in cooperatively achieving our goal of an outstanding performance ensemble.

Auditions:  3^rd week of December

Rehearsals & Performances:  Spring Semester

            The Wind Ensemble is an auditioned group of students comprised from members of the Concert Band.  Established in January, 2006, the Wind Ensemble features the talents of the Advanced Instrumentalists who have excelled in many areas of Instrumental Achievement Goals.  Open to all six, seventh, and eighth grade students who have studied a concert band instrument for at least two years.  All students must achieve required skill levels to perform in the ensemble.  Students will be tested for seating placement and advanced status.  Technical ability and very good music reading skills are a must.  Auditions will be based on graded S.J.B.O.D.A. solos, rudiments and scales.

            Students accepted into the Wind Ensemble will also perform with the Concert Band for the spring concert and at special public and adjudicated events.

Assisted by Mr. A. Seigel

             The Percussion Ensemble is a select group of Percussionists with Advanced Middle School Percussive Skills, seeking to explore and develop themselves further in the World of Percussion.  Students participating should have a through knowledge of a variety of simple and compound meter as well as at least a “working knowledge” of Pitched Percussion Instruments.  Technical ability and very good music reading skills are a must.  Auditions will be based on graded S.J.B.O.D.A. solos, rudiments and scales.

             The group will consist of 10 students who are in good standing with their middle school band directors.  Selection will be accomplished through auditions held the second and 3^rd weeks of  October.  Rehearsals will begin either the 3^rd or 4^th  week of October during the “homeroom” period and proceed through the school year on most Fridays at that time. 

             Performances will be in conjunction with school music department performances both in and out of school as well as select individual ensemble performances TBA.  A schedule of rehearsals and performances will be ongoing and updated throughout the school year.  The ensemble will officially come to an end after the Spring Concert.

             Instrumentation of the ensemble will be a wide array of Percussion Instruments.  All members of the Ensemble will be expected to play/perform on a variety of percussion instruments at the discretion of the directors.  The basic performing outfit will consist of Black Pants, Red Performing Arts Shirt, and Black Shoes.  

With much appreciation to the Hamilton Township Education Fund, the music department received a grant in June 2003, to receive money to outfit this select performance ensemble with period style costumes, music, fifes, and a "civil war" drum.  The Minstrels consist of  a select group of instrumentalists who auditioned for membership.  In December 2002, the Minstrels performed at the Davies Holiday Concert, at a Hamilton Twp. Board of Education Meeting, and in front of Almost Heaven Gifts in Egg Harbor City.

In 2004, District Busing Problems caused a lack of rehearsal time and the group was not revived.

In 2005, new scheduling may interfere with the continuance of this group.  We hope we can revive this group again in the future