The Kilmer Bands enjoy a rich tradition of excellence, providing students from the greater Vienna area with a first class musical experience that is unique to the talents and resources of the DC Metro area. The bands consistently receive highest marks at festivals and contests, garner praise from adjudicators and concert-goers, and provide the entire Kilmer community with a program in which to take great pride.

 

Kilmer Band students not only become accomplished musicians, but learn essential life skills from the diligence, work ethic, camaraderie, self-pride, and team success that are requisites and results of participation in a successful band program. Our alumni include professional musicians in orchestras and military bands, college music professors, and successful individuals in virtually all career fields.

 

Students at Kilmer are offered instruction in four levels of band and a percussion techniques course.

 

The Symphonic Band is the premiere performance ensemble in the band program. Comprised of the strongest 8^th graders and exceptionally talented 7^th grade musicians, the Symphonic Band performs high school level band literature in four to five concerts or music festivals per year. At spring music competitions at Busch Gardens and Hershey Park, the Symphonic Band regularly receives the distinction of highest scoring middle school band. In 2006, the Kilmer Symphonic Band was featured at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference.

 

The Concert and Cadet Bands are comprised of intermediate level band students at Kilmer. They perform intermediate and advanced middle school level band literature in three to four performances each year. Both ensembles place a heavy emphasis on developing instrument techniques, so students are prepared the following year for successful participation in Symphonic Band or High School Band.  Each band regularly wins their performance category in music competitions at Busch Gardens and Hershey Park.

 

Students with no or little prior experience on a band instrument are offered instruction in the Beginning Band at Kilmer. This course focuses on fundamental instrument pedagogy, preparing students for participation in intermediate level band the following year. Students who show dedicated enthusiasm and improve quickly are moved into the Cadet or Concert Band during the year, some even developing enough skill to participate in Symphonic Band the following year. Students who make adequate progress throughout the year are given the opportunity to perform with the Cadet Band on spring trips to Busch Gardens and Hershey Park.

 

The Percussion Techniques course focuses on the vast array of skill sets and knowledge of instruments that is necessary to successfully play percussion in band. The course is divided into four segments, focusing on snare drum, mallet percussion, timpani, and accessories. Members of the course are selected to perform with the Concert and Cadet Band in concerts during the year. At the end of the year, six to nine percussionists are selected to enroll in Symphonic Band the following year. The Percussion Techniques class is supplemented with weekly coaching sessions from Doug Wallace (www.dougwallacepercussion.com).