THINKING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL BAND for 2023-24?
A LETTER FROM MRS. OLIS
GHHS Band students participate in nearly every level of athletic team, club, and course offered! I want our students to participate in as many activities and athletics as they want and I am very flexible to accommodate that. I want our students to explore their diverse interests!
Click here for Mrs. Olis's FAQ sheet for 8th graders who are considering HS Band.
Eighth grade band students appear on the field with the GHHS Marching Band. September 29, 2023.
Dear 8th Grade Band Families,
The music department is having another outstanding year and we are looking forward to continued success and growth. As we approach registration for next year, I hope that your student will strongly consider continuing their music education and would like to personally invite your child to enroll in the Grandview Heights High School Band program.
The GHHS band program includes the marching band, concert band, pep band, small ensemble opportunities, and a jazz ensemble that meets as a separate class during the day. Interested students are also regularly nominated to perform with several honor bands throughout the year, where they are able to meet and play with top students from around the state! Being in the GHHS band does require some time outside of class, but that time is minimal compared to most bands across the state of Ohio. Students are required to participate in all rehearsals and performances including those in the summer and outside of the school day, but beyond those few dates, our work is done during class. The goal for every GHHS band member is to develop a lifelong appreciation for the value of music. Music gives people a chance to feel, hear, and create in a way that no other activity can provide. I want every student to become the most proficient musician and performer possible and hope to develop an attitude of success while striving to focus each student’s skills to the common good of the program. In addition to building musical skills, I aim to provide a fun and friendly environment for all students. Band can provide a rare constant that students can enjoy throughout their four years at GHHS.
We have known for years that music students enjoy a distinct advantage in their primary education (grades 1-12), their college lives (over 90% of music students attend college), and their professional careers. What is it about music learning that offers students a head start over her non-musical counterparts?
Many have said the benefits of band extend far beyond the mastery and understanding of musical technique. The nurturing of a positive self-image is a certain reward for any student who plays an active role in the GHHS Band community. Ongoing research confirms that music students score higher in academic subjects and are actively sought by colleges and universities not only for their musical talents, but because they often rank at the top of their classes in school.
There are many new challenges facing the first-year high school student. Being in band will help make this process an easy one. In addition, it will afford your student the opportunity to enter an advanced level of instruction with a host of talented friends who share a similar interest and familiar language — music. Our upperclassmen will serve as a safe and supportive social family in the introduction to this new learning climate, as each year we have many advanced students working directly alongside younger students. Students are sometimes ambivalent and even fearful about entering high school. Whether it is a new building, different teachers, or new classmates, high school can be intimidating. Much of this first-year stress can be avoided when the student is an integral and valued member of a meaningful and important group — the GHHS Band.
Students entering high school are often faced with many decisions about which courses to take, which sports or activities to participate in, and how to make their schedules work. Many students have a good idea of which classes they would like to take while in high school and sometimes think that band will not fit in their schedules. In their eagerness to begin their high school career on solid academic ground, they may conclude participation in band would be too demanding on top of their required studies. That is simply not true! Extensive research reveals band members produce the highest grades in all areas of academia, and when a student ceases to be a part of the band, their grade point average actually goes down. Being in the band will help your child continue to develop positive study habits and time management skills transferable to all aspects of life. It is also absolutely possible to be in band and play sports, be involved in clubs, and do other activities. Many of our students do more than just band. I actively encourage students to pursue athletics, clubs, advanced courses, electives, and other opportunities outside of their musical studies. As a result, GHHS Band students participate in nearly every level of athletic team, club, and course offered! I want our students to participate in as many activities and athletics as they want and I am very flexible to accommodate that. I want our students to explore their diverse interests!
There are always a few isolated cases where students have been influenced by peer pressure to avoid affiliation with any high school organization until it can be determined, by their friends, which group is most socially fashionable. Though these situations are rare, they can cause students to avoid making a commitment to an unknown set of expectations in an attempt to be part of the “in” crowd. Usually these are the instances where the parents were not mutually involved in the decision making. The GHHS Band organization is an incredible group of young people. Band students are the “in” crowd.
Being in the GHHS band program is a great experience — it offers band students opportunities that many others outside of band do not get. One of my short term goals for the high school band is to travel out of state. All students will be invited (but not required) to join us! Potential destinations include, but are not limited to, New York City, Disney, Chicago, and New Orleans. Enrichment opportunities are also plentiful. This fall, the OhioWinds woodwind quintet performed a free concert for our high school band students. In March, guest artists from the Jazz Arts Group will visit to work with our jazz students and Dr. Scott Jones, Associate Director of Bands at The Ohio State University, will visit to work with our concert band. There are also plans to add additional field trips in the coming years to watch professional organizations perform and for our students to perform for professional musicians.
In these difficult economic times, families are often looking for assistance in paying for college. Students who are in high school band are often eligible for college scholarships, even if they do not major in music. I have had success finding opportunities for students to earn free funding for college just for playing their instruments. Each college is different, but most offer some sort of opportunity.
I am looking forward to having your child in the GHHS Band next year! High school band will be different from the middle school band experience — so many new opportunities and friendships await. Many students never know if they are going to like it unless they try and if they do not try, they may be missing out on one of the best activities of their high school career (and one they can do for the rest of their lives)! If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience. I would be happy to meet with you to discuss our program in detail and share my professional thoughts about the positive implications associated with participating in the Grandview Heights High School Band Program.
Musically yours,
Mrs. Olis
The music department is having another outstanding year and we are looking forward to continued success and growth. As we approach registration for next year, I hope that your student will strongly consider continuing their music education and would like to personally invite your child to enroll in the Grandview Heights High School Band program.
The GHHS band program includes the marching band, concert band, pep band, small ensemble opportunities, and a jazz ensemble that meets as a separate class during the day. Interested students are also regularly nominated to perform with several honor bands throughout the year, where they are able to meet and play with top students from around the state! Being in the GHHS band does require some time outside of class, but that time is minimal compared to most bands across the state of Ohio. Students are required to participate in all rehearsals and performances including those in the summer and outside of the school day, but beyond those few dates, our work is done during class. The goal for every GHHS band member is to develop a lifelong appreciation for the value of music. Music gives people a chance to feel, hear, and create in a way that no other activity can provide. I want every student to become the most proficient musician and performer possible and hope to develop an attitude of success while striving to focus each student’s skills to the common good of the program. In addition to building musical skills, I aim to provide a fun and friendly environment for all students. Band can provide a rare constant that students can enjoy throughout their four years at GHHS.
We have known for years that music students enjoy a distinct advantage in their primary education (grades 1-12), their college lives (over 90% of music students attend college), and their professional careers. What is it about music learning that offers students a head start over her non-musical counterparts?
- Music develops interpersonal skills such as teamwork, negotiating, leading, and working with various personalities. It requires effective and efficient communication, the basic personal attributes we see relevant in achieving problem resolutions in our modern-day workplace.
- Music stimulates the creative, curious, and imaginative mind; these are mental building blocks for critical thinking and self-motivation.
- 70% of the nation’s major universities report that participation in band for all four years of high school is a higher consideration than standardized test scores for admission decisions.
- Band builds positive self-worth. It is a place where everyone plays a starting role and rarely serves as an alternate or substitute.
Many have said the benefits of band extend far beyond the mastery and understanding of musical technique. The nurturing of a positive self-image is a certain reward for any student who plays an active role in the GHHS Band community. Ongoing research confirms that music students score higher in academic subjects and are actively sought by colleges and universities not only for their musical talents, but because they often rank at the top of their classes in school.
There are many new challenges facing the first-year high school student. Being in band will help make this process an easy one. In addition, it will afford your student the opportunity to enter an advanced level of instruction with a host of talented friends who share a similar interest and familiar language — music. Our upperclassmen will serve as a safe and supportive social family in the introduction to this new learning climate, as each year we have many advanced students working directly alongside younger students. Students are sometimes ambivalent and even fearful about entering high school. Whether it is a new building, different teachers, or new classmates, high school can be intimidating. Much of this first-year stress can be avoided when the student is an integral and valued member of a meaningful and important group — the GHHS Band.
Students entering high school are often faced with many decisions about which courses to take, which sports or activities to participate in, and how to make their schedules work. Many students have a good idea of which classes they would like to take while in high school and sometimes think that band will not fit in their schedules. In their eagerness to begin their high school career on solid academic ground, they may conclude participation in band would be too demanding on top of their required studies. That is simply not true! Extensive research reveals band members produce the highest grades in all areas of academia, and when a student ceases to be a part of the band, their grade point average actually goes down. Being in the band will help your child continue to develop positive study habits and time management skills transferable to all aspects of life. It is also absolutely possible to be in band and play sports, be involved in clubs, and do other activities. Many of our students do more than just band. I actively encourage students to pursue athletics, clubs, advanced courses, electives, and other opportunities outside of their musical studies. As a result, GHHS Band students participate in nearly every level of athletic team, club, and course offered! I want our students to participate in as many activities and athletics as they want and I am very flexible to accommodate that. I want our students to explore their diverse interests!
There are always a few isolated cases where students have been influenced by peer pressure to avoid affiliation with any high school organization until it can be determined, by their friends, which group is most socially fashionable. Though these situations are rare, they can cause students to avoid making a commitment to an unknown set of expectations in an attempt to be part of the “in” crowd. Usually these are the instances where the parents were not mutually involved in the decision making. The GHHS Band organization is an incredible group of young people. Band students are the “in” crowd.
Being in the GHHS band program is a great experience — it offers band students opportunities that many others outside of band do not get. One of my short term goals for the high school band is to travel out of state. All students will be invited (but not required) to join us! Potential destinations include, but are not limited to, New York City, Disney, Chicago, and New Orleans. Enrichment opportunities are also plentiful. This fall, the OhioWinds woodwind quintet performed a free concert for our high school band students. In March, guest artists from the Jazz Arts Group will visit to work with our jazz students and Dr. Scott Jones, Associate Director of Bands at The Ohio State University, will visit to work with our concert band. There are also plans to add additional field trips in the coming years to watch professional organizations perform and for our students to perform for professional musicians.
In these difficult economic times, families are often looking for assistance in paying for college. Students who are in high school band are often eligible for college scholarships, even if they do not major in music. I have had success finding opportunities for students to earn free funding for college just for playing their instruments. Each college is different, but most offer some sort of opportunity.
I am looking forward to having your child in the GHHS Band next year! High school band will be different from the middle school band experience — so many new opportunities and friendships await. Many students never know if they are going to like it unless they try and if they do not try, they may be missing out on one of the best activities of their high school career (and one they can do for the rest of their lives)! If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience. I would be happy to meet with you to discuss our program in detail and share my professional thoughts about the positive implications associated with participating in the Grandview Heights High School Band Program.
Musically yours,
Mrs. Olis
