Dear WBMS Band 6th Grade Parents,

We are starting to incorporate our 6th Grade Pass-Off system into our daily class while continually reinforcing the beginning fundamentals of playing.

Students can now start coming in for 6th Grade Band Pass-Offs on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 8AM!

The 2025-2026 6th Grade Pass-Off sheet can be viewed below. This sheet details "How to get a pass-off." "Who can pass me off.", and "What qualifies as a pass-off.".

2025-2026 6th Grade Pass-Off Sheet - Click Here

Our first performance is coming up on Wednesday, November 5th in the Alpharetta High School Gymnasium.

Please refer to our uniform requirements below and start obtaining all of the necessary attire.

• Band Polo for 6th and 7th Grade (provided through the band fee if needed - these will be sent home with the students after the fall break)
• Solid Black Pants/Slacks – please no jeans, jogging pants, track pants, leggings or pants with sequins/designs
• Black Dress Belt – if you want to wear a belt
• Black Dress Shoes/Flats – please no tennis shoes
• Black Socks for black dress shoes – not required for flats

The Band Polo/Concert Band Shirt must be tucked in for all band concerts/events throughout the year unless instructed otherwise. We prepare our music to be performed at a high level of performance and we want to look our very best when we perform! 

​It is necessary that the students practice at home as often as they can (we recommend every day for 15 minutes outside of class time) to ensure proper development in the beginning band stages. This is much more beneficial than practicing once a week or only on the weekends as this is not nearly enough time to develop. Frequency (every day) of practice is most important! Please remember that the band room is open every morning starting at 8AM for open practice - students are strongly encouraged to come down to practice!

The Alpharetta High School Marching Band is just one aspect of the band program at Alpharetta High School.

This week they have their first concert of the year.

Be sure to try and check out the Alpharetta High School Fall Band Concert this Wednesday, September 24th at 6:30PM in the AHS Auditorium.

Please find a bulleted list of important items relating to 6th Grade below. These are links that you can click on.

• WBMS Band Calendar
• WBMS Band Calendar (for printing)
• WBMS Band Activity Fee - This was due on Tuesday, September 9th

We look forward to starting your children on the journey of learning a new instrument and as always please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mr. Stroud, Band Director
Mr. Stallings, Band Director
Mr. Durden, Assistant Band Director

Dear 6th Grade Band Parents and Students,
 
Your children are continuing to learn in class how to hold and make the first sounds on their instrument.

At Webb Bridge the students are very fortunate to have 3 band directors that teach your children every day. While Mr. Stallings and I can teach all the instruments, we are able to split apart in 6th Grade to provide more individualized education to all of the beginning band students. This is another factor that contributes to the success of our band program!

In college music majors specialize on one instrument while learning how to teach the other instruments as well as studying the philosophies of education.

• On Infinite Campus we each have a band period tied to our name - however, we split each of these classes by instrument and teach both 8th and 9th period.
• Mr. Stallings studied the clarinet in college and his expertise in 6th Grade Band is the woodwinds. 
  • If your child plays the flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, or saxophone Mr. Stallings primarily teaches your child and any questions you have can be directed to him: [email protected]
• Mr. Stroud studied trombone in college and his expertise in 6th Grade Band is the Brass and Percussion.
  • If your child plays the trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, or percussion Mr. Stroud primarily teaches your child and any questions you have can be directed to me: [email protected]
• Mr. Durden studied french horn in college and his expertise in 6th Grade Band is high brass.

YES! 

Before every concert we combine the woodwinds, brass, and percussion into one big group and play music together.

It is necessary that the students practice at home as often as they can (we recommend every day for 15 minutes outside of class time) to ensure proper development in the beginning band stages. This is much more beneficial than practicing once a week or only on the weekends as this is not nearly enough time to develop. Frequency (every day) of practice is most important! Please remember that the band room is open every morning starting at 8AM for open practice - students are strongly encouraged to come down to practice!

We will begin our band mentorship program on Monday, September 8th. All 6th Grade students will have an opportunity to sign-up for a help session sponsored by a teacher approved 7th and 8th Grade band mentor on their instrument. The students will begin signing up on Friday of this week for mentorships beginning on Monday, September 8th. These 7th and 8th Grade Band students are giving up their time to help the 6th Graders (because they love band!) so please be sure that when your child signs up for a time slot on a specific day (Monday - Friday) they will be in attendance on this day.

The mentorship starts at 8AM and students can be dropped off at the main entrance. Parents do not have to wait with their child at the front - unless you would like to. The front office will begin allowing students to come down to the band room beginning at 8AM.

The WBMS 8th Grade Band was in the stands for a short time this past Friday with the AHS Band before weather resulted in everyone being relocated inside. In good band fashion, we made the best of things and the students got to play their music together in the AHS Auditorium.

Upcoming AHS Band Events​​

• Saturday, September 20: Fulton County Marching Band Exhibition, Milton High School, Time: Alpharetta performs at 7:30PM! This event is free for all middle school band students.
• Wednesday, September 24: AHS Fall Band Concert, 6:30PM, AHS Auditorium

​Please find a bulleted list of important items relating to 6th Grade below. These are links that you can click on.

• WBMS Band Calendar
• WBMS Band Calendar (for printing)
• WBMS Band Activity Fee - Due by Tuesday, September 9th

We look forward to starting your children on the journey of learning a new instrument and as always please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mr. Stroud, Band Director
Mr. Stallings, Band Director
Mr. Durden, Assistant Band Director

Please make note that our week of "First Lesson Mornings" was only for 1 week as noted on the WBMS Band Calendar. This event is not a weekly event as we have open practice every morning for all of our band students starting at 8AM. We strongly encourage all students to come in the morning to practice!

In the beginning you may hear some interesting sounds coming out of your students instruments at home - please know that this is all part of the learning process and it will get more and more refined as the days, weeks, and months move on.   Please continue encouraging them to practice and even have them show you what they have learned!  I have heard from some parents that they learn the instrument along with their child while they are learning! This can be fun and rewarding!

A great way to get ahead in class is to take private lessons. Please send us an email if you would like suggestions regarding instructors that are local to the area.

Below are some resources that you can use at home to learn more about how to assemble, hold, and clean/maintain your child's instrument.

• Band Bootcamp - Putting it Together
• Snare Drum:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWCtTJ-97rC6hsfCPKbX5a3vgyd3B2kDl
• Mallets:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWCtTJ-97rC5jCXntumLwhGsvqTIcGGMI

The WBMS 8th Grade Band will be in the stands at this week's Alpharetta High School Football game at the annual 8th Grade Band Night! Be sure to cheer them on if you are in attendance at the game!

​Learn all about the Alpharetta Band: Alpharetta High School Raider Band

The Alpharetta High School Raider Band is continuing to work on their 2025 production "World's Apart"! Be sure to cheer them on during halftime at any of the home football games!

Upcoming AHS Band Events

• Friday, September 5: AHS Band 8th Grade Night
• Saturday, September 6: AHS Marching Band Friends and Family Performance, AHS Football Stadium, Gates open at 7PM, Performance at 7:30PM!
• Wednesday, September 24: AHS Fall Band Concert, 6:30PM, AHS Auditorium

​Please find a bulleted list of important items relating to 6th Grade below. These are links that you can click on.

• WBMS Band Calendar
• WBMS Band Calendar (for printing)
• WBMS Band Activity Fee - Due by Tuesday, September 9th

We look forward to starting your children on the journey of learning a new instrument and as always please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mr. Stroud, Band Director
Mr. Stallings, Band Director
Mr. Durden, Assistant Band Director