Band Notes - Week of October 20
2025-2026 School Year - Belton MS Band
Welcome!
General information that applies to all students and parents can be found towards the top of every newsletter, while information specific to your child's ensemble can be found in that particular section by scrolling all the way down.
Feel free to contact a director if you have any questions and our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter. Thanks for reading!
**Holiday Concert Date Change**
Due to a scheduling conflict, the Belton MS Band Holiday Concert will now take place on Wednesday, December 17 still at the Belton HS PAC starting at 6:30pm. This event is required for all students and we wanted to let you know about this change in order to mark your calendars at home.
Band Booster Update
Salado Stroll is one of our biggest kettle corn fundraising events and it’s coming up the first two weekends in December. We are currently looking for a business to partner with on Main Street to host our popcorn trailer/tent. Susan Marie’s has graciously been our host in previous years, but they will not be available this year. If you have any connections or know of a business that would like to partner with us, please email Ray Rastelli at vicepresident@beltonbandboosters.org
Mark your calendars for these upcoming Booster events:
- October 24 - Homecoming FB Game
- October 25 - Panera Bread Fundraiser (Temple 4:00-8:00pm)
- October 30 - Senior Night for M100 & Magic Belles
- November 3 - Belton Band Booster Meeting at 6:30in the Band Hall
- November 3 - Kettle Corn Holiday Tin & Pop-Up Merch Store Opens
- January 24 - AJ Howard 5K Run
List of Band Events
Please click here to see all of the Band Events for this new school year in order to plan your family's activities. Remember, performances are a required part of our curriculum, so please contact a director ASAP for any conflicts.
Parent Chaperone Sign-Up
Click on this link to sign up to become a district volunteer and complete the background check. Even if you have done this before, this process must be repeated every school year: Parent Chaperone Sign-Up. Please sign up for volunteer opportunities on your CutTime MagicLink.
Check Out Our Socials!
We want to interact with you on social media, so be sure to Like, Follow, and Subscribe on all of the following platforms you use:
Teacher & Student Shared Responsibilities
In the Belton MS Band, we form a partnership between teacher and student where both share responsibility in their musical development. Our team of teachers include middle school directors, private lesson instructors, high school directors, and even hired clinicians, masterclass teachers, and adjudicators. We also strive to communicate and produce strong partnerships with parents since their support is vital in their student's growth.
To that end, we as the teaching team provide Introduction, Comprehension, and Demonstration to students for their instruction. However, each student has a responsibility as well to facilitate Repetition in the form of practicing daily for at least 25 minutes, 5 days per week.
This means that instruments go home everyday to practice the concepts, patterns, and music that we go over daily in class. This leads to student Mastery of their music and ultimately of their instrument. Students have homework everyday in Band as they practice their instrument in preparation for performances and to continue their musical growth. Reach out to a director if you would like more information on how to better help and support the musical growth of your student.
Band Calendar
Instruments Come Home Daily!
Students should take their instruments home daily and we expect them to practice 5 days a week for at least 25 minutes. Students may also practice before school in the Band Hall starting at 7:30am every school day.
Parents, we implore you to help set up a consistent practice routine at home for your student. Students will not improve their musical skills on their instrument without practice outside of regular class time. The directors, we will teach your student what and how to practice, but we need your help in establishing when and how much they practice. The more they practice, the better they will get faster. Please review the How To Practice and Weekly XP Chart attachment below:
Instruments Come Home Daily!
Students should take their instruments home daily and we expect them to practice 5 days a week for at least 25 minutes. Students may also practice before school in the Band Hall starting at 7:30am every school day.
Parents, we implore you to help set up a consistent practice routine at home for your student. Students will not improve their musical skills on their instrument without practice outside of regular class time. The directors, we will teach your student what and how to practice, but we need your help in establishing when and how much they practice. The more they practice, the better they will get faster.
After School Sectionals
Sectionals will start on Monday, August 25 until Friday, November 7 one day after school per week from 4:00-5:00pm. All students in both Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble are required to attend one sectional per week from 4:00-5:00pm for a weekly grade.
- Flutes in Ensemble Room with Trahan
- Clarinets in Ensemble Room with Trahan
- Tubas in Band Hall with Pulley
Wednesdays
- All Saxophones in Ensemble Room with Trahan
- Percussion in the Band Hall with Smith
- Horns in the Orchestra Room with Pulley
Thursdays
- Trumpets, Trombones, & Euphoniums in Band Hall with Pulley
Students are expected to "Be Punctual" and arrive seated with all materials and ready to rehearse at 4pm sharp or their grade will be affected. Students 1-5 minutes late will have their sectional grade reduced to an 85. Students who are late 5-15 minutes will have their grade reduced to a 70. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late will receive a 50.
Soloists Selected for Tuesday's Jazz Performance
Congratulations to our following soloists who were chosen by auditions in class for our Temple VA Hospital Performance this Tuesday:
- Elayna Foskett, trumpet
- Will Green, trumpet
- Adi Puffer, alto saxophone
- Samuel Schanzmeyer, alto saxophone
- Carter Stroker, trombone
- Ethan Velez, trumpet
Mr. Pulley
- Wind Ensemble
- Jazz Band
- Brass Specialist (trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, & tuba)
- chris.pulley@bisd.net
Mr. Trahan
- Symphonic Band
- Woodwind Specialist (flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, & saxophone)
Mr. Smith
- Percussion Specialist (keyboards, drums, & accessories)
Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com
Website: beltonmsband.org
Call/Text: 254-262-3050
Address: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facebook: facebook.com/beltonmsband
YouTube: youtube.com/beltonmsband
Instagram: instagram.com/beltonmsband