Parents of New Students,

Welcome to the Dulles Middle School Band! Here’s a list of necessary steps for all new students: 

1. Select Band on your course selection for 2022-2023.
2. Attend the Band Parent Meeting on Monday, April 25th at 6pm at the DMS Band Hall (new date).
3. Complete the online DMS Band Registration Form (click here) 
4. Schedule and attend your child’s Instrument Selection Interview (click here)
5. Rent an instrument/purchase supplies – visit Music & Arts

Why Play Music?

What do we do in Band?

In band, we learn to play brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments (what fun!) and perform at a wide variety of functions:

• School-Wide Pep Rallies
• High School Football Games
• Winter Concert and Spring Concert
• Local and Regional Contests and Festivals
• Professional Sporting Events
• School and Community Events

We also have social events, parties, and field trips that allow us to travel, spend time with friends, and have fun!

Do I need to know how to play an instrument before joining Band?

No prior experience is needed to be in band. Most of our students begin learning their instrument with us in sixth grade. We’ll teach you everything that you need to know. If you have some experience on piano or some other instrument, that’s great. It will help you catch on more quickly!

What instruments are offered in Band?

Students can learn to play one of eleven different Band Instruments (click for more info). We teach flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion (drums, xylophone, etc.).  To read more about each instrument and listen to examples of how they sound, check out our Meet the Instruments page .

How do I select my instrument?

All students will meet one-on-one with a director to try some of the different instruments we offer. We’ll help guide you to the right one. If you already have something in mind, great! if not, that’s OK too! During your interview, you’ll get to try different instruments to figure out what you like best.

Do I need my own instrument?

Yes, every student in band must have his/her own instrument. Instruments can be purchased or rented from one of our local music stores. We recommend renting for your first year as it is a more economical way of securing a quality instrument. Use our supply list to make sure that you are getting the correct brand and model when securing your instrument.

Can I do band and sports or clubs?

Yes! Many of our band students play one or more sports at DMS or outside of school. Our band kids are football, volleyball, basketball, track and field, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball, swim, Kickstart, and more.  Our kids are in scouts, clubs, and active in their churches.  Our kids are routinely the top achieving academic students at Dulles Middle School. You name it, our kids do it AND are successful in band, their other activities and academics.

I want to join band! What do I do now?

Reserve your spot now – Register Here! And, don’t forget to select Band as your first choice elective on your course selection. We’ll get a list of all students who choose Band. We’ll then email you to invite you to our new student meeting and set up your instrument selection interview. You’ll meet with us to select an instrument, then we’ll make sure that you are placed in the correct band class for the upcoming school year. If you already missed the course selection, just send us and email and let us know you want to join!