Mason Middle School

Mason Middle School Bands

7th Grade

Seventh grade students are enrolled in one of three bands that meet every other day for fifty minutes. Those bands are then divided into separate woodwind, brass and beginning percussion classes to give students focused instruction on their instrument of choice.

Students perform in two concerts per year with a few days of full band classes during the school day. 

8th Grade

Eighth grade students are enrolled in one of three ability-based concert bands that meet every day for fifty minutes. Students perform in two to three concerts per year. Eighth grade band prepares students to join the Mason High School Band Program. 

The MMS Symphonic Winds, one of the 8th grade band classes, has performed at the:

• 2025, 2022, 2020, 2016 and 2013 OMEA State Conference
• 2018 and 2014 MFA National Concert Band Festival
• 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 MFA Cincinnati Regional Concert Band Festival
• 2015 BGSU Reading Clinic

Many of our middle school students are selected through auditions to perform with the OMEA District 13 Middle School Honor Bands and the Junior Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble. In the spring, nearly 200 students participate in OMEA Junior High Solo & Ensemble festival.

The eighth grade bands have consistently earned superior ratings at OMEA Junior High Large Group Adjudicated Event.

Students also are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to enroll in private lessons on their instrument with extremely talented local professional studio instructors who support the Mason Band program.

MMS Jazz Bands

MMS band students are invited to perform in one of two Jazz Bands. The MMS Select Jazz is an auditioned ensemble that utilizes traditional big band instrumentation. The group begins rehearsals in September and continues through Spring Break.

The MMS Jazz Lab Band is open to students on all instruments and provides students with an intoduction to the study of jazz music. Opportunities also exist for 8th grade band students to mentor 7th grade band students. The Lab Band meets beginning in January and ends with a performance at the Mason Bands Jazz Night the week before Spring Break.

Both jazz bands are open to students in 7th and 8th grade. Orchestra students that play bass, guitar, or piano are also welcome to join one of the jazz bands!

Winter Percussion

The MMS Winter Drumline meets twice a week during the months of February, March, and April.  Students will learn new skills, new music and perform a concert in late April.

Any 7th or 8th grade percussionist currently enrolled in band at MMS is welcome to participate. Students have the opportunity to perform on a variety of percussion instruments.