• McKinley Band/Instrumental Music Classes and Performance Groups: 

    All ensembles are comprised of students from all grade levels.  Students will be assigned to a particular ensemble by the director based upon their individual skill levels. 

     

    Beginning Band: 

    Students will meet every other day and alternating Fridays for classroom instruction. Members of this group will be split into a 2nd Period Beginning Brass and Percussion Class or a 6th Period Beginning Woodwinds and Percussion Class. All members of this ensemble are expected to perform in the Spring Concerts while some members may also be selected, based on their particular abilities and musicianship, to participate in the Winter Concerts. All incoming sixth-grade band students will be assigned to this level for their entire first semester, at a minimum, of instrumental music class. 

     

    Intermediate Band: 

    Students will meet on Tuesdays, Thursdays and alternating Fridays at 8th Period for classroom instruction and will also meet periodically after school on selected Monday evenings from 2:30 to 4:30PM. Members of this ensemble are expected to perform two concerts per year (Winter and Spring) towards the end of each semester. The Intermediate Band may also be selected to perform at the SLPS Music in Our Schools Month Band Adjudication Festival in the spring as well as other selected music festivals throughout the school year. Future members of the Wind Ensemble are usually selected from this band level. 

     

    Goldbug Wind Ensemble: 

    Students will meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and alternating Fridays at 4th Period for classroom instruction and will also meet periodically after school on selected Tuesday evenings from 2:30 to 4:30PM. Members of this ensemble perform at least two regular school concerts per year as well as many other performance events at various locations and times throughout the year. This performing group represents McKinley CLA at the SLPS Music in Our Schools Month Band Adjudication Festival in the spring as well as other selected music festivals throughout the school year. The McKinley Goldbug Wind Ensemble is a nationally award-winning band, having won the Festival Disney National Band Championship at Disney World in Orlando, Florida in 2017. 

     

    Goldbug Jazz Band: 

    This ensemble is open to any currently enrolled McKinley instrumental music student (grades 7-12) within the typical jazz instrumentation (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass, guitar, piano, percussion and vocalists) by audition and/or director invitation only. Jazz Band will meet after school on selected Thursday evenings from 2:30 to 4:30PM. Performances will include concerts, music festivals, and appearances in community events. In 2015 this group recorded a studio CD at Shock City Studios in Soulard that was released regionally. This group has performed at the Kansas City Jazz Festival five different times winning an “Outstanding Ensemble” award each time. The McKinley Goldbug Jazz Band is also a nationally award-winning band, having won the Festival Disney National Jazz Band Championship at Disney World in Orlando, Florida in 2017. 

     

    McKinley Goldbug Jazz/Rock Combo: 

    This ensemble is open to any McKinley instrumental music student (grades 7-12) by invitation of the band director only. This group is usually an eight to nine piece jazz/rock combo that meets after school on selected Wednesday evenings from 2:30 to 4:30PM. This group has performed at the Kansas City Jazz Festival four times and has also performed at the Webster Groves Community Days (July 4th) Festival four times, winning a “Best Performing Group” award three different times.