Junior High Band
Welcome

Welcome to JrHighBand.com!

This site was created as a resource for junior high / middle school band directors. All of the information here is based on a book written by Larry L. Hill.

Mr. Hill taught band for 35 years: one year in Bancroft, Idaho, nine years at Orem High School and 25 years at Lakeridge Junior High in Orem, Utah. His bands consistently received superior ratings at district and state festivals. In 2003 he received the Outstanding Jr. High/Middle School Educator Award from the Utah Music Educators Association. In 2015 he received the Educator Hero award from The American Red Cross. In 2016 he was inducted into the Utah Music Educators' Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Kay, have been enjoying retired life since 2006.

Throughout the site, use the arrow buttons at the top and bottom right of each page (or the arrow keys on your keyboard) to move forward or backward one page.

Use the navigation links to the left to jump to specific sections, or click here to start reading from the beginning

Jazz Band

“Your lifelong dedication and commitment to high-quality music education has certainly made a positive difference in the lives of our children, and in the lives of countless other people”

— Gary R. Herbert, Governor of Utah

“As I now make my living as a professional composer and performer, I attribute much of my success to the lessons learned under the baton of Larry Hill.”

— Kurt Bestor, Composer / Performer

"I wish we could clone you and put you in every junior high in the district."

— Linda Campbell, Board of Education Member

"I would have to go a long way to find any greater [band program] in terms of teachability, discipline, response, and well-ingrained musicianship skills for this level."

— Brad Collins, Substitute Teacher

"You are focused on performance and success for every student. I really enjoyed visiting your class and observing such a masterful demonstration of quality teaching."

— James W. McCoy, Lakeridge Jr. High Principal

"What a marvelous teacher you are!! I am so grateful that my grandchildren have had the opportunity to have had you as their teacher."

— Jerry Elison, High School Drama Teacher

"You're my hero! You obviously know something the rest of us don't know."

— Randy Mott, Pleasant Grove Jr. High band director

"Mr. Hill, I'll come to your funeral."

— 8th-Grade Student

Video Disclaimer

The attached videos are not perfect examples of how each tune should be played. They are recordings of junior high students, some of whom have had their instruments for only a few months. Also, they are not professional recordings. They were taken by band parents using home equipment and naturally focusing on their own children.

I include them for two reasons: (1) To give you an idea of what the arrangements are like, and (2) To illustrate the kind of performance you can expect from your junior high students.