Arts

The John Muir Middle School Instrumental Music Program is open to any student who wishes to play a musical instrument featured in bands and orchestras.  For more information, please contact Mr. Chris Lawrence at chrislawrence@burbankusd.org

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Instrumental Music Performance Classes and Course Descriptions

• Wind Ensembles: Our “Band” classes. Instruments offered in these classes are woodwinds, brass, percussion.
• String Ensembles: Our  “Orchestra” classes. Instruments offered in these classes are violin, viola, cello, and string bass.
• Jazz Ensembles: These groups are open to students in Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and String Orchestra. These bands meet before and after school, and are an extracurricular commitments.

BEGINNING WINDS AND PERCUSSION (Beginning Band)
The beginning level performing band class. This is a year-long class. Students are expected to practice their instruments daily for at least 15 minutes a day, five days per week.

Beginning Band will perform at all three of our in-house concerts (Fall, Holiday and Spring,) as well as the annual Saturday morning play-a-thon in February. Instruments taught in the beginning band are: Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone (Euphonium), Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute and Percussion. Percussionists are required to play all percussion instruments.

CONCERT BAND
The intermediate level performing band class. This is a year-long class. Students are expected to practice their instruments daily for at least 15 minutes a day, five days per week.  STUDENTS MUST HAVE ONE YEAR OF PLAYING EXPERIENCE ON THEIR INSTRUMENT, OR BE AT A 7th GRADE LEVEL, IN ORDER TO JOIN CONCERT BAND. STUDENTS MUST ALSO BE AT A 7th GRADE LEVEL IN THEIR ABILITY TO READ WRITTEN MUSIC. A playing and music reading assessment will be given to all students new to Muir who would like to join Concert Band.

Concert Band will perform at all three of our in house concerts (Fall, Holiday and Spring,) as well as the annual Saturday morning play-a-thon in February. Instruments offered- Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Baritone (Euphonium), Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Electric Bass and Percussion. Percussionists are required to play all percussion instruments.

SYMPHONIC BAND
The advanced level performing band class. This is a year-long class. Students are expected to practice their instruments daily for at least 20-30 minutes, five days per week.  STUDENTS MUST HAVE TWO YEARS OF PLAYING EXPERIENCE ON THEIR INSTRUMENT, OR BE AT A 8th GRADE LEVEL, IN ORDER TO JOIN SYMPHONIC BAND.STUDENTS MUST ALSO BE AT AN 8th GRADE LEVEL IN READING WRITTEN MUSIC. A playing and music reading assessment will be given to all students new to Muir who would like to join Symphonic Band.

In addition to performing at all three of our in house concerts (Fall, Holiday and Spring,) two in school assemblies, and the annual Saturday morning play-a-thon, Symphonic Band will perform at the Music in the Parks Festival at Six Flags, the end of the year 8th grade promotion, the Middle School night with the BHS Marching Band, the Burbank High School Holiday Concert as well as other performances on campus throughout the year as requested by the administration. Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Baritone (Euphonium), Tuba, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Flute, Electric Bass and Percussion. Percussionists are required to play all percussion instruments.

BEGINNING STRINGS
The beginning level performing orchestra class. This is a year-long class. Students are expected  to practice their instruments daily for at least 15 minutes, five days per week.  Beginning Strings will perform at all three of our in house concerts (Fall, Holiday and Spring,) as well as the annual Saturday morning play-a-thon. Instruments taught in the beginning band are: Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass.

STRING ORCHESTRA
The advanced level performing Orchestra class. This is a year-long class. Students are expected to practice their instruments daily for at least 20 minutes, five days per week. Private lessons are strongly encouraged for all orchestra participants. STUDENTS MUST HAVE ONE YEAR OF PLAYING EXPERIENCE ON THEIR INSTRUMENT, OR BE AT A 7th GRADE LEVEL, IN ORDER TO JOIN CONCERT BAND. STUDENTS MUST ALSO BE AT A 7th GRADE LEVEL IN THEIR ABILITY TO READ WRITTEN MUSIC. A playing and music reading assessment will be given to all students new to Muir who would like to join Concert Band. 

In addition to performing at all three of our in house concerts (Fall, Holiday and Spring,) two in school assemblies,  and the annual Saturday morning play-a-thon, String Orchestra will perform at the Music in the Parks Festival at Six Flags, the end of the year 8th grade promotion, the Burbank High School Holiday Concert as well as other performances on campus throughout the year as requested by the administration.

MUSTANG JAZZ BAND
Open to any students in Concert Band, Symphonic Band or String Orchestra who would like to learn the basics of playing in a jazz band and improvisation. The Mustang Jazz Band will meet during Muir Time (3:15-3:55 PM) Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. All instruments are welcome to play in the Mustang Jazz Band. Students must have at least one year of playing experience, and must be able to pass a music reading assessment with Mr. Lawrence before joining the Mustang Jazz Band.

The Mustang Jazz Band will perform at all three of our in-house performances, as well as the annual Play-A-Thon, and the Fall in school assembly.  THE MUSTANG JAZZ BAND IS AN EXTRACURRICULAR COMMITMENT. While no grade is given for Jazz Band, good attendance is expected of all Muir Time Jazz Band members. At Mr. Lawrence’s discretion, if a student misses too many rehearsals without prior notice, they may not be allowed to participate in performances with the Mustang Jazz Band.

About Choir

John Muir Choir, under the expert direction of Lydia Lee, has these very successful groups:

• Musical Mustangs: two 6th grade choirs
• Guys and Dolls: 7th grade mixed choir
• Girls Next Door: 7th and 8th grade Girls Choir
• Imaginations: 8th grade mixed choir

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VMA (Vocal Music Association)

The VMA (Vocal Music Association) was formally established in 2001 to promote parent support in all activities surrounding the perpetration and performance of vocal music education at John Muir Middle School and to raise funds in support of vocal music programs, concerts, and activities at JMMS (John Muir Middle School). The contribution by the VMA of time, goods, services and/or finances to the VMA program is intended to augment the program and not to serve as a substitute for the legal financial obligations of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, or the Burbank Unified School District to provide the basic needs of the organization.

About the Muir Drama program

John Muir Middle School Drama consists of four levels:

• In the student’s sixth grade year they get to take our year long BEGINNING DRAMA. In the Fall, students learn the basics of pantomime, improvisation, and cold reading while getting used to being on stage and playing fun games that reinforce these skills. The Spring takes us on our "around- the-world-trip" through theater history as students perform in the styles and traditions of various cultures. It's a class that works for kids that are very shy as well as for the born perfomer.

• In seventh grade and eighth grade students can be a part of the year long INTERMEDIATE DRAMA class.  This class focuses on building an ensemble of performers and teaches kids about Greek tragedy, elements of comedy, parody, satire, melodrama, advanced improvisation, monologues and scene work.  They will write their own scenes and monologues as well as get a chance to practice interpretation by performing famous theatrical pieces.  Students in this class spend most of their time up on their feet performing, but still leave with a solid academic base.  Each semester the class performs in a nighttime “friends and family” invitation-only showcase in our auditorium.

• PLAY PRODUCTION is for our most dedicated eighth graders as the class does the work of rehearsing and preparing to put on the school play. These students audition to get into the class, select the play, audition for parts, rehearse after school, and perform in front of the entire John Muir Middle School student body and the public. During the time that preparation for the play isn't our focus, these students work on monologues, character development, and sketch writing.
• A seventh or eighth grade student that decides they want to learn what goes on behind the scenes can join THEATHER TECH. In this year-long class, students learn the fundamentals of stagecraft, set decoration, lighting, sound, theater management, and all of the work off stage that improves the work on stage. With an emphasis on cooperation and safety, this class, though it does require an after school commitment during the shows, is perfect for beginners and experienced technicians alike.

Contact: stephenjames@burbankusd.org

There are three different art classes available at John Muir Middle School:

Beginning Art Wheel

A 10-week course that explores basic art techniques and mediums, color theory, Art History, and criticism by creating original works of art. This class is only open to 6th grade students.

Art 7-8

A 20-week course that explores various art movements, techniques, the elements and principles of design, art philosophy and criticism with a more in depth analysis using Art History as well as creating original art works.  Students will use critical thinking skills while solving design problems to create unique works of art.  This class is open to 7th and 8th grade students.

Ceramics

A 20-week hand building course.  Students will learn about the Science of clay and solve technical and creative issues using clay.  Students will learn about the History of sculpture as well as basic hand building, glazing techniques and art criticism.  This class is open to 7th and 8th grade students.