Lancer Band Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
MEMBERSHIP
What is the focus of band program?
The focus of the Thousand Oaks Instrumental Music Department is to provide an area of musical growth creating teamwork through individual and group excellence. It’s where all students can participate as an individual and become a rewarded member of our team.
Our goal is individual excellence in instrumental music and visual performance.
We have a variety of different ensembles that our students participate in: marching band, three concert bands, two jazz ensembles, color guard, winter guard, percussion ensemble, and drum line. That’s ten ensembles plus a variety of extra smaller ensembles that the students put together themselves that provide opportunities and excellence in music and visual performance.
Can a beginning player in band or someone who has never played before be in band?
This question is answered in many different ways:
Any student that wants to join our color guard can join without experience. A color guard member will be evaluated and given performance responsibility based on the right level of experience and success.
A musician that is coming in that has previous musical experience whether through their own middle school band program and/or private lessons is evaluated as any other band member and placed in the correct class for the right level of experience and success.
A beginning student can be accepted, after an evaluation, and may be asked to take private lessons so they can get caught up musically with their class. The reason we do this is we want every student to feel as though they are an integral part and valued member of our program, where they participate and add to the group efforts of the team.