Welcome to the Wheatland Band Website!

Thanks for visiting the Wheatland Band Website. This will be the primary location for all communication relating to 6-12 grade band in Wheatland, Wyoming. Use the sub-pages to find more specific information.

Band Program Philosophy:
Music Education is a primary means by which any educational institution can transmit to its students the cultural heritage of society. Music transcends barriers of ethnic background, socio-economic status, language, and even literacy in its power to reach the depths of the human soul. Experiences with music develop a student's ability to make value judgments, to function logically as well as intuitively, and to utilize one's innate creativity. Participation in performance organizations encourages initiative and leadership in the students, stimulates goal-oriented thought processes, creates an appreciation and respect for the efforts of others, and assists students in developing a sense of responsibility to themselves, the organization, and in a broad sense, society.
 

We recognize that few high school musicians choose to make music a career. However, the mental discipline and thought processes required in the study of music are applicable in all fields of endeavor. Creating well-rounded individuals who have a deep understanding of the arts in society, performing a varied repertoire, and developing successful young adults are our main objectives.
 

Our Mission Statement, “Excellence Comes Standard.” guides our program every day. We sincerely hope that our students will carry these ideas far beyond their four years in the WHS Band Program.
 

Band Program Goals
The primary goal of all band classes at Wheatland High School is to heighten each student’s aesthetic awareness through the musical art. While there are many ancillary objectives that are also set for the students, using sound as a means to communicate the feelings embodied in a musical work is always the ultimate focus.
 

Dedication and maturity are required to develop this unique human ability. Dedication because the skills needed to recreate music are both numerous and complex. Maturity because once the technical skills are learned, a musician must be patient and open-minded in order to understand and communicate the intent of a composer.
 

Many people go their entire lives without being aware of the power that art has to offer them. We believe that high school students are capable of delving into the meaning of music as art. We also believe there is no better way to accomplish that than to develop the ability to perform- to take the creation of an artist and bring it back to life.
 

At the high school level, we develop and expand on the skills learned in middle school. Using these finely tuned skills we challenge the students to recreate meaningful music and to listen critically to ourselves and others as we perform. We emphasize the inappropriateness of expressing a value judgment on a particular work or performance unless one can articulate the reasons for his or her opinion and demonstrate an alternative. The criticism that is unsupported and non-constructive will not and should not be taken seriously by others.