Band - Pine Tree ISD Fine Arts

Welcome to Pine Tree Band

It is the mission of the Pine Tree High School Band Program to create functionally literate, independent musicians, who continually exhibit the highest level of character as school citizens. This education shall take place through traditional concert band classes, as well as through extra-curricular activities, i.e. marching band, jazz band, small ensembles, solos, auditions, etc.

Pine Tree High School currently has three ability-based concert ensembles: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. All ensembles are seated through an audition process.

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About PT Band

Wind Ensemble

The curriculum for the Pine Tree High School Wind Ensemble class focuses on developing the technical skills needed for performing on brass and woodwind instruments as well as musicianship. The Wind Ensemble meets first period each semester, after marching season.

Students in this ensemble display the highest level of musicianship, capable of performing “Masterwork” literature. This ensemble is intended for upperclassmen, most specifically Junior and Senior members, although outstanding younger students may be placed here as well.

REQUIREMENTS

Students in the Wind Ensemble will prepare and present multiple concerts per year, as notated in the Pine Tree Band calendar.
Students in the Wind Ensemble will participate in before/after school sectionals, as determined by the Directors
Students in the Wind Ensemble will prepare the TMEA Region and All-State Materials
Students in the Wind Ensemble will participate in the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest
Students in the Wind Ensemble will prepare a solo or small ensemble

EVALUATION
Everyday is an audition – students will be evaluated daily on their individual musical skills and personal contributions to the ensemble. Formal playing assessments will be held regularly via live playing.

AUDITIONS
Students will audition for the concert ensembles in May of the Spring semester. The audition process includes selections from etudes, chromatic scale and twelve major scales. All students who audition and fulfill the minimum competencies will become part of the Pine Tree High School band program. All band students, regardless of concert ensemble assignment, will also participate in the Pine Tree marching band, The Pride.

Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band is typically the largest of the 3 wind bands at Pine Tree High School. Students in this group display a level of musicianship necessary for high achievement in band literature, however may not show the individual musical maturity yet for performing in the Wind Ensemble. This ensemble is intended for upper classmen and very advanced freshmen and meets during first period, after marching season.

REQUIREMENTS

Students in the Symphonic Band will prepare and present multiple concerts per year, as notated in the Pine Tree Band Calendar
Students in the Symphonic Band will participate in before/after school sectionals, as determined by the Directors
Students in the Symphonic Band will prepare the TMEA Region and All-State Materials
Students in the Symphonic Band will participate in the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest
Students in the Symphonic Band will prepare a solo or small ensemble

EVALUATION
Everyday is an audition – students will be evaluated daily on their individual musical skills and personal contributions to the ensemble. Formal playing assessments will be held regularly via live playing.

AUDITIONS
Students will audition for the concert ensembles in May of the Spring semester. The audition process includes selections from etudes, chromatic scale and 12 major scales. All students who audition and fulfill the minimum competencies will become part of the Pine Tree High School band program. All band students, regardless of concert ensemble assignment, will also participate in the Pine Tree marching band, The Pride.

Concert Band

The Concert Band is the entry-level performing ensemble at Pine Tree High School. Students in this ensemble display a skill level that is still developing into maturity, showing a need for more individual practice and understanding of key concepts. All of the high school directors are present during this class so that extra attention is given. This class meets during second semester sixth period.

REQUIREMENTS

Students in the Concert Band will prepare and present multiple concerts per year, as notated in the Pine Tree Band Calendar
Students in the Concert Band will participate in before/after school sectionals, as determined by the Directors
Students in the Concert Band will prepare the TMEA Region materials.
Students in the Symphonic Band will participate in the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest
Students in the Symphonic Band will prepare a solo or small ensemble

Jazz Band

The Pine Tree High School Jazz Band consists of students who are enrolled in one of the concert bands. Entrance into the Jazz Band requires an audition and is made up of traditional jazz instruments including: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, and drum set. Students will learn jazz styles from various eras and will study advanced techniques in chord study, rhythm, and improvisation. Everyone is a soloist in the Jazz Band. The Pine Tree Jazz Band receives requests to perform at several community events and concerts each year.

UIL Marching Contest

In the fall of each school year, the University Interscholastic League sanctions an event in which marching bands play for judges’ comments and ratings. In October, The Pride Marching band performs a 7-8 minute marching show, demonstrating their ability to play challenging music while marching a technical drill. Bands that earn a superior rating at this contest can advance to the Area level competition every other year, according to classification, and then potentially advance to the State contest.

All-Region Band

Each November students may audition for TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) All-Region Bands. From this region of schools, students are selected to participate one of several concert bands, including a Freshmen Band. The All-Region Bands meet for a two-day clinic and concert in January. Each of the bands is directed by a guest conductor, usually from a college or university band program.

ALl-State Band & Orchestra

The All-State Band and Orchestra membership is selected at an Area audition from students in a large grouping of Regions. The All-State Band and Orchestra rehearse and perform as part of the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, which is held in San Antonio, Texas each year in February. Becoming an All-State musician is the highest rank of competition an individual student can obtain in high school.

Solo & Ensemble Contest

Solo and Ensemble is an adjudicated event sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League in which students may play individually or in small groups. Soloists typically play with a piano accompanist. Ensembles usually number from 3 to 5 players, but sometimes are larger. Examples of ensembles that could perform at Solo and Ensemble Contest would be trumpet trio, flute quartet, woodwind quintet, brass quintet, etc.

UIL Concert & Sight Reading Contest

In the spring of each school year, the University Interscholastic League sanctions an event in which concert bands play for judges’ comments and ratings. In April, the high school bands perform a stage concert and then perform a piece to be sight-read.

Directors

Aaron Turner

Director of Bands
aturner@ptisd.org

Aaron Turner is in his first year as Head Director of Bands at Pine Tree ISD. Mr. Turner has been the Assistant Director of Bands since 2014 and has worked closely with Mr. Mark Melton, who continues as Pine Tree’s Director of Fine Arts, Jazz Band Director, and beginning trumpet teacher, as well as serving as the UIL Region IV Music Secretary.

Mr. Turner’s bands have consistently earned superior/sweepstakes ratings in UIL contest performances. As Director of Bands, he will lead the 200 plus member PT Pride Marching Band and be the conductor of both the Wind Ensemble and the Concert Bands at Pine Tree High School. Additionally, Mr. Turner is a brass specialist and teaches AP Music Theory, Applied Music, and beginning brass at Pine Tree Middle School. He is also an active pianist and accompanist in the Longview area. Previously, he taught on the band staff at Kingwood High School in Humble ISD and worked for over 20 years in church music with both choral and orchestral programs. He is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in music/specialization in euphonium and piano. Principal mentors were Mr. John L. Whitwell, Dr. Charles Gavin, and Dr. Andrew Parr. Mr. Turner also has a masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and is a licensed professional counselor. He and his wife, Mindi, have three children who are all graduates of Pine Tree High School: Caitlin (2010), Kelsey (2012), and Chris (2014).

Mark Perry

Junior High Band Director
mperry@ptisd.org

Mark Perry came to Pine Tree in 2010 as the Head Junior High Band Director. He has a degree in Music Education/specialization in Saxophone from Stephen F. Austin, as well as a Masters Degree in Administrative Leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington. Before coming to Pine Tree, Mr. Perry taught in Lindale ISD and is currently in his 9th year to teach. In his spare time, Mr. Perry enjoys working in the yard, scuba diving, and traveling.

Kirk Wells

Assistant Director of Bands
kwells@ptisd.org

Kirk Wells is an Assistant Director of Bands and assists in teaching beginner band classes, 7th grade band at at Pine Tree Junior High, and assists with High School low brass. He has a degree in Music Education/specialization in Tuba from Stephen F. Austin. In his spare time Kirk likes to spend time with his fiance, Margot Lopez, and his dog, Sophie.

Mindi Turner

Fine Arts Assistant
mturner@ptisd.org

Mindi Turner is in her 4th year with Pine Tree ISD and is currently the Fine Arts Assistant, the Auxiliary color guard sponsor, and clarinet teacher. Her first college career was in Music Education/Clarinet specialization at Stephen F. Austin, and she also holds a degree in Business Administration from LeTourneau University. Mindi is married to Aaron, Assistant Band Director, and they have 3 children, Caitlin, Kelsey, and Chris, although they seemed to have adopted about 200 others!

All-State History

1977 Concert Band Bass Clarinet Pam Ezelle
1978 Symphonic Band Eb Clarinet Cindy Davis
1978 Symphonic Band Bass Clarinet Pam Ezelle
1992 Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jo Lee Hammer
1993 Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet JoLee Hammer
1993 Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jenny Schuette
1995 Concert Band Eb Clarinet Sarah Hall
1995 Concert Band Bass Clarinet Emily Terrell
2007 4A Symphonic Band Tenor Trombone Hunter Decker
2008 4A Symphonic Band Tuba Kirk Wells
2009 4A Symphonic Band Percussion Greg Wallace
2010 4A Symphonic Band Flute Lindsey Conway
2012 5A Concert Band Euphonium Joseph Schaetz
2013 4A Symphonic Band Percussion Zachary Schaetz
2015 5A Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jerry Zhang
2016 5A Symphonic Band Bb Clarinet Jerry Zhang
2016 5A Symphonic Band Contra-Bass Korbin Davis
2016 5A Symphonic Band Cornet/Trumpet Gage Ellis
2016 Concert Band Cornet/Trumpet Cristian Najera
20175A All-State Band /Trumpet Gage Ellis
2017 6A All-State Band/Trumpet Cristian Najera

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