The Instrumental Music program at George Washington Middle School, under the direction of Mr. Vigiletti, provides your child with daily opportunities for self-expression, creativity, and achievement. Being a part of this program is an essential element in your child's educational experience. Band at the middle school level is about developing as musicians, strengthening and encouraging self-control and self-discipline and also about setting goals, budgeting time and keeping schedules. Students learn teamwork, leadership, cooperation, and respect while thinking critically and reacting to their environment. Most importantly, band is about having fun!

Here at GW, we offer challenging and exciting instrumental classes as part of your child's daily schedule as well as many after school ensembles for your child to be involved with. Both our 6th Grade Wind Symphony and 7th and 8th Concert Band meet daily and perform formal concerts in both the Winter and the Spring. Every child involved with our band program is also assigned to a small group where they will receive more individualized lessons once a week. These lessons allow each child the opportunity to develop their own personal technique and musicianship at a comfortable pace. In other words, in band we learn how to play the music and in lessons we learn how to play the instrument.

Each Spring, we take our trip to Great Adventure for the Music In The Parks festival. Our 6th Grade Wind Symphony and 7th and 8th Concert Band, as well as our Jazz Ensemble, perform in the morning for competition at a local area High School and then spend a day of thrills and fun in the park. An awards ceremony at night allows each participating school to cheer themselves on as they receive trophies for their morning efforts.

Our after school ensembles include:

Jazz Ensemble

This is an audition only ensemble that typically meets one day a week after school for an hour and a half. It is open to all students in the school on appropriate instruments regardless of whether or not they are in our band classes. Performances include an outdoor "Concert in the Courtyard" in June and a competition at the Music In The Parks Festival in May.

Brass Ensemble

Participation in this ensemble is by selection only by Mr. Vigiletti. This ensemble only meets if we have a full instrumentation (Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Baritone, and Tuba). Performances include a tour of nursing homes and care centers throughout Wayne during the December holidays.

Pit Orchestra

Participation in this ensemble is also by selection only by Mr. Vigiletti. Students learn what it takes to be a Broadway musician as they perform the full score to a popular Broadway show for our annual spring musical production by our Drama Club.

Our Instrumental Music program district wide is one of the best in the county. We have had students accepted to North Jersey Area Band, North Jersey Region 1 Concert Band, Region Orchestra, Region Jazz Ensemble, All-State Band, and All-Eastern Orchestra. Our Concert Bands and Jazz Bands continue to receive excellent and superior ratings in competition year after year. Most students who enter band enjoy doing it for all three years at GW and leave 8th grade playing their instruments at a high school proficiency level. That is why our high school band has over 150 members! When your child decided to play an instrument they made a decision that hundreds before them have been glad they made. Don't stop now, come join us!

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