Band

Tom Eisan

Teacher - Band

Southwestern Wildcat Bands

Southwestern has 6 ability based band classes, involving almost half of the student body at Southwestern. Our students enter band in 6th grade, with little to no musical instrument experience and continue through 8th grade performing music at a high school level. Each year we have about 60 to 70 students participate in the ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest. Since 2002, the Intermediate and Advanced bands have consistently earn GOLD ratings in group III and Group I at the ISSMA Band Contests All bands perform 3 to 5 concerts annually, with the top band performing at the TSC Southside Band Festival and our Veteran’s Day Ceremony. Prior to the pandemic, Southwestern Bands have earned 5 ISSMA ALL-Music Awards.

In addition, students in Intermediate and Advanced Band classes can participate in the Wildcat Jazz Band. This is an extra-curricular group that meets 3 times weekly before school to study the jazz idiom, learn improvisation techniques, and perform music not traditionally played in a concert band setting.

The Wildcat Band Program benefits from our community support for music education and the drive for excellence provided by our band parents. Our band parents understand the benefits that making music can provide our students and support their endeavors to succeed.

Meet the Director:

Tom Eisan is a native of Indiana and has been teaching instrumental music education for 22 years. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and has studied at Ball State University and Western Michigan University. Prior to teaching, he has performed with the Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra which has received numerous Grammy Award nominations. He has also won the prestigious International Trumpet Guild Competition in 1990 and was runner up in 1991. Mr. Eisan has grown the Southwestern Band program from 80 students to 200 plus students.

Information for Southwestern Middle School Band

Band Classroom Expectations and Policies

Performance Calendar

ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Information

ISSMA Solo & Ensemble Permission Slip - Due 11/22
ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Packet 2023
ISSMA Solo & Ensemble Status = GREEN
- If there is a status change to Solo & Ensemble due to weather, it will be indicated above.
  - GREEN = Everything going as scheduled
  - RED = Cancelled and reschedule to February 11, 2023
  - ORANGE = The contest is being delayed 2 hours. Meaning your performance time starts 2 hours later than scheduled.

ISSMA Band Contest - Saturday March 18, 2023

Intermediate Band will be performing in Group III
Advanced Band will be performing in Group I
ISSMA Band Contest is taking place at Clinton Prairie Jr/Sr. High School on Saturday March 18, 2023
A field trip permission slip AND performance schedule for both bands will be sent home with students closer to the beginning of March 2023.
No Make-up Work is available for the ISSMA Band Contest - Credit can not be earned if students are not there. This date was made available to all band families at the beginning of the school year.
Please plan ahead an be a valuable member of our team.

Southwestern Band Uniform

Band Instrument Repair and Supplies

Paiges Music - Instrument Repair Tutorial

Paiges Music - Instrument Repair Request Form

A representative from Paige's Music Store comes to the school each week to bring band supplies and pick up instruments for repair. Please click the link below to learn how to get your child's band instrument repaired. If you need to order supplies, please call the store at: 1-800-382-1099

Brent's Bench Instrument Repair

If you own your band instrument and need to get it repaired, the Southwestern Bands use Brent's Bench, located in downtown Lafayette.

Southwestern 6th Grade General Music

6th Grade General Music Class Expectations and Policies

Quicklinks

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