The Frederick Douglass Band recently went to EKU to do their band assessment on March 24th, 2025. 5 students were interviewed to receive information about how their trip went for them and how the process was in their perspective. Both Concert and Symphonic bands played at EKU and were judged between either Distinguished, Proficient, Apprentice, or Novice.
These lovely students said, the band left during first period and the Symphonic band changed into their formal attire before heading to the buses. When they arrived, the Symphonic band waited in the main room while the Concert band went to practice in the practice room at the location. Then, when the Symphonic band went to practice, the Concert band went to assess and they ended up performing very well, songs and sight reading. Concert band received a distinguished on their performance. The Symphonic band received distinguished on their performance as well after the Concert band was finished, and they received a Proficient on their sight reading! Amazing job to them overall they did their very best, the students in Symphonic were said they had messed up the sight reading, though it was a song they were not familiar with. Both of the bands played two songs before the sight reading.
The students somewhat enjoyed their day, but they ended it off with staying in the band room celebrating with food and a movie. The food was a very exciting part and there was plenty for all, the band had the option to go to their 4th period or stay in the band room to celebrate and have fun after their assessment was a success.
One student said “ I got nervous but then when we were on stage and we started playing all of the nervousness went away so I would say we did pretty good.” Another student said “Overall I would do this again, I think it’s a great experience for students and it’s an achievement.” A third student said “once everyone was finished performing we headed back to douglass and changed out of attire and everyone got to enjoy pizza and watch a movie.”
