China Grove Middle School

"Red Devil" Band

"A Commitment to Excellence in Music"

Welcome to Mr. Kirk's Band Webpage! This site will detail information about the CGMS Band program in regards to practice schedules, concert events, and contest information. Please check this site weekly to be updated on events for our band. The China Grove Middle School Band Program consists of over 150 students in grades 7 - 8 and focuses on excellence in instrumental music. In addition, our 6th grade students enroll in "Introduction to Instrumental Music" classes throughout the first year into middle school. Students who successfully fullfill the requirements in 6th grade will be chosen to play in our 7th grade band.

Mr. Kirk's Biography: Mr. Kirk is entering his 16th year as a teacher at China Grove Middle School and has taught in Cabarrus County prior to working in the Rowan-Salisbury School System. He graduated with honors from Catawba College in 1994 with the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education (K-12) and was a student teacher at Northwest Cabarrus MS and Northwest Cabarrus HS in 1994. He is currently the assistant marching band director and marching percussion director for The Jesse C. Carson High School "Cougar" Band as well as composer and instructor for numerous high school bands over the past ten years. Mr. Kirk taught the percussion sections of East Rowan HS, Mount Pleasant HS, Northwest Cabarrus HS and South Rowan HS from 1993 to 2003. He is also a marching band judge in North Carolina and judges throughout the state each fall. His percussion sections received consistant "Superior" ratings at band contests. While at Catawba, he served as the college's college president in the music department and received the John Philip Sousa Award for excellence in band.

Mr. Kirk has many years of experience in the marching band and concert band venues. He graduated from Central Cabarrus High School in 1988 and the award winning marching "Viking" band won "High Percussion" at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Pontiac, Michigan as well as placing 7th place in the nation with North Carolina's highest marching band placement in the late 1980's.

He also has performed with two premier Drum and Bugle Corps in North America; playing in the drumline. In 1989-90, he was a member of the Florida Wave Drum and Bugle Corps from Miami, Florida and performed at the 1989 DCI World Championships in Kansas City, Missouri and the 1990 DCI World Championships in Buffalo, New York. In 1991, Mr. Kirk was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from Canton, Ohio and "aged out" in the elite "top twelve" Drum Corps at the 1991 DCI World Championships in the Cotton Bowl (Dallas, Texas). He has also been an instructor for the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (Charlotte, NC) teaching the Bass Drum Section in 1992 with their division II finals status at the DCI World Championships in Madison, Wisconsin (The University of Wisconsin-Madison).

In 1999, he was awarded the Time Warner Cable "Star Teacher" plaque by a student in the Rowan-Salisbury School System for excellence in teaching.

Mr. Kirk's professional memberships include MENC (Music Educators National Conference), SCDBA (South Central District Bandmasters Association) and Drum Corps International Alumni Association.

From 1995-2011, Mr. Kirk was a member of the Praise and Worship Team at Grace Covenant Church in Kannapolis playing the drumset. He has performed at the Foursquare Men's Advance in Myrtle Beach, SC in 2007 through 2009 with the South East "District" Praise and Worship Team (again playing lead Drumset at the conference).

Currently, Mr. Kirk is a rotating percussionist with the Praise and Worship Team for (CFA) Concord First Assembly's main campus (Concord, NC).

Mr. Kirk resides in Kannapolis, NC with his wife Beth and their two daughters: Jordan and Katelyn.

6th Grade Introduction to Band (4th Quarter)

Students will be receiving the CGMS Band Handbook on Tuesday, March 27th detailing all of the course work planned for the final nine weeks of the school year.  

Rising 7th grade "Sign up night" for Band:  I am currently planning a meeting time for the month of April to sign students up for band for the 2012-13 school year.  Look for this meeting after spring break.  Information will be sent home with every student interested in playing the band program at CGMS. 

7th Grade Band

Our 7th Grade Band is currently working their music for the Carowinds Festival of Bands contest scheduled for Saturday, March 31st.  In addition, the students are learning the B flat concert scale and Chromatic Scale.  Percussionists are learning more advanced rhythmic patterns in class.

8th Grade Band

Our 8th Grade Band is currently working on their music for the Carowinds Festival of Bands contest scheduled for Saturday, March 31st.  Students are reviewing different chorales in warmups and the percussion students are learning "Synergy" for Solo and Ensemble Festival in April.

"Solo and Ensemble Festival Update"

Students are currently working on their solos, duet, trios or small ensemble music for the South Central District Solo and Ensemble Festival scheduled for Saturday, April 28th at Bailey Middle School (Huntersville, NC). 

"Spring Concert Finale"

On Thursday, May 24th the 7th and 8th grade bands will perform their last concert of the school year.  Small Ensembles and Percussion Ensemble will be performing at this final concert.  Attendance is mandatory.  Look for a detailed letter to be sent home after spring break (or later in April) concerning this performance.

"Schoolhouse Band Instruments"

Phone:  1-865-382-3107

E-mail:  bobfrye3107@carolina.rr.com

Office location:  47343 Paradise Lane, Norwood, NC  28128

Owner:  Mr. Bob Frye

If you need ANY repairs made to your instrument, please contact Mr. Frye.  He is an excellent repair technician with over 15 years experience and was educated at The University of North Texas (B.S. Degree in Music Education).

Thanks for checking this website and feel free to contact me at school, home or by e-mail if you have any questions or comments.

Musically,

Mr. Kirk