Fine Arts
There are many opportunities for our students interested in music, art, and drama.
Band
Instructors – Beth Kinman & Daniel Scheetz
About
Among our classes at IMS, students may elect to enroll in band. Students are taught various techniques and have small group lessons throughout the school year.
Families are responsible for renting or purchasing most instruments, but the school does have some that may be loaned out using this form: Musical Instrument Check Out Form
Members of the band will perform at three school concerts and two parades during the school year. Other opportunities include 7th & 8th Grade Honor/Opus Bands and a Solo/Ensemble Competition held in the spring.
Choir
Instructors – Meredith Moore & Avery Luepker
About
Among our classes at IMS, students may elect to enroll in choir. They perform approximately three times per year, singing a variety of musical selections that build musicianship skills such as proper breathing and vocal production techniques, rhythm reading/movement, and pitch reading.
Various other opportunities are available for choir students including STOMP, Acapella, Spotlights, or OPUS and Honor Choirs for students that are interested and accepted.
Drama
Directors – Linda Wickett & Jennette Dowler
About
7th and 8th grade students are encouraged to audition for the middle school play which is performed each spring. Students may also sign up to be a member of the crew, where they help with costumes, make-up, scenery, props, sound effects, and lighting. Auditions are held the week school resumes from winter break, and performances are the first weekend in March. Generally, students rehearse after school four to five days a week throughout the season from 3:30-5:30.
Jazz Band
Instructors – Beth Kinman & Daniel Scheetz
About
Jazz Band typically rehearses Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and the season runs from October into March. The Jazz Band performs at three concerts and participates in four jazz festivals/competitions. This is an auditioned ensemble, which requires enrollment in band.
Mock Trial
Instructor – Cami Eslick
About
Mock Trial is equal parts legal and acting. Join in the fun of preparing to “perform” a case in front of judges. Practices are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM in room 303 beginning in September, until we are done with competition. For an example mock trial, view the national champion teams compete at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJP45ObH1zk.
Orchestra
Instructors – Katherine Bendon & Heidi Terrell
About
IMS is proud to offer our students the opportunity to play violin, viola, cello, or bass in our string orchestra program. The Indianola Community School District’s first orchestra was established in 1915. Today, orchestra students are participating in a proud tradition with unlimited possibilities, a great example of our district’s vision statement.
There are three orchestras at IMS, including 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade orchestras. Students have small group lessons for 20 minutes every week and meet as full ensembles every other day for rehearsals.
Orchestra students perform in three concerts each school year. Additionally, they can choose to participate in several activities outside of school, including the small performances at the IMS Music Boosters Craft Show, the Indianola Music Festival, the Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra, and the Des Moines Youth Symphony.
Students in orchestra should have an instrument plus the following supplies: rosin, shoulder rest or sponge (violin/viola only), rock stop (cello/bass only), and music and lesson book material assigned by the teachers. We recommend that families rent instruments from Becker’s Fine Stringed Instruments or Rieman Music to have the best options for equipment and repair, but we do have a limited amount of school instruments available for students who cannot afford a rental. Musical Instrument Check Out Form
Show Choir
Directors – Meredith Moore & Avery Luepker
About
Show choir is a select ensemble that dances while singing. The season starts in September with rehearsals two to three times per week before school for 45 minutes. Students will build strong singing skills while doing physical activity to prepare the group’s 15-minute show for competitions and performances in January and February. 7th and 8th grade students are encouraged to audition for show choir. The audition includes a dance routine and singing a song. All audition materials are reviewed in choir class, as students must be enrolled in choir to be in show choir.
Side Kicks, the 7th grade show choir, has auditions in September, rehearses Monday and Wednesday mornings, and performs in three competitions and one concert.
Side Effects, the 8th grade show choir, has auditions the May prior to 8th grade; rehearses Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and performs in five competitions, one concert, and one assembly.