“Pride of Taylor”
Bulldog Band
Jessica Starling, Band Director
Jessica.starling@taylor.k12.fl.us
Welcome to the TCHS Band Program Page! Read Below to see what band and music programs we have here at TCHS.
Concert Band
The main band class in the program! Students with previous experience on an instrument join the class to continue working on fundamentals and technique for their instrument, as well as learn new music.
Required Responsibilities and activities for the Concert Band include:
- Participate in the Pride of Taylor County Marching Bulldog Band
- After school marching rehearsals, Friday Night Football Games (home and away), parades, Marching Festivals (such as Marching MPA), various community performances
- Attend after-school concert band sectionals and rehearsals
- Perform in concerts (3-4 per year; includes Concert MPA)
- Commitment to practice individually
Optional events and opportunities include:
- Solo and Ensemble
- District Honor band and other honor bands
- Student Leadership
- Access to collegiate and community-hosted summer music camps and high school band day events
Want to join for the 2025-2026 School Year? Fill Out This Form!
(hyperlink: https://forms.office.com/r/E9PpQ6XUVs )
Jazz Band
Do you like Jazz? Join the jazz band, no jazz experience necessary! Students enrolled in a concert band class can choose to take jazz band as a second elective. Students in jazz band will further develop technique on their instruments and learn to play music in a variety of different jazz styles.
Required Responsibilities and activities for Jazz Band Include:
- Enrollment and active participation in Concert Band and Marching Band
- Potential exceptions for Guitar, Piano, and Bass players. See Ms. Starling for more information and approval.
- Perform in Concerts (3-5 per year, could include Jazz MPA)
- Perform in community events (Jazz band will be one of the main community performance groups)
- Willingness to write and perform solos
- commitment to practice individually
Optional Events and Opportunities include:
- Jazz Combo performances at Solo and Ensemble
- Jazz Combo performances in the community
- Solo and improvisation opportunities at concerts
Interested in Joining Jazz Band for the 2025-2026 School Year? Fill out this form!
(hyperlink: https://forms.office.com/r/Rc6Zbndf32 )
Beginning Band
Interested in learning an instrument? Join beginning band! Students will learn how to play a band instrument, while also learning how to read, interpret, and perform music. Classes will focus on the fundamentals and techniques of playing music. This class will use an accelerated approach due to the high school environment.
Required Responsibilities and activities for Beginning Band Include:
- Participate in instrument testing sessions (potentially after school depending on scheduling)
- Perform in Concerts (2-3 per year)
- Willingness to learn
- commitment to practice individually
Optional Events and Opportunities include:
- Solo and Ensemble
- Mid-year transfer to Concert Band via class change and/or attendance to after-school rehearsals
- Access to collegiate and community-hosted summer music camps and high school band day events
Interested in Joining Jazz Band for the 2025-2026 School Year? Fill Out This Form!
(Hyperlink: https://forms.office.com/r/VGdvF5ALdS )
Majorettes and Color Guard
Join the Taylor County High School Majorettes and Color Guard! Auditions are March 4-7th at the TCHS Gym. March 4-6 are conditioning days from 3:30-5:30 and March 7th is the try out day from 3:30-6:30.
Required Responsibilities and activities for Color Guard Include:
- Participate in the Pride of Taylor County Bulldog Band
- After school marching rehearsals, Friday Night Football games, parades, Marching Festivals (such as Marching MPA), various community performances
- Attend additional after-school rehearsals as necessary
- Participate in a full-group Solo and Ensemble performance as a Winter Guard group
- Willingness to learn new things
- commitment to practice individually
Optional Events and Opportunities include:
- Solo/small ensemble performances at Solo and Ensemble
Parent Involvement
Parents are a crucial part of successful band programs! There are many ways to get involved and help your student’s group succeed:
- Work Concession stands at JV and Varsity Football games
- Pick up concession stand supplies and keep track inventory
- Pull the band trailer with personal vehicle
- Chaperone trips and events
- Support fundraisers
- Support students participating in extra opportunities
- Attend performances from the program
- Attend Parent meetings
Email Ms. Starling if you are interested in helping with the concession stand or pulling the band trailer.
Other Music Classes at Taylor County High School
Class Piano
Want to learn piano? This class will teach you the basics of piano playing, including lessons on reading music and music theory. This class will also go over different skills a pianist would have, such as improvisation, transposition, accompaniment, and more.
World Music
Most of our exposure to music is to Western classical music and Western popular music. Throughout the year, students will learn about different styles and types of music from different cultures around the world. Students will also learn about the origins and influences of Western classical music and popular music. By exploring these topics, students will also learn music history, music theory, geography, and more.
The Florida Seal of Fine Arts
The Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program was established within the Department of Education to recognize high school graduates who have met exemplary benchmarks in fine arts coursework. The purpose of the Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program is to encourage students to develop an exemplary level of proficiency in the performing or visual arts.
The Florida Seal of Fine Arts shall be awarded to a high school student who has:
- Earned a standard high school diploma
- Successfully completed at least three year-long courses in dance, music, theatre, or the visual arts with a grade of “A” or higher in each course or earned three sequential course credits in such courses with a grade of “A” or higher in each course
- Meets a minimum of two of the following additional requirements:
- Successfully completes a fine arts International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, or honors course in the subjects listed in the paragraph above with a grade of “B” or higher.
- Participates in a district or statewide organization’s juried event as a selected student participant for 2 or more years.
- Records at least 25 volunteer hours of arts-related community service in his or her community and presents a comprehensive presentation on his or her experiences.
- Meets the requirements of a portfolio-based program identifying the student as an exemplary practitioner of the fine arts.
- Receives district, state or national recognition for the creation and submission of an original work of art. The term “work of art” means a musical or theatrical composition, visual artwork, or choreographed routine or performance.
This is a state level honor, but applications, tracking progress towards requirements, coordination, communication, and distribution of diploma seals will take place at the school level.
To learn more about the Florida Seal of the Fine Arts, visit the state's Fine Arts Page (hyperlink: https://www.fldoe.org/academics/standards/subject-areas/fine-arts/ )
Still have questions? Contact an Arts Teacher or the Guidance office for more information.