URL: www.isd77.k12.mn.us/schools/west/music/band.htm
The buzz about school music Web sites seems to be building, as School Band and Orchestra receives more and more e-mails from directors and Webmasters about their new sites. Each site we visit has many innovative components, making the decision to select only one Web site to highlight each month a difficult one. But it’s a good problem to have, so please continue to send us your school music program’s Web sites for review in our Web Spotlight column.
Last month, SBO visited the site of the Robinson Band Program in Fairfax, Va., at www.robinsonband.org. This eye-catching, easily navigable site was developed by band parent Pam Sutey, with the help of high school band director Denton Stokes and middle school band director Linda Gammon.
This month’s featured site, www.isd77.k12.mn.us/schools/west/ music/band.htm, is the online home of the Mankato West bands in Mankato, Minn. The site, designed and maintained by middle school band director Cynthia Shirk, has a clean and colorful look to it and it’s very user-friendly. On the home page, a large photo of the band greets visitors. The red bar running along the left-hand side of the page clearly outlines the contents of the Web site and gives the user a variety of avenues to explore. West Bands Information takes you to descriptions of each ensemble, with photos. Director’s Notes brings you a message from band director Tedd Gullickson, highlighting upcoming events and other news and information of importance to band members and their parents. The Calendar of Events lists all the dates and locations of upcoming music events through commencement in June. The 77 Lancers Marching Band link takes you to the marching band’s home page, which has several interesting pages of its own worth exploring – News and Bulletins, Director’s Report, 2001 Performance Tour, Highlights, Photos, a Media Vault and an opportunity to vote for your favorite Minnesota parade (in November). The headings for the Dakota Meadows Band and the Garfield Elementary Band give details about each of the middle school and elementary band programs, with a calendar of events and some photos. The middle school site also has a fun new feature called Wacky Wonders that sheds some light on the inner workings of the band.
