ENSEMBLES
JEMISON BANDS
JEMISON HIGH SCHOOL
Blue Regiment
The Blue Regiment is the marching band at Jemison High School. It comprises of the majority of the band students at Jemison High School, grades 9-12. This includes musicians, as well as visual performers/auxiliaries. As of 2025, the Blue Regiment has around 110 students involved. The Blue Regiment performs at all JHS football games, and two band competitions per year. The Blue Regiment was recently selected to participate in the 2026 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade with the "Rural All-Star Band."
JEMISON HIGH SCHOOL
Wind Ensemble
The Jemison High School Wind Ensemble is the premier performing ensemble within the Jemison band program. This ensemble performs advanced level music throughout the year. The students in this band are regularly selected to perform in the Alabama All State Bands. The Wind Ensemble has received only superior ratings since its inception in 2019.
JEMISON HIGH SCHOOL
Concert Band
The Jemison High School Concert Band is another successful ensemble in our program. This ensemble performs easier music than the wind ensemble, but still challenges students and promotes musical growth. This ensemble is often a "next step" for students coming out of middle school band and into high school band, however students 9-12 are represented in both ensembles at Jemison High School.
JEMISON MIDDLE SCHOOL
8th Grade Bands
After beginning band in seventh grade, students are placed in one of two ability-split eighth grade band classes. During seventh grade, students are monitored and assessed throughout the year before being placed in an eighth grade band class. This way, students who need more individualized attention in their second year of band can receive that needed teacher attention, and they are more likely to be successful. One class has a full and balanced concert band instrumentation, and the other class will be slightly smaller with more of a focus on instrument fundamentals and individual attention. Each of these classes works not just on individual skills, but also listening and performing music with an ensemble. Eighth grade bands from Jemison consistently receive superior ratings at our state level music performance assessment (MPA).
JEMISON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Beginner Band
Students can join band at Jemison Middle School in the seventh grade. In sixth grade, Mr. Mercier visits the Intermediate School to sign students up for band. However, if students miss this opportunity, they can always contact Mr. Mercier at the beginning of the school year to join. Eighth grade students can also join band, but must speak with Mr. Mercier to join. Students are placed on a band instrument and put in either the woodwind class, or the brass and percussion class. Students are taught how to read music, how to behave and rehearse in a large ensemble, how to assemble and hold the instrument, and how to play the instrument. There are roughly 90 students in the beginner band each year.
INSTRUMENTS
Acquiring an instrument is always a big question for new band students and their families. Having a high quality instrument is necessary for the success of the student. School provided instruments include percussion, tuba, baritone, low reeds such as bass clarinet and tenor/baritone saxophone, and a few french horns. All other instruments will need to be purchased or rented. Instruments can be purchased or rented in a few ways. First, there are great quality instruments available at our local music stores, such as Gadsden Music Company or Art’s Music. These companies come to the school at the beginning of the school year to offer a rental/sale event, and you can also call or go to the store locations anytime. They offer new and used instruments, and they all are high quality.
Please be warned of poor quality instruments. You should never attain an instrument from places such as Amazon or Walmart. These so-called “instruments” sound terrible, will break easily, and cannot be repaired. They are made to be disposed of when broken. If the brand name sounds like a magician and comes with white gloves, I would avoid that. High quality instruments from our music stores sound great, are durable and can be repaired, and when taken care of they can last a lifetime.
You can also acquire an instrument from an individual seller, someone you know, Facebook Marketplace etc.- but be careful to buy a nice quality instrument. If you need more guidance on what is a good quality product, please email Mr. Mercier and ask!