BANDS & ENSEMBLES AT OMS
Octopus Music School’s band and ensemble programs provide unique opportunities for students to collaborate with their peers outside of their weekly lessons! This is the perfect outlet for students to apply everything they are learning in lessons in a fun and collaborative environment. Participants work on songs, performance skills, and improvisation once per week under the direction of one of OMS’ ensemble coaches. In addition to our quarterly Night of Ensembles school performances, our groups are afforded many opportunities throughout the year to perform at events at Asbury Lanes, The Stone Pony, Bell Works, and downtown festivals and fairs.
Our bands and ensembles are open to all students regardless of whether they are enrolled in private lessons at OMS!
ROCK/POP BANDS
STRING ENSEMBLES
VOCAL ENSEMBLES
CLASSICAL GUITAR ENSEMBLES
AMADEUS ORCHESTRA
Ages 7-14
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The Amadeus String Ensemble offers an exciting opportunity for all beginner string students that want to have a new experience playing with others. Aside from making music, students will develop more technical skills, working on a variety of repertoire that will help to expand their knowledge and understanding of music.
LUDWIG PLAYERS
Ages 7-14
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The Ludwig String Ensemble offers a great opportunity for all intermediate strings students that are looking for a more challenging experience. Students will work on how to achieve a blended sound as a group and rehearsals will reinforce instrument fundamentals such as vibrato, shifting, and uncommon bow strokes. This group also offers a variety of repertoire throughout the year and is always looking forward to bringing the students’ performance, music understanding to a higher level!
OCTOPUS GARDENERS
Ages 8+
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Octopus Gardeners are our beginner classical/fingerstyle guitar ensemble. This is the perfect opportunity for any guitar student who is comfortable with finger style to rehearse and perform in a group setting. Students will prepare a variety of pieces ranging from classical to pop and perform regularly throughout the year! Rehearsals are 30 minutes weekly.
NYLON TENTACLE
Ages 8+
Nylon Tentacle is the our premier classical/fingerstyle guitar orchestra. Performing throughout the state of NJ and beyond, it is one of precious few performance groups for school-aged students to perform on the classical guitar. Nylon Tentacle is a great environment to elevate a student's fingerstyle technique in addition to strengthening listening and rhythm skill. Rehearsals are 60 min weekly.