Submitted Photo Jeremy Meinert teaches sixth grade band and seventh and eighth grade Jazz band at Ramstad Middle School.

Minot’s public schools offer dozens of extracurricular activities for their students, of which one of the most popular is band. The abundance of musical activities brings in many students interested in music, from jazz band to marching band.

“Minot Public Schools offers band to all 5-12 grade students,” said Jeremy Meinert, co-director of the sixth grade Ramstad Band.. “Jazz band is offered to seventh-12th grade students who are already in band. Summer band is open to students who are just starting out (going into fifth grade band) and is also offered to those students who are intermediate to advanced. The summer lessons are held one hour daily, for two weeks starting in mid-June.”

All students are involved in band practice at school with their band teachers and have many opportunities to perform.

“Students who are in fifth grade band have weekly lessons with their band teachers,” Meinert said. “Starting in sixth grade, band class is held daily and students will have a lot of playing opportunities, including two concerts, solo and ensemble festival and honor band.”

As students get older and have more and more experience and practice, the opportunities to perform only grow.

Performance opportunities include solo and ensemble, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Marching Band and festivals.

Meinert also co-directs the ninth-12th grade bands at Minot High School Central Campus.

“I will be involved in many of the spring concerts,” he said. “The most well attended concert will probably be Chuck Full of Music (fundraiser) held April 15 at Minot High School, where all seven-12 grade bands, choirs, and orchestras will perform a variety of music.”

The ninth-12th grade band will play selections from “Star Trek” and “Lord of the Rings.” Meinert will co-direct with Evan Meiers, who has been the main director at Minot High School for the past three years.

“The nine-12 band will be marching in the Bismarck Band Night on Friday, May 10. All of the Minot Public School jazz bands will be performing in the Spring Jazz Concert at Minot High School as well,” Meinert said.