Ben Hill Middle School
Grow your mind. Grow your life.
- Ben Hill Middle School
- Meet the Teacher
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Due to BHMS being closed until January, our concert performances will need to be cancelled for December. I will work to come up with a plan to reschedule or do a pre-recorded concert in January. We will still have online instruction and assignments, so I am requiring all band students to make arrangements to have their instruments and music binders picked up by 6:00 pm on Monday evening, December 7. I will be at school tomorrow and Friday until 4:00 pm, but will stay later on Monday afternoon. Please email me or call and leave a message at michelle.denison@benhillschools.org or 409-5578 to make arrangements to pick up instruments and music from the bandroom. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I know how discouraging and frustrating this year has been, but am grateful that we are still able to keep making music, even through the disruptions.
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SAVE THE DATE!!! BEGINNING BAND INSTRUMENT RENTAL MEETING will be Thursday, AUGUST 27 between the hours of 4 and 6 at the BHMS bandroom. The link to the google document to sign up for an appointment has been emailed to the students' school email address. We will schedule up to 5 appointments at 4:00, 4:30, 5:00 and 5:30 so we can maintain social distancing. Please wear a mask since we will be in the school building. A brochure from Art's music detailing their rent-to-own program and a sheet with recommendations for quality manufacturers of school band instruments has been sent home with students. The link to the recommendations is above this announcement.
Even if the student is using a school instrument, tuba, french horn, oboe, etc. you will need to purchase the method book, and any needed supplies.
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Essential Elements is the interactive method book we use to work on fundamentals. Directions for creating your online student account, using the code in your book, along with the code for our class are found in your child's band class in Schoology. There are so many features for practice and assessment, for both classroom and distance learning
Features of Essential Elements Interactive

Phone: 229-409-5578
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Troy University 1991 Bachelors of Music Education (Instrumental Music) Troy University 1994 Masters of Science in Education (Instrumental Music) Troy University 2002 Education Specialist (Instrumental Music) Georgia T6 Certification in Music P-12
Ms. Michelle Moultrie Denison - Band Director
Ms. Denison has a diverse range of experience in the field of music education. She has been the band director and music appreciation teacher at Ben Hill Middle since 2002. Many of those years were also spent assisting with the Fitzgerald High School Band as a woodwind and colorguard instructor. She taught band and general music for grades K-12 at Zion Chapel School in Coffee County, Alabama from 1991-1993. She was also the band director and general music instructor for Irwin County Middle/High School from 1993-2000. Although her concentration is instrumental music, she has some experience with elementary and choral music instruction.
A 1987 graduate of Fitzgerald High School, Ms. Denison played oboe and clarinet in both concert and marching band, and served as drum major during her senior year. At Troy University, she performed with the Sound of the South Marching Band on clarinet and in colorguard. She also performed on oboe in the Symphonic Band and Concert bands, as well as in numerous orchestras for the Opera Workshop, Collegiate Singers and various churches in Alabama and Georgia. She is a member of Tau Beta Sigma, national band service sorority, and Sigma Alpha Iota, professional music fraternity for women.
She is currently performing on oboe in the Azalea Winds Classic Community Band based in Valdosta, Georgia.
Ms. Denison is also the sponsor for the BHMS Needlecrafts Club.
Daily Schedule
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HT 8:15 - 8:55 Hurricane Time
1 9:00 - 9:55 Music Appreciation
2 10:00 - 10:55 Music Appreciation
3 11:00 - 12:05 8th Grade Advanced Band
12:10 - 12:40 Third Lunch
4 12:45 - 1:40 7th Grade Intermediate Band
5 1:45 - 2:40 6th Grade Beginning Band
6 2:45 - 3:40 Teacher Planning
HR 3:40 - 3:45 Homeroom
3:45 Dismiss Car Riders
3:47 - 4:00 Bus Dismissal
PLC Meetings – Tuesdays
PD Meetings – 1st & 3rd Thursdays of month
Helpful Practice Tools
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Music Theory.net keyboard note identification practice
This is good for mallet percussion and anyone interested in piano.
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Bass Clef note identification practice
This is a permanent link to practice bass clef note identification on Musictheory.net. You can create a verification code to send to Ms. Denison, or print out a progress for her, so she can see your work.
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Treble Clef note identification practice
This is a permanent link to practice treble clef note identification at MusicTheory.net. You can also generate a verification code to send to Ms. Denison, or print out a progress report to give her so she can see your work.
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Music Theory Lessons and Worksheets
Very helpful in learning basic music reading!
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bandmusicradio.com
Free online streaming of concert music of all levels. You must set up an account to listen.
Georgia Standards of Excellence- Beginning Band- 6th grade


























