Welcome to the Rising Freshmen Center Grove Bands Website!
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The goal of our program is to enrich your students life through the performance of music, cultivate community, and to try to attain excellence in all we do! Click the button below if interested in joining! (Insert survey link?)
WHY OUR STUDENTS LOVE BAND
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A GLIMPSE OF THINGS TO COME
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What if I am not sure if I want my child to do music? Remember when your children wouldn’t eat the food you made for them? You always said, “Try it before you decide you don’t like it.” Music is the same way. Your child should sign up for band even if you are unsure. Give it a try, and if we decide that it doesn’t work out, we can discuss other options at that time. The vast majority of students love the band once they see what an incredibly enriching experience it is.
Do I need to know how to play an instrument before joining band? Not at all! A high volume of students DO NOT know how play an instrument or have any musical experience before joining 6th Grade Band. If you have experience, that will be considered when choosing instruments.
How does 6th grade band work? 6th grade band is a class that meets during the school day. This means that your child can participate in after school sports and clubs without worrying about any interference. We love how active our band students are within the school. Our students participate in cheerleading, all sports, and all clubs. Band does not interfere with any of the other programs.
Do I receive a grade for band? Yes (if in-person or a hybrid student), band is considered an academic course at Lakeside. Students will be graded on mastery, which means performing the skill to a fundamental music standard. Not doing your work is not accepted, if you do not submit an assignment you will receive a “Missing” in the grade book with either more time to complete the assignment or an alternative assignment. You will receive a 100 in the grade book when the skill is of the expected standard.
Can I participate in sport/clubs while in band? Absolutely! There are Lakeside Band students involved in every team or club that the school offers.
How often do we perform? The 6th Grade Band has two performances throughout the year, but will have additional opportunities throughout the school year.
How much out of school time is required? Music is no different than any other curricular area. We ask that your child spend some time with their instrument each and every week. Think of it as musical homework, but much more fun.
What is the performance project? We will go more into detail about this in-class and during meetings, but the performance project (Earning Your Stripes) is a year-long project that the students will play essential musical fundamentals for Mr. Humphrey or Mr. Lehman on their own time. The students may come in the morning starting at 7:30AM.
Can my student be in both the band and the chorus? Absolutely! Keep in mind that both band and chorus are year long courses.
What does the connections schedule look like for students? Students attend 2 connections classes every 9 weeks. If a student is in the band or chorus, he/she remains in the class for the entire year and will rotate between the other connections classes in the other connections slot.
Is Band a financial obligation? Yes, but think of this as investing in your student’s education. We wish funds were available for us to provide every child with an instrument, however, this is simply not possible. The school may have certain larger instruments available for at school use. If not, you can rent a quality instrument from a local music store at a very reasonable price. I will provide information about local and trusted retailers. Instruments require maintenance, mouthpieces, reeds, valve oil, etc. Please note that we want ALL students to be able to participate in the band. If financial constraints prevent you from being able to do this, please contact me and allow me to help. We will not let instrument availability or financial constraints keep your child from participating.
How do I choose an instrument? Sixth grade students will have the chance to tryout the different instruments at the Instrument Tryout Night (held sometime at the end of May). We will have two stations set up with Mr. Humphrey and Mr. Lehman on all of their instruments. After trying the students’ desired instruments, the student will discuss with Mr. Humphrey and Mr. Lehman, who will make recommendations based on the student’s interest, the band’s needs, and physical characteristics of the student.
Should we rent or purchase an instrument during our 6th Grade year? Most families choose to rent an instrument at the beginning of the band experience. We will have different companies available for your convenience, who will be providing contactless delivery for your instrument after placing an order online. Those links will be provided after the companies set up the links and send them to Mr. Humphrey.
What supplies do we need besides an instrument? The band fees will cover most materials including band binders, music, method books and the band polo shirt. Parents will need to purchase additional mouthpieces, reeds and sticks as needed.
Reggie Humphrey, Director of Bands (HS & MSC)
Reggie Humphrey currently serves as the Director of Bands at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, IN. His responsibilities include directing and instructing the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band, as well as coaching the school’s chamber ensembles and overseeing program administration.
From 2023 to 2025, Mr. Humphrey served the students and community at South Forsyth High School, where the band program grew from 171 to 302 students under his leadership. During his tenure, the program was honored with the 2023–2024 Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Exemplary Performance Award. Notable performances under his direction include appearances at the 2025 GMEA In-Service Conference and the 2025 Music for All Southeastern Regional at Georgia State University.
Mr. Humphrey earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA. As an undergraduate, he studied conducting under Dr. Joshua Byrd and trumpet under Dr. Chip Crotts and Mr. Michael Lanier.
Active in the marching arts, Mr. Humphrey served as the Brass Caption Head for the Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps from 2016 to 2018, based in Diamond Bar, California. Prior to that, he was a brass and visual technician for the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (2014–2015) and the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps (2013).
Mr. Humphrey is a member of the National Association for Music Educators, the National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Josh Torres, Director of Percussion (HS & MSC)
Josh Torres currently serves as the Director of Percussion at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, IN. He also serves as the Adjunct Lecturer of Percussion at Franklin College in Franklin, IN. Josh earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from The University of North Texas and his Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Butler University.
Center Grove Indoor Percussion is a consistent WGI Scholastic World Finalist and a four-time medalist. The Center Grove High School Marching Band is a perennial BOA Grand National Finalist, the 2009 BOA Class AAA National Champion, and a participant in the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Center Grove High School Percussion Ensemble has also received several awards and honors including performances at the 2010 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL and a Percussive Arts Society Percussion Ensemble Showcase Concert at PASIC 2011 in Indianapolis, IN.
Josh currently serves as the director of the Indianapolis Colts (NFL) Drumline. In 2012, he served as the coordinator for the Super Bowl XLVI Drumline which performed the National Anthem with Kelly Clarkson and the Halftime Show with Madonna to over 113 million viewers. Josh serves on the WGI Advisory Board and is a Past-President of the Indiana Percussion Association and the Indiana Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. He is proud to be an Innovative Percussion Artist, Pearl Educational Artist, Zildjian Artist, and a Remo Artist. Josh frequently travels across the country as a percussion adjudicator and clinician and previously served on the percussion staff of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps.
In 2012, Josh had the honor of being named Center Grove School Corporation’s “Teacher of the Year.” Josh was also named a “Top 10 Finalist” for the 2013 Indiana Teacher of the Year Award. In 2014, Josh was selected to receive a Teacher Creativity Fellowship from the Eli Lilly Foundation. Josh currently resides in Indianapolis, IN with his wonderfully supportive wife Audrey, head band director at Hamilton Southeastern High School, and their two sons Cameron and Alden.
Michael Bolla, Assistant Band Director (HS & MSN)
Michael Bolla is the Assistant Band Director at Center Grove High School. In addition to his duties at the High School, he also serves as an Assistant Director at Center Grove Middle School North, and is an advisor for the Center Grove High School Winter Color Guard Program. He is currently serving as president of the Indiana High School Color Guard Association (IHSCGA).
Michael is a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he performed as a trombonist in many of the school’s top ensembles led by Ray Cramer, Stephen Pratt and the late David Baker.
Outside of Center Grove, Michael is an active clinician, adjudicator, arranger, and composer. He has served as a brass staff member for The Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, The Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, and the brass caption head for The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. Michael has arranged and composed for a number of marching bands throughout the United States. He also enjoys performing as a member of the Star United Drum and Bugle Corps, an all-age group that has won 12 of the last 14 Drum Corps Associates (DCA) mini corps championships. He is also the 6-time defending DCA individual baritone solo champion.
Michael currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife, Susie, and their two dogs.
Tyler Richards, Director of Color Guards
Tyler Richards has been involved in the color guard activity for 18 years. He began his career in California, where he spun with his middle school and high school color guards, and toured with Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps during the summers. Past high school, he continued his performing career with The Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard Winter Guard, and toured the US and Japan with the broadway production, Blast! Currently, Tyler lives in Indianapolis and works with numerous programs including The Pride of Cincinnati, Carmel High School, Santa Clara Vanguard, and is beginning his 5th year working with the Center Grove band and color guard.
Renee Skipper, CGHS Performing Arts Secretary
Renee Skipper is a Center Grove Band and Color Guard alum who earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Indiana Business College. Married to her husband, Kevin, for over twenty five years, they have two daughters, McKenzie and Paige, who are also both CG graduates and CGCG alumni. She’s a proud supporter of the United States military where her daughter and both son-in-laws have served. Renee loves spending time with family and friends enjoying the beautiful scenery at their lake house. Having taken a break from the business world to be a stay at home mom, Renee then taught pre-school at Emmanuel Church of Greenwood for several years. In the fall of 2012, Renee joined the CGHS Music Department sharing her passion for organization and performing arts.
QUESTIONS ABOUT JOINING?
EMAIL THE US AT
HumphreyE@centergrove.k12.in.us
BollaM@centergrove.k12.in.us
TorresJ@centergrove.k12.in.us
tysharief89@gmail.com
Skipperr@centergrove.k12.in.us