Concert Band I & II Symphonic Band Honors Band

Mr. Butler's quest is to present a "well-balanced" band program at Smith. Standard concert band literature helps to build music reading skills, techniques, and musical expressionism.  Each marching band student must take a band class. Our marching band is made up of individual instrumentalists who need to show we can play more than marching band music!  We also need parent support and uplift to stress practice and performances other than marching band.  Sign-up for the band class!  Our level of music reading MUST continue to rise.

Our students compete in Contest Festivals, All-District and All-County Band Auditions.

The Ben L. Smith Marching Band

The Ben L. Smith Marching Band is under the direction of Charles L. Butler, percussion instructor Deon Clark, and auxiliary instructor Sharlice Wilson. James Boulden and Shawn Cole, Band Staff.

The leaders of the Ben L. Smith Marching Band have provided the opportunity for students to develop their abilities and individual potential through various avenues of participation in music. Their goal is to introduce students to traditional, new and different areas of instrumentation, music reading, improvisation, styles and trends, and performance. The leaders create the vision and sense of community by fostering commitment, integrating diverse views, facilitating and energizing students through the participation of scholastic music education.

"The greatest success is having everyone achieve the goal."

Trying to grab the glory because you're the captain won't amount to much if the boat sinks and you're the only one on deck.

The leadership's vision of the music program is about motivating students and providing them with direction. It gives students something to believe in, work towards, and to identify with not only as a musician, but also as an individual. Without direction-the leadership-the vision is just wishful thinking. The leadership demonstrates through action how others can achieve a vision. The program leaders inspire students to follow, with or without an explicit vision. An explicit vision is only necessary when students are confused about why they are doing something. In the interest of self-awareness, it is nice to know why we are driven to excel. One of the many tools we the leadership team employs in the Ben L. Smith High School band program is motivating students through their vision.

Charles L. Butler
Director of the Bands

Our Director:
Mr. Butler earned a B. S. Degree from North Carolina A&T State University.  He is currently teaching is 10th year at Smith High.  Before coming to Smith, Mr. Butler worked in the Martinsville City School System in Virginia.  Mr. Butler enjoys playing tuba and bass guitar.  He has several music ambitions including writing songs and jingles.

Mr. Butler was named Guilford County's Employee of the Month for February 2008

Mr. Butler was voted Smith High School's 2008-2009 "Teacher of the Year"

OUR BAND
Nickname: The "BOM" Band of the Millennium.
Slogan: "Experience the Sound"
Motto: "Let's Do Something and Be Somebody!"

The band itself, is a family unit. We endure the good and the bad times together as a family. We have a lot of respect for our fellow band students everywhere. Our competitions aren't just places to be judged, but they are places where we are able to meet other students and watch other bands. It's a great learning experience that is hard to recreate anywhere else.

The Ben L. Smith Marching Band is one of the most active bands in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina.  Our marching style is High-Step we have been featured performers at a Lowe's Home Improvement Regional Convention, the Guilford County United Way Tally Rally and Grand Openings for various companies.  The band marches at all of Smith's football games as well as in various civic events including Festivals, Christmas and Collegiate homecoming parades. We have performed at middle schools and elementary schools that feed into Smith High. Our band has won awards and trophies in competitions throughout North Carolina.

The band initiates two canned food drives each year, one in the summer and another near Thanksgiving.  In 2007 we initiated our first "Give a Kid a Coat" drive. 

OUR BAND BOOSTERS
Our Motto:  "It's All About the Band" 

We need all of the help and support we can get to meet the needs of our outstanding band. We encourage all of you to participate in several ways. There are many things that band boosters do to support the band. We need your ideas, helping hands, strength and support. Band Boosters meet at 7:00PM every first Tuesday of each month. As new marcher parents you are automatically a Band Booster. So, Come and help our band!

Current Band Needs
Large Background Instruments and Transportation Needs

Dear Friends of the Marching Eagles Band & Alumni:

We, the Band Boosters, of Ben L Smith High School would like to make a financial appeal for donations to the Ben L. Smith Marching Band Large Background Instrument and Transportation Fund.

We need your help in order to offer our students the opportunity to represent and participate in one of the crown jewels of Ben L. Smith High School. 

The total cost of a single new sousaphone exceeds $4,000.00, we need at least four.  Band members, parents and boosters constantly conduct fundraisers; however this still leaves us short of our goal.  Please help us reach this goal.  Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated!

Donations may be mailed to:
Ben L. Smith High School Band Boosters 
 P.O. Box 7506
Greensboro, NC  27417-7506
Attention:  Mrs. Cindy McNeil

If you have any questions, please call Mrs. Cindy McNeil @ (336) 854-1653 or Charles Butler at 294-7300

http://www.youtube.com/ (in the search box type - "ben l smith band")
http://www.tubaexchange.com
http://www.tuba.com/
http://www.ncbandmasters.org
http://www.musictheory.net
http://www.metronomeonline.com
http://www.metronome.com
http://www.vicfirth.com
http://www.carolinabands.net
Band Classes - Concert Bands I and II / Advanced Band / Honors Band /
AP Music History "08-09"