Steve Patton, director of bands at Billings West High School, and other local band instructors and performers, have organized a series of master classes available to West, Senior and Skyview high school band students.

Patton noted that Billings has many great music teachers giving one-on-one private lessons, but his intent is to place a much larger percentage of students in front of these teachers.

The program is being held at West High, usually on Monday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. and consists of two parts. The first 50 minutes will be spent in a master class where a professional instructor teaches students playing similar instruments. For example, the flutes players study with Lynette Larson and the trumpets will study with Mark Fenderson. They will be able to discuss and play techniques specific to that instrument. During the second hour, students will break into small mixed ensembles ranging from five to 15 members and the same group of instructors would be working with an ensemble. They work on tone, blend, balance, intonation, phrasing and many other concepts we work on in class but in much smaller settings and with the ability to delve into more detail.

The dates for the first semester are Nov. 9, Nov 23, Dec. 7 and Dec. 21. The cost is $10 per session or $60 for the entire semester. Scholarships are available. For more information, contact Patton at pattons@bill-ings.k12.mt.us.