Music education begins early at FRA, with students introduced to instruments in kindergarten. As students enter middle school, they have the option to join 5th grade band as one of their performing arts options. Students are encouraged to try out different instruments to find their perfect match. Students in the 5^th and 6^th grade bands put on three performances a year. In 7^th grade, band students begin learning jazz pieces as they participate in our outdoor community Jazz Cafe, in addition to their fall concert. As they progress, our students join groups like the Panther Pep Band, Blue Thunder drum line, and Jazz Ensemble. The Jazz Ensemble is comprised of top-notch student musicians who perform in our largest outdoor arts events. Upper school students can explore courses such as guitar or dive into advanced music production through electives like studio rock band, which allows them to record in our state-of-the-art music studio.