On Wednesday, Dec. 13, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School band students began to prepare for the upcoming band Music Performance Assessment on Wednesday, March 13.

Band members will have their first performance for the MPA evaluations on March 13; the next day, March 14, will be their second performance. MSD band will have three different groups going to the MPA: the concert band, wind orchestra and symphonic band.

MPA is an opportunity for students and directors to get critically evaluated on the sound, timing and rhythm. Each school will get an overall rating depending on the total score. The point rangers are from Fair, which is from 14-17, and Good, which is from 18-24. The excellent points are from 25-31 and lastly, the superior points are from 32-25.

The symphonic band is deciding on two songs to perform for the evaluation in the next two weeks with either the “Overture the Winds” by Charles Carter and “Måndalen Landscapes” by Aalesunds Ungdomsmusikkorps.

“We really like performing, it’s nice to see our work culminate,” senior Ethan Leavy said. “ I am also excited to see my family and friends watch us and how far we came along.”

Rehearsals began after the winter concert on Dec. 12, which was in the MSD auditorium at 7 p.m. They practice every Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. The band has about four months to practice until the evaluation.