JAMS Instrumental Music

The Instrumental Music program at John Adams MS (Santa Monica, CA) is committed to providing access to all students with a high quality music education.

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

We celebrate our @JAMSDragonsSM Bands and Orchestras with our first concerts of the year! So very grateful for the many levels of community support from our families, @smedfdn, and @SMMUSD. Wishing all a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving season! @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Our world-class team of professional musicians who work with our @JAMSDragonsSM Bands/Orchestras dazzled us with recent performances (Meet them here: https://t.co/odGE6fwCwg). We are so grateful to @smedfdn for their support of our weekly coaching sessions! @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Presenting Ms. Dani Santana (UCLA '26)! A music major specializing in Bassoon Performance/Music Education, Ms. Santana will be student teaching with our @JAMSDragonsSM Bands and Orchestras. We were all inspired by her gorgeous rendition of George Gershwin's "Summertime." @SMMUSD

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Here we go! Our 2025-26 @JAMSDragonsSM Bands and Orchestras are in full swing with our first rehearsals of the year. A very special welcome to the newest members of our Instrumental Music community who bring a vibrant sense of excitement and enthusiasm!🎶❤️ @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

To our noteworthy @JAMSDragonsSM Class of 2025! We are so proud of our 83 promoting band and orchestra musicians - thank you for your inspiration, camaraderie, and friendship. We will miss you, and wish you well in high school and beyond! @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Incredibly proud of our spectacular @JAMSDragonsSM Orchestras and Bands for their recent two-night celebration of musical achievements! We honor and thank our 8th graders, and express deep gratitude to our amazing families and awesome community. (@smedfdn!) @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

@SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton Let there be light! Our @JAMSDragonsSM musicians are deeply appreciative to the SMMUSD Facitilites Improvement Projects Team for their work to upgrade our rehearsal space with LED lighting. What a difference!

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Joyous celebration at our annual @JAMSDragonsSM Instrumental Music Performance Festival! Nearly 300 musicians (3 bands/3 orchestras) exchanged inspiring performances to embrace our connection with each other through music. Lovely way to welcome spring break! @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Welcome, future @JAMSDragonsSM musicians! We had a grand time visiting the 5th grade music classes of @GrantGeckosSMM @EdisonAguilas and @WillRogersSTEM...and then it was our turn to play host in the JAMS Performing Arts Center for the annual 5th Grade Tour! @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

We are so proud of our @JAMSDragonsSM musicians who performed with the 2025 SCSBOA All-Southern Honor Bands & Orchestras! Over 2400 students from So. California auditioned for this prestigious event recognizing extraordinary musical achievement. Bravi tutti! @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

The power of music can touch us in profound ways, and can provide solace in times of chaos. Music can help us express our emotions when words fail. As @SMMUSD reopened its classrooms today, our @JAMSDragonsSM musicians leaned on each other with love and friendship. @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Happy Thanksgiving from the @JAMSDragonsSM Orchestras and Bands! We recently presented our annual fall concerts to showcase our young musicians, and thanked our families and community for their invaluable support (huge shout-out to @smedfdn!). With gratitude! @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Looking good, @JAMSDragonsSM! Our JAMS Bands and Orchestras showed off their pride during our annual group photo sessions. Huge thanks and shout-out to @corigoldberg and the JAMS Yearbook staff for organizing a "picture-perfect" day to celebrate our young musicians! @SMMUSD

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Music Conversion Day 2! A very special visit by @JAMSDragonsSM alumni (JAMS '18/Samohi '22 and JAMS '24)! These musicians learned to play oboe and bassoon in Music Conversion and wanted to inspire the next generation of JAMS musicians! @SMMUSD @SamohiPrincipal @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Welcome to Music Conversion! This highly popular class offers our @JAMSDragonsSM an opportunity for personal enrichment while balancing the instrumentation of our three band ensembles. Low brass instruments were introduced today: trombone, euphonium and tuba! @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Ready...set...GO! We had two incredible @JAMSDragonsSM Dragon Days to welcome the 2024-25 school year, filled with inspirational activities to build community and personal connections. Just look at these happy faces! We're going to have a fantastic year! @SMMUSD @Dr_AShelton

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

Cheers to the inspirational @JAMSDragonsSM Class of 2024! We are so proud of our 62 promoting band and orchestra musicians, and thank them for their many gifts and contributions to our JAMS music community. We will miss you, and wish you well in high school and beyond! @SMMUSD

[Dr. Antonio Shelton @Dr_AShelton]

The future is bright for the Samohi music program with these awesome students who will be future Samohi musicians. @SamohiPrincipal @JAMSInstrMusic @SMMUSD

[JAMS Instrumental Music @JAMSInstrMusic]

@Dr_AShelton @SamohiPrincipal @SMMUSD Thank you, @Dr_AShelton! So proud of our amazing @JAMSDragonsSM musicians! We wish them well and the entire JAMS Class of '24 --> Samohi Class of '28!