PROGRAM OFFERINGS

5/6TH GRADE BAND

At the end of 4th grade, students are placed into a 5th grade ensemble based on teacher recommendation, student interest and student abilities. All beginning band students in 5th grade rehearse with the 6th grade band students twice a week during the school day. All 5th and 6th grade students will receive a weekly pull out lesson.

7/8TH GRADE BAND

The 7th and 8th grade band is an expansion of the ensemble skills and individual skills learned in 5th and 6th grade. The 7/8 band rehearses twice a week during the school day and all students will receive a weekly pull out lesson in a small group. The 7/8 band performs three concerts per year including the winter and spring concerts and the district band concert.

HIGH SCHOOL BAND

High school band rehearses every day and students receive a weekly pull out lesson. The high school band performs three concerts per year including the winter and spring concerts and the district band concert. High school band rehearses in the Ruben Santiago-Hudson Fine and Performing Arts Center. Upon graduation, students can receive a Fine and Performing Arts medal in band if the sequence of all four years of band are successfully completed.

HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLE

The HS Jazz Ensemble is designed to allow students to experience jazz, pop, rock and funk music in a big band and combo setting. All students enrolled in High School Concert Band are eligible for the course. All other will have to audition.

INTRODUCTION TO GUITAR (HS ELECTIVE)

This class is designed for beginners on the guitar or players who would like to fill in the gaps in their basic overall knowledge of the instrument. The idea is to get you playing right away. This course will cover fingerboard knowledge, basic techniques, chords, strumming, basic improvisation, basics of finger-style technique, reading music (standard notation/tablature), and basic concepts in music theory that can be used to read & write music and figure out songs by ear. Most of the music played in this class will be drawn from the American popular and folk styles. Through listening, this class will provide an overview of the many different styles of music written for this instrument including classical, jazz, blues, folk, rock and pop.

MUSIC THEORY (HS ELECTIVE)

This class is designed for students who seek to enrich their knowledge of music fundamentals. Whatever musical background students come from, music theory can be intriguing and inspiring. By knowing how elements of music interact to create musical style and effect, students truly become musicians and will be better able to bring a piece of music to life and communicate its essence to others. The purpose of this course is instill the ability to distinguish, describe, comprehend, and employ music theory concepts and processes.

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