Large Concert Ensembles -Concert Band -Wind Ensemble Individual Musicianship -Solos -Small Ensembles -Private Instruction Small Ensembles -Jazz Band -Pit Orchestra -Chamber Music Athletic Bands -Marching Band -Pep Band Enhancement Experiences - Honor Bands – Camp Experiences – All-State Ensembles – Honors Credit – IB/Music Theory

Levels of Musicianship The goal of the band staff is to prepare the members of the Central High School Band program to be life-long learners and participants of music. To that end, the expectation is that every band student will strive to better themselves as a musician with the ultimate goal of reaching a level 3 or higher by the end of the high school band experience. Level 1 Musician – Listens to music passively. Has a “favorite band, singer, or performer.” Level 2 Musician – Characteristics of Level 1… Music gets “stuck in your head.” Listens to music, but from 1 – 3 styles, genres or time periods. Attends live concerts/live performances. Would encourage a child to participate in music. Could play an instrument or sing at one time. Can sing in a public or religious setting in a crowd along with others.

Goal for members of the CHS Band Program! Level 3 Musician – Many characteristics of Levels 1 and 2… Community or religious participation in music as a performer, community band member, or in an ensemble. Extensive listening library representing many forms of music and artists from across time. Personal ownership of music or instrument that are used regularly. An “at home musician” who might tinker with an instrument now and again by yourself or with others. Children participate actively in music and are encouraged to do music as a part of their lives. Level 4 Musician – Many characteristics of Levels 1, 2, and 3… Music is a social activity in the home. College participation in music. Leader of a choir, band, group or other performing ensemble. Drum Corp, Travel Group or other professional level group participation. Summer camp attendance and/or private lesson instruction as a high school student. Level 5 Musician – Many characteristics of Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4… A diploma or degree of some kind in music, including advanced degree through masters or Doctoral programs. Professional musician and/or teacher – music you do to earn a living. Works with sound, engineering or a teacher of others as a major source of income. Extensive knowledge of a wide variety of composers, history, genres and styles.

 Optional Camp Experiences: June – July.  Marching Band:  Woodwinds & Brass = July – Oct.  Percussion = June – Oct.  Concert Band & Wind Ensemble: Sept – April.  Pit Orchestra: Sept – Nov.  Pep Band: Nov – March.  Jazz Band: Aug – May (separate class).  Honor’s Credit: 1 st and/or 2 nd semester.  Honor’s Ensembles:  All-State = July – Oct.  Honor Bands = throughout the year.  Solos/Chamber Music = throughout the year.

 All students enrolled in what the course catalog calls “Concert Band” are required to be a part of the marching band.  Marching band is the combination of physical movement and music combined to create a “show.” It is both physically and mentally challenging.  When possible, instruments have been modified to project the best possible sound toward the audience or judges. Sousaphones, marching baritones, mellophones and battery percussion (snare drum, tenor drum, tonal bass drums and cymbals) are different for marching band.

 There are two major philosophies on high school marching band:  “Competitive” marching bands – bands who design, practice, rehearse and perform their shows with the goal of doing better than other bands. Much like athletics, the “win at all costs” mentality becomes common for competitive marching bands and their directors. Budgets for competitive marching bands are usually between $20,000 - $40,000.  “Festival” marching bands – bands who design, practice, rehearse and perform their shows with the goal of entertaining an audience. Festival marching bands do not exclude students due to poor physical or musical skills. Budgets for festival marching bands are usually between $0 - $15,000.  The CHS Eagle Marching Band strives to have elements of both philosophies- we try to “push” students beyond their current skill levels to put the best possible product in front of the football game audience while ensuring that all students improve over the course of the season.  We do not exclude students due to poor skills. We do not rehearse as much as most competitive marching bands. We do not spend as much money on the marching band activity as some bands do.  We do require that students give 100% of their effort no matter what. We do insist that students present a marching band show that reflects well on themselves, their band, their school and our district.

 Marching band season begins in July and ends in early-October.  Because students must move while playing, extra rehearsal time is needed for marching band.  Before school marching band rehearsals (7:30 am) and Tuesday/Thursday evening marching band rehearsals are a must. This is due to the fact that every student enrolled in “Concert Band” receives PE credit (the physical demands of marching band really are that intense!).  Rehearsals in July and Tuesday evening marching band rehearsals for the 1 st month of school are scheduled at this time to provide students with the instruction we feel they deserve to put the best show they can on the field.

 Our school is an International Baccalaureate World School (IB school).  Our school is also an IB Middle Years Program (MYP) school.  While our district music curriculum has not changed, our school focus has changed to meet the requirements of IB & MYP.  The band calendar reflects both the district music curriculum and the integration of IB & MYP philosophy- different than all other OPS high school band calendars.

 “Concert Band” consists of around 140 students. This is too many students to have in one concert band.  We have two different concert ensembles, both of which meet 1 st hour after marching season.  Concert Band- generally rehearses in room B13, usually consists of around members, performs grade 2.5 – 3.5 music.  Wind Ensemble- generally rehearses in the auditorium, usually consists of around members, performs grade 3 – 4.5 music.  ALL STUDENTS must audition for ensemble placement. This process will begin shortly after marching band camp in August.

 Concert ensembles rehearse daily during 1 st hour from the end of marching band season through the end of the school year.  The concert ensembles are the core of our band program here at CHS- this is where students learn the musical skills necessary to continue playing successfully after high school graduation.  OPS requires that we assess each student in:  Performance, both individual and group  Literacy/Fluency  Participation/Preparation

 Students enrolled in “Concert Band” are required to support the varsity boys and girls basketball teams by performing at their home games.  Due to limited space in our gym and the size of our band, students will be assigned to Pep Band A or Pep Band B.  This way students will only have to go to half the home games.  There is no audition for Pep Band- you are automatically placed in one of the pep bands if you are enrolled in “Concert Band.”  Pep Band performances begin in December and continue through March.  Basketball schedules are not released until October or November.

 CHS Fall Musical  Musicians are needed to play in the Pit Orchestra for this activity.  Instrumentation depends on the musical- auditions in August.  CHS Roadshow (Individual Performances):  Anyone who is a student at CHS can audition to be a part of the Roadshow.  Almost anything is appropriate: dancing, playing or singing music, acting, short films, etc.  Meetings about the audition process will begin 1 st semester.  All-City Music Festival:  Open to all students enrolled in band.  Auditions usually in late November/early December.

 Elkhorn Band Olympics:  For freshman and sophomore band students only.  Designed to improve student’s individual musical skills through working toward a solo or small ensemble performance.  Is scheduled for February 18.  District Music Contest:  Usually appropriate for upperclassmen students.  Students prepare solos or small ensembles to be performed for judges who give the performers ratings.  Scheduled for April 19th – 22 th.  CHS Jazz Band:  Is a separate class from “Concert Band.”  Interested students must audition for the next school year in the spring.  Jazz Band students perform throughout our community for a wide variety of events.  Added responsibility by choosing to be in Jazz Band, but also added fun and opportunities…

 Band Letters:  Any students enrolled in “Concert Band” is able to earn a letter.  Band letters are awarded to signify those students who demonstrate commitment to the band beyond what is required of normal band students.  The Band Letter Checklist Form is usually available after school begins in August.

 CHS Performing Arts Department Website: 154/Default.aspx  CHS Band Secure Website:  Username = chsband  Password = 15music16  This is where music, recordings or other information that we can not post on the internet for everyone to see (due to copyright laws or OPS policy) is kept.  This password will change over the summer. We will give you the updated password when this happens…  Band Office Phone:  Band Director s:    Band Parent Organization