Honor / Symphonic / Concert
Bands
During Football
season, all band students are combined for after school rehearsals into one band
(the Marching Band). During school however, students are divided into
three bands by ability level. The most advanced students are placed in Honor
Band (1st period). The intermediate to advanced students are
placed in Symphonic Band (2nd period).
Beginning to intermediate students are placed in Concert
Band (3rd period). As a group, these three bands are called the
"Concert Season" bands to differentiate them from Marching Band.
Concert Season basically begins when Football season ends (mid to late November)
and continues through May.
Placement in one of the 3 "concert" bands is determined by Semester Auditions, which happen twice a year. At the end of the school year in May, 9th through 11th graders play audition music chosen by the Directors. This determines the class placement for the fall semester. Incoming freshmen (8th graders) are placed in Symphonic Band if they made the All-City band either their 7th or 8th grade year, otherwise they are placed in Concert Band. The next semester audition is in late November and results are announced after the December concert. This determines the class placement for the spring semester.
Note: Many students will have schedule changes between the fall and spring semesters. This is an unfortunate situation, but it is absolutely necessary to ensure all students are placed in a band which is appropriate for their ability level. Please call the Band Office if you have any questions (671-4173).
*** Special Note for Percussion, oboes, and bassoons *** Percussion students in Marching Band are organized differently during the fall semester to accommodate sectional rehearsals. All battery members (snares, tenors, bass drums, cymbals) are placed in Honor Band (1st period) and all pit members are placed in Symphonic Band (2nd period). Also note that double reed instruments (oboes, bassoons) are not used in the Marching Band. These students may tryout for the Colorguard (Colorguard Website) or the Drumline (Drumline Website) for the fall semester, then audition on their original instrument for spring semester.
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