Middle School Concert Band is available for students that would like to experience playing in a large instrumental ensemble. Students study a variety of band repertoire. They are introduced to the elements of good instrumental tone production, sight reading, and music theory basics. Students will receive instruction in small groups one day a week, during the Exploratory block.
Performance is one of the most important factors of the VUHS Music Department, and students are required to attend all concerts and parades in order to pass the course. Students are expected to practice their music, so that they may be able to make a contribution to the excellence of the band.
Grading is based on practice/ theory logs, performance assessments, written tests, concert and parade attendance (evenings and weekends), and reflections of performance and preparation.
Symphonic Band is available for students who enjoy playing in a large instrumental ensemble. Students study a variety of band repertoire. They are introduced to the elements of good instrumental tone production, sight reading, music theory basics, and chamber ensembles. Students will receive instruction in small groups one day a week, during class time.
Performance is one of the most important factors of the VUHS Music Department, and students are required to attend all concerts and parades in order to pass the course. Students are expected to practice their music, so that they may be able to make a contribution to the excellence of the band.
Grading is based on practice/ theory logs, performance assessments, written tests, concert and parade attendance (evenings and weekends), and reflections of performance and preparation.
Rudiments Sound Files: http://www.pas.org/Learn/Rudiments/RudimentsSound.aspx
The Commodore Jazz Ensemble is a select high school group with students selected by audition. The CJE performs a variety of music in swing, rock, funk, Latin, and ballad styles. Students learn how to improvise in a blues progression. The Commodore Jazz Ensemble rehearses at 7:00 AM on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, with additional rehearsals scheduled if necessary prior to a concert on a Friday morning or after school.
The Jazz Jammers is designed to teach jazz musicians in grades 7 - ? how to play in a variety of jazz styles. Improvisation is taught in this ensemble. Participation in the Jazz Jammers is open to any student who has a desire to learn how to play jazz. There are no auditions for the ensemble. Jazz Jammers meets on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 AM, with additional rehearsals scheduled if necessary prior to a concert on a Monday or a Friday morning.
Uniforms
High School Band
Student provides BLACK socks & BLACK sneakers or shoes
Student provides T-shirt & shorts under uniform
VUHS provides full uniform.
Middle School Band
Student provides BLACK socks & BLACK sneakers or shoes AND BLACK PANTS (No Leggings)
Band shirts - $15
Black shoes or black sneakers should be comfortable for marching. If financial assistance is needed, please do not hesitate to contact me at VUHS. There are two containers of lovely black shoes that can be loaned to students! A single pair of brown shoes, white sneakers, or a black sneaker with hot pink stripes can ruin the appearance of the entire marching band! Students will lose performance points if they do not have completely black shoes or black sneakers.
Any family who cannot afford to purchase the necessary black footwear (both bands), black pants or band shirt (Middle School) must contact me immediately so that I can provide those items for you. Please do not hesitate to ask for help. Any requests for uniform assistance will be confidential.
PARADE DAYS:
Note: If a band student plans to ride home from a parade with a parent or guardian, a note must be given to Mrs. O’Daniel the day before the parade, at the latest. Please respect the work that is put into organizing four buses of students and chaperones. Receiving a note on parade day is an inconvenience. Make arrangements to meet your band student AT THE BUS. You will need to check out your student with Mrs. O’Daniel or a designated band chaperone before you leave. Be prompt, so as not to hold up the other band families – we cannot leave until you pick up your child. I suggest that you view the parade at the end of the route, so that you can follow the band to the bus.
SCHEDULE:
Chaperones are needed for all parades. Chaperones will need a Level 1 background check. Contact the ANWSD Central Office for information. 6 - 8 chaperones are needed for each band. Drivers may also be needed to bring equipment to the parades. Contact Susan O'Daniel at [email protected] or 877-2938 X218. Hang out with the band. It's fun!!
Saturday, May 23, 2020 – Essex Junction Monday, May 25, 2020 – Vergennes
7:30 AM – Meet at VUHS, dress, load buses 9:45 AM – Meet at VUHS, dress
8:45 AM – Arrive at Essex fairgrounds 11:00 AM – Parade begins
10:00 AM – Parade begins 12:15 PM – Parade ends (time approximate)
11:15 AM – Parade ends (Middle School Band returns to VUHS to
12:15 PM – Approximate return to VUHS put instrument away)
Hang up uniform **High School Band will remain in
**Bring food and a beverage The park for the Legion ceremony.
This is part of the band performance.
Return to VUHS after the ceremony
to check in uniform.
This is a course in which students learn one or two secondary instruments of their choosing. Students will work in a Lab Band on their secondary instruments. Each student will also learn music on their primary instrument, to improve their technique and musicianship or to prepare specifically for music festival auditions. Students will learn how to transpose music for instruments in the band, and will create an arrangement for a quartet based on a piano score.
This course is designed for who know a lot or very little about music! The purpose of this class is to provide an introduction to world music through drumming. Students will experience the process of learning the fundamentals of drumming on a variety of percussion instruments. Students will learn music through the oral tradition. Rhythmic and melodic notation will also be learned. Students will have the opportunity to create percussion ensemble compositions for the class to perform.
Students will utilize the elements of music theory to understand the intricacies of melody and harmony. Students will study major, minor and chromatic scales, intervals, triads, inversions, chord progressions and transposition in order to analyze and compose music. Students will study basic ear training through listening and dictation of intervals and chords.
Students in the Piano Class I will learn to play the piano at their own pace following a structured piano course of piano technique and literature. Students will learn basic music theory. Students will perform regularly in Master Classes. There will be a piano recital at the end of each semester. Each student will explore composition, and create a piano piece that they can perform.
Students in the Piano Class II will continue their piano studies from Piano Class I, adding to their knowledge of basic music theory, and learning more piano technique and literature. The composition at level II will contain more chords and rhythms, based on the material learned by the student.
This class is designed to provide introductory guitar lessons to students in a group setting. No prior experience is needed. Students will experience the process of learning to tune guitar strings, change guitar strings and the fundamentals of guitar technique in order to perform during the semester. Students will follow a guitar method book with different styles of music and accompaniment patterns. VUHS guitars will be available for use but students are encouraged to bring their own guitars.
