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Concert
Orchestra
Concert
Orchestra
Concert Orchestra is the entry-level large ensemble for the orchestra program. It is an open ensemble with no audition required for participation however students must have at least 1 year of previous ensemble experience.
Orchestra courses are designed to develop students’ abilities to play string instruments, covering a variety of string and orchestral literature styles. They will continue to develop left and right-hand skills (vibrato, shifting).
Musicianship skills in theory and history will be developed. Students generally own their own instruments. Some school instruments are available, particularly in the lower strings. Practice sessions and performances demand time outside class. Each student provides his/her own concert attire.
PREREQUISITE: Prior string experience or Instructor Consent
Symphonic Orchestra
Symphonic Orchestra
This course is open to intermediate string students who are interested in performing symphonic literature.
Emphasis is on performance with the group participating in concerts, clinics, contests, and festivals throughout the school year, occasionally in conjunction with other school music groups. Orchestra courses are designed to develop students’ abilities to play string instruments, covering a variety of string and orchestral literature styles.
Students generally own their instruments. Some school instruments are available, particularly in the lower strings. Practice sessions and performances demand time outside of class. Each student provides his/her own concert attire.
PREREQUISITE: Audition; prior string experience and instructor consent
Chamber
Orchestra
Chamber
Orchestra
This course is designed for advanced string musicians who are committed to excellence and ready to push their performance skills to the next level.
The ensemble focuses on mastering advanced symphonic and string literature, with an emphasis on precision, artistry, and collaboration. Students in the Chamber Orchestra will participate in a variety of performances, including concerts, clinics, contests, and festivals throughout the school year. Some performances may include collaborations with other school music groups to expand the repertoire and experience.
Orchestra courses aim to refine students' abilities to play string instruments while exploring diverse styles of orchestral and string literature. Students are typically expected to own their instruments, though some school-owned instruments (especially in the lower strings) are available. Regular practice sessions and performances outside of class are essential for success. Each student must provide their own concert attire.
PREREQUISITE: Audition; advanced string experience and instructor consent required
2025-2026 AUDITION MATERIALS
(click the link above for audition materials)
AUDITION INFORMATION
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
ALL incoming Freshmen should register for Concert Orchestra as well as current students who do not wish to audition for Symphonic Orchestra. Open to ALL students who do not wish to audition for Symphonic Orchestra.
SYMPHONIC/CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
This year, we are going virtual with our auditions. You will submit a video of yourself playing the given excerpts on the audition page. Please state your name, grade level for next year, and what instrument you play before you play. When you record, please make sure to have yourself AND instrument in view. This will help me see how you use the bow and look at your fingerings.
HOW TO SUBMIT TO MR. DURAN
Please record your scale & excerpts in one video file. Please EMAIL your audition to Mr. Duran at alexander.m.duran@adams12.org. In the subject line put your Name, Grade Level, and Instrument followed by “Symphonic Orchestra Audition”
EX: SUBJECT: Alex Duran, 12th Grade, Clarinet, Symphonic Orchestra Audition.
Below is the audition material:
AUDITIONS DUE BY SUNDAY, MARCH 2ND BY MIDNIGHT
OTHER HHS MUSIC COURSES
BAND
-Concert Band
-Symphonic Band
-Wind Ensemble
-Marching Band/Color Guard
-Jazz Band III
-Jazz Band II
-Jazz Band I
CHOIR
-Treble Choir
-Tenor/Bass Choir
-Bella Voce
-Luminescence (Jazz II)
-Spectrum (Jazz I)
GENERAL MUSIC
-Positive Music
-Music Theory & Technology
EXTRA-CURRICULAR MUSIC
-Winter Guard
-Winter Percussion
Benefits of Music Education
Benefits of Music Education -
https://meritmusic.org/benefits-music-education/
Music Education and the Brain -
https://www.americanscientist.org/article/the-argument-for-music-education
The College Board identifies the arts as one of the six basic academic subject areas students should study in order to succeed in college (Academic Preparation for College: What Students Need to Know and Be Able to Do, 1983 [still in use], The College Board, New York).
Benefits of Private Music Instruction
Private lesson teachers model a professional sound on their instrument. How do babies learn to talk? By listening to people talk. How do instrumentalists learn to play with a characteristic sound? By hearing a characteristic sound.
Students are able to perform by themselves weekly and get concentrated feedback. In orchestra, it is rare for students to perform by themselves and if they do, feedback is usually limited to 10-15 seconds. Performing weekly for a teacher helps them become a more confident and independent player. They also have more time to give feedback, try again, and continue to work on a problem until it improves because it is an individual setting.
Students are able to focus on supplemental exercises written specifically for their instrument. These fundamentals are crucial for later development and more advanced playing ability.
Method books written just for their instrument are far superior to orchestra ensemble music books for developing well-rounded players. Method books, because of their methodical nature, do a much more complete job of covering full range, key signatures, rhythms, duets, alternate fingerings, and styles than the curriculum in orchestra class allows.
State/region/district orchestra auditions can be approached on an individual level. Teachers can meet a child where they are to begin the audition orchestra music and help them develop an individual game plan to prepare them for the audition. This helps students learn how to set goals - long-term and weekly goals.
Instructors give students a chance to play a unique solo that they love at solo contests. Lesson teachers, experts on solos for their instruments, are able to offer students a number of solos that are ideal for their development level. They can also choose solos that work on goals for that student such as focusing on objectives such as extending range, improving bowing styles, or extreme key signatures. Giving students more options means they are more likely to find a solo that they personally enjoy playing.
Private lesson teachers provide a role model for students that can be a strong motivation for students to continue in the orchestra and excel on an individual level. While students move through different classes, grade levels, and schools, it is possible they would have the same lesson teacher for 7 or more years. Lesson teachers often have a long-term plan for each student’s development. Private teachers can guide a student all the way from the first sounds in beginner orchestra through a professional-level solo as a senior in high school and they know how to get them from one point to the next.
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