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What is the Blue Thunder Band Program?
The Blue Thunder Band program is comprised of the marching band, jazz bands, concert bands, and winter performing units at J.R. Arnold High School in Panama City Beach, Florida. Established in 2001, the Blue Thunder Band Program has a rich history and tradition of excellence that is truly special. The band has performed at state and national events including Olympic Ceremonies, NFL Football Games, and some of the largest parade gatherings in the country. The marching band performs at all Friday night football games and competes throughout the southeast US, and the jazz and concert bands perform concerts regularly throughout the year. Our winter programs consist of the Arnold High School Winter Guard and Category Five Percussion, which compete in the Gulf Coast Guard and Percussion Circuit, a subdivision of WGI. It is our goal to foster a healthy standard of excellence in music education as well as provide and promote music in the Panama City Beach community.
Blue Thunder Marching Band
J.R. Arnold High School Blue Thunder Marching Band is the combination of all the students in the Arnold High School Band program and Auxiliary. They perform at football games, pep rallies, parades, and competitions throughout the whole school year.
Students are required to be in a concert band class, a percussion class, or an auxiliary class in order to be a part of the marching band each year. In addition, Students wishing to participate in additional programs like Jazz Band, Winter Guard, or Winter Percussion are required to be in a concert band class, a percussion class, or an auxiliary class.
Concert Ensembles
J.R. Arnold High School Band program has a well established concert band program. We offer two different levels of concert bands, the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble.
Our Symphonic Band class is our beginner and intermediate level ensemble. Symphonic Band focuses on fundamental techniques as well as intermediate musical concepts that stretch each musician with challenging literature designed to prepare them for the advanced level class. Audition is required.
Our Wind Ensemble class is our advanced level ensemble. Wind Ensemble focuses on advanced musical concepts while exposing students to pre collegiate or collegiate level literature. Audition is required.
Jazz Ensembles
J.R. Arnold High School has a rich tradition in jazz and one that is very well respected in Bay County. We offer two different levels of Jazz Band at AHS. These ensembles both require auditions and a divided up based on jazz ability.
Jazz II focuses on building building fundamental jazz technique and style. This ensemble primarily focuses on introducing students to all of the genres of Jazz.
Jazz I is the advanced level ensemble. This ensemble focuses on higher level literature and expands students ability within the Jazz improv and musical ability.
Students wishing to participate in the jazz ensemble classes are required to participate in the marching band/concert band class before gaining entry to this specialized music class.
Percussion Ensemble
Students in this class are members of the J. R. Arnold High School Blue Thunder Band and is required for all percussion students. This course is designed to help percussion students further their musical skills outside of regular band class and is to reinforce music reading skills, musicality, music terminology, music history, and music theory. Students will rehearse music to be performed within the scope of the music program and will focus on techniques that directly relate to rudimental, concert, and world percussion ensembles.
In order to participate in winter percussion, students are required to be in a concert band class, a percussion class, or an auxiliary class.
Color Guard
Students in this class are all members of the Blue Thunder Marching Band and perform several times throughout the school year. Our color guard is lead by Mrs. Gudz, and they work during the fall primarily on our marching show. Following the end of marching season, we shift gears to work on winter guard, where we compete within the Gulf Coast Guard and Percussion Circuit, which is a branch of WGI.
In order to participate in Winter Guard, students are required to be in a concert band class, a percussion class, or an auxiliary class.
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