Concert Bands
Concert Band
Among the many genres and styles of wind bands, concert band is one of the oldest and most traditional ensembles in the wind band world. Concert band contains about every wind instrument found in the western world of music and hundreds of various percussion instruments. As a daily academic class, students work together every day to improve and polish music pieces for months before performing alongside other ensembles in a large concert production at the end of each concert cycle.
Through these classes, students develop technical skills on their instrument, theoretical skills around music as an art, performance skills (in both solo and ensemble performance), and the ability to empathetically work together as a team to create a final product. Daily warm-ups, music theory lessons, and demonstrations (recordings or in person) all contribute to personal musical growth.
Is there a difference between Concert Band and Marching Band??
Yes, there is. In Marching Band, your kids are Marching and Playing their instrument outside for only 2 and a half months while Concert Band is a class at CVHS that lasts the entire school year. So, yes, there is a difference, and yes, for 2 of those 2 and a half months, your kids are in both Marching Band and Concert Band at the same time.
Symphonic Band
Just because anyone can get into Symphonic Band doesn't mean that it's easy. They play do play higher level music, just not as high of a level as Wind Ensemble. If you're a Freshman, you're automatically in Symphonic Band.
Wind Ensemble
Wind Ensemble is the highest-level Concert Band offered at Central Valley High School. To get in, you have to be selected in an audition held at the end of the year. It requires a lot of time and effort in class and out of class.