Jazz Band 1

Jazz Band 1 is Prairie Grove's premier jazz ensemble and is open to experienced band students in 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades via audition only. Students that audition for Jazz Band 1, but do not make the band, are automatically enrolled in Jazz Band 2. Jazz Band 1 is an extra-curricular ensemble, but members are required to be enrolled in Advanced Band. The only exception is for "specialty" jazz instruments: bass, piano, and guitar. Students that play these instruments but are not enrolled in the curricular band program may still audition. 

Jazz Band 1 meets twice per week on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 7:10-7:55am. Students also receive weekly 30-minute small-group lessons on Wednesdays. Jazz Band 1 performs annually at the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) Division Contest and has made numerous appearances at the IGSMA State Contest, having earned the High Honors distinction for 5 consecutive years. Jazz Band 1 has been featured at the state and national levels, having been featured performers at the 2022 and 2026 Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria, Illinois, as well as the 2024 Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jazz Band 1 has also been selected as winners for the DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards for Junior High Large Jazz Ensemble twice, in 2024 and 2026.

Announcements for students will be via Google Classroom - class codes have been shared with hard copies of the Trimester 1 lesson schedules. Students involved in the jazz program must adhere to the Prairie Grove extracurricular code of conduct and academic eligibility requirements.