The Music Department provides creative experiences and performances. The department provides the resources that allow students to become performers and artists as well as students and to provide entertainment for those whose lives are enriched by the arts. Band and choir classes may be repeated for credit.
Band is a 2 semester/4 marking period class. Students are expected to be in band the entire year. Any scheduling problems should be discussed with the directors in the spring (April/May) before the next school year. Exceptions can be made for graduation requirements. Students must inform the directors if they have a graduation requirement/scheduling problem in the spring.
Fall Concert Band | Weeks 1-9 | 9th-10th Grade
An introduction to marching band. Students learn terminology associated with writing directions into drill and will learn basic marching fundamentals.
Marching Band | Weeks 1-9 | 9th-12th Grade
A competition marching band that meets during the fall. Enrollment is by permission of the director. Students are expected to attend all competitions, performances, and Monday night rehearsals.
Solo Ensemble | Weeks 1-9 | 11th-12th Grade
This course offers an alternative to students who have marched for two years. Students will work on solos and/or ensembles. They will be expected to do a least one public performance.
Concert Band | Weeks 3-9 | 9th-12th Grade
Students will continue to develop skills associated with tone quality and technique. A performance oriented class. Students will be selected by the director(s) based on playing proficiency.
Symphonic Band | Weeks 3-9 | 9th-12th Grade
Students will be selected by the director(s) based on playing proficiency. This is an advanced band.
Symphonic Winds | Weeks 3-9 | 9th-12th Grade
Students will be selected by the director based on playing proficiency. This is an advanced band performing at the college level.
Jazz Band | Semester Long | 9th-12th Grade
Membership by audition. Must also be enrolled in one of the bands. The jazz band will rehearse and perform pieces in various styles and from various periods in jazz and big-band developments.
GHS Singers | Year Long | 9th-12th Grade
This choir is the “junior varsity” choral group to Chamber Choir. Students can be selected from this choir to sing with the Chambers. It is a group which includes women and men. Students must audition to participate. Students learn more advanced singing techniques and music theory. Students perform at Festival and in all other concerts.
Chamber Choir | Year Long | 10th-12th Grade
This is the most selective choral group. Students must audition and have written permission by the director and their parent/guardian to join. It is limited to 26 with 4 alternates who perform in another choir until an opening becomes available. The group includes women and men. Students learn advanced singing technique and music theory. Students perform at Festival and in all other concerts.
Women's Varsity Choir | Year Long | 10th-12th Grade
This choir features only women’s voices. Students can be selected from this choir to sing with the Chambers. Students must audition to participate. Students learn more advanced singing techniques and music theory. Students perform either at Festival or Solo Ensemble and at all other concerts.
JAS Choir | Year Long | 10th-12th Grade
This choir is the only choral group that meets Tuesday night, Wednesday night and Friday mornings before school and once during the week at a special time depending on each student’s individual schedule. This choir is select with 26 members and 4 alternates. A group of musicians which includes a drummer, lead guitarist, bass guitarist and pianist can participate without singing. Singers must audition and have written permission to participate by their director and parent/guardian. Students do not have to be in Choir to be in this group. Students can be in this group and another performing group of Band, Choir or Orchestra. Students in this choir are serious about pursuing a career in fine arts. This choir features music that is Vocal Jazz, Acapella and Show Choir. It has 4 components – (1) performance, (2) a specialized project each student decides to pursue (EX: music theory, voice lessons, piano lessons, costume design, set construction, fine arts media, etc), (3) career planning (a yearly field trip to visit fine arts options in areas like musical theater, management, media, therapy, historic preservation, performance, etc. and (4) an internship by taking on a responsibility for the Choir’s annual spring Revue Show (EX: publicity, producer, stage manager, props manager, house manager, lighting, media, student director, costume manager, etc.)
Freshman Choir | Year Long | 9th Grade
If there is one choir, all Freshmen will be assigned to Freshmen Choir. If there are two choirs, students will be assigned to either Freshmen Mixed Choir (men and women) or Freshmen Women. No previous singing experience is necessary. Admittance is by assignment, not audition. Students will study basic to primary level difficulty of music. Students will learn to improve their individual singing voice, to read music at the basic to intermediate level, to work cooperatively, to solve problems creatively, adn to set/achieve standards of excellence as set by the Michigan Fine Arts Benchmarks and the Michigan School Vocal Music Association.
Concert String Orchestra | Year Long | 9th-12th Grade
This ensemble is open to students of intermediate ability at any grade level. Emphasis will be placed on fundamentals and technique. The ensemble will have many performances as well, and opportunities for advancement also exist. No audition is required for placement in these groups.
Philharmonia String Orchestra | Year Long | 9th-12th Grade
This ensemble is open to string players of advancing ability at any grade level. Works from the major string orchestra literature will be performed. Performances include orchestra festival as well as many other opportunities throughout the year. Students in this ensemble must be committed to improvement on their instrument. Advancement into the Symphony is a possibility as well. Placement in this group is by audition only.
Symphony Orchestra | Year Long | 9th-12th Grade
This ensemble is open to string players of advanced ability at any grade level. Major symphonic works will be performed both as a string orchestra and as a full symphony. This ensemble has many performances throughout the year, and performs at a very high musical level. Placement in this group is by audition only.