Jazz Band

The Jazz Band is another “premier instrumental ensemble” at Markham Woods Middle School. The Jazz Band is a full-year academic course designed to provide students the opportunity to learn to play a variety of jazz styles like swing, bossa, blues, and more! The Jazz Band is an audition-only course; students must have at least one year of previous band experience.

Spots are limited and are usually reserved for students that play traditional jazz instruments such as saxophone, trombone, trumpet, bass, drums, guitar, and piano.

Unlike the other band classes, students auditioning for Jazz Band do so with the understanding that if they make it into the course, they are required to be enrolled in two band classes for the full academic year. This means they will be enrolled in Jazz Band in addition to Concert or Symphonic Band for the entire school year. No student is allowed to take Jazz Band as a standalone class.  

Given the talent level and work ethic needed to be in the Jazz Band, students will be held to a very high standard. They will be required to perform regularly in school and community events and professionally adjudicated festivals.