Ensembles

Honors Band:

Honors Band is an advanced level course of auditioned players with at least 1 year of band experience. This class meets every day during 6th Period (3:05-4:00). Honors Band is a mix of 7th and 8th grade students and is structured like a high school band. Students perform high-level repertoire and go more in depth studying music theory and record etude assignments regularly.

Students entering this course should be able to demonstrate a more advanced understanding of producing a characteristic tone on their instrument with proper technique and a more extended range while playing in tune. They should be able to read notation and perform scales in concert keys 0-5 flats and one sharp including chromatics and enharmonics . Students should also understand and demonstrate performing rhythms in addition to Symphonic band dotted eighth, single sixteenth notes, triplets, and basic rhythms in 6/8 time signature. Students should also be able to understand more advanced articulation techniques. Students must turn in an application and complete audition requirements in order to be considered for Honors Band.

Honors Students participate in the Fall Concert, Holiday Music Showcase Concert in December, ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest (optional), ISSMA Organizational Contest (required), and the Spring Concert in May. 8th Graders in Honors Band have the additional opportunities of the Kaleidoscope performance in November at Penn, 8th Grade Night with the Penn Marching Kingsmen, and 8th Grade Night with the Penn High School Pep Band. All Honors Band students also can participate in Pep Band, Intermediate Jazz Band, and audition for Advanced Jazz Band.

Symphonic Band:

Symphonic Band is an intermediate level course with students having at least 1 year of playing experience. This class meets every day during 1st Period (9:35-10:30). Symphonic Band is a mix of 7th and 8th grade students. Students entering this course should be able to demonstrate a higher level of understanding of producing a more characteristic tone on their instrument with proper technique, be able to read notation, and perform scales in concert keys 0-4 flats. They should also understand and demonstrate performing rhythms in addition to Concert band dotted quarter notes, single eighth notes, 4-16th notes groupings, and simple syncopation. Students should also be able to understand different basic articulation techniques. Students completing Concert Band will automatically be enrolled in Symphonic the following year. Students entering from 6th grade band will need to apply and complete audition requirements in order to be considered for Symphonic Band.

Symphonic Band students participate in the Fall Concert, ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest (optional), ISSMA Organizational Contest (required), and the Spring Concert in May. 8th Graders in Symphonic Band have the additional opportunities of the Kaleidoscope performance in November at Penn, the Holiday Music Showcase Concert in December at Discovery, 8th Grade Night with the Penn Marching Kingsmen, and 8th Grade Night with the Penn High School Pep Band. All Symphonic Band students also can participate in Pep Band, Intermediate Jazz Band, and audition for Advanced Jazz Band.

Concert Band:

Concert Band is a second level course with students having at least 1 year of experience. This class meets every day during 2nd period (10:35-11:30). Students entering this course should be able to demonstrate and have a basic understanding of producing a characteristic tone on their instrument with proper technique, be able to read basic music notation and perform scales in concert keys of 1, 2, and 3 flats. Students should also be able to understand and demonstrate performing rhythms involving quarter, half, dotted half, whole notes and rests, and 2 eighth note groupings. There is no application or audition required to enter this course other than having completed at least one year in a band course.

Concert Band students participate in the Fall Concert, ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest (optional), ISSMA Organizational Contest (required), and the Spring Concert. Concert Band students are also eligible to participate in the Intermediate Jazz Band and Pep Band.

6th Grade Band:

6th Grade Band is the entry-level ensemble for all 5th grade students who select a band instrument at Instrument Selection Night. 6th graders are divided into three classes - a Flute/Oboe/Percussion (FOP) instrument class that meets during 3rd period (12:05-1:00), a Brass instrument class (Trumpet/Trombone/Baritone) that meets during 4th period (1:05-2:00), and a Single Reed instrument class (Clarinet/Saxophone) that meets during 5th period (2:05-3:00).

6th Grade Band continues the work students do during their Summer Beginner classes at Penn. Students work out of Tradition of Excellence Book 1, learning new notes and rhythms, specific instrument techniques, the rudiments of reading music, and the skills needed to perform in both small and large ensembles. 6th Grade students do small playing formative assessments, quizzes on Canvas to assess content knowledge, as well as a summative performance assessment every 9 weeks.

6th Grade Band students participate in the Fall Concert, ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest, ISSMA Organizational Contest, and the Spring Concert in May. 6th Grade students also can participate in the Discovery Pep Band in November and February.

Pep Band:

The Discovery Pep Band is open to ANY band student and usually has well over 70 students participate! The Pep Band learns fun rock, pop, and cheer tunes and plays at two boys and two girls basketball games each year during November and February. Students rehearse after school, get to eat concessions, and get into the basketball game for free to cheer on the Archers!

Advanced Jazz Band:

Advanced Jazz Band is a select auditioned group of 7th and 8th grade students who learn and perform jazz at a higher level than Intermediate Jazz Band. Advanced Jazz Band rehearses before school on Friday mornings from 7:45-8:50 starting in late October and going through May.

Advanced Jazz Band students perform at the Penn Evening of Jazz, ISSMA District Jazz Festival, the Discovery Coffeehouse, and the Spring Concert in May.

Intermediate Jazz Band:

Intermediate Jazz Band is open to any 7th and 8th grade students who is interested in learning the fundamentals of rock, jazz, and swing style. Intermediate Jazz Band rehearses before school on Thursday mornings from 7:45-8:50 starting in January and going through April.

Intermediate Jazz Band students perform at the Discovery Coffeehouse in late April.