Here is a brief description of the classes offered in Dayton and some of the unique performance opportunities the kids get to experience here.

Advanced Band and Pep Band

Advanced Band includes students from 8th-12th grade. In the The pep band provides school spirit at the Football and Basketball games. In October, advanced band students participate in Mass Band, including other schools from the Southeast Music Educator's Assoication (SEWMEA) region. Other performances include the Veteran's Day Assembly, Christmas Parade, and Winter Concert. In the Spring, students can attend solo ensemble festival, Honor Band, competitive regional festivals, our annual Spring Concert, Music in the Parks at Silverwood, and Dayton Days Parade. 

Middle School and High School Choir

This ensemble includes middle and high school students and requires no previous performance experience. We contribute to the school's culture by providing a space for community and expression. We perform Winter and Spring Concerts, as well as regional fesitval performances. Students have opportunities to sing and perform popular, world, spiritual, broadway, classical, patriotic, and many other types of music in choir. 

Middle School Music

This class focuses on general music and music standards for middle school students. Unlike band, it is more project based (rather than performance-focused). Students explore music from around the world and different modes of performance, music creation, and appreciation.

Middle School Band

MS Band includes students from 6th-8th grade. Advanced students from MS band may join the pep band by audition. In the Fall, we participate in a Mass Band performance including other schools from Southeast Music Educator's Association (SEWMEA). We may also perform in the Veteran's Day Assembly, Christmas Parade, and the annual Winter Concert. In the Spring, students may attend the solo ensemble festival, perform in other competitive regional festivals, our annual Spring Concert, Music in the Parks at Silverwood, and Dayton Days Parade. 

5th Grade Band

Members of the 5th Grade Band perform at the annual Winter and Spring Concerts and assemblies. This group focuses on the fundamentals of playing in unison in a large group of diverse instruments. Most of the music is performed from our Standard of Excellence books and other similar level music. 5th graders focus on producing a good tone and controlling their dynamic levels and learning more advanced rhythms in a group setting. Advanced 5th graders may choose to participate in the solo ensemble festival in the Spring. 

4th Grade Instrumental Music

In the first semester of the 4th grade, students begin ukulele to reinforce playing instruments together with like rhythms and learning instrumental ensemble etiquette. By the Spring, students begin to try band instruments and choose what they will be focusing on in band in 5th grade (brass, woodwind, bass, or percussion instruments). 4th graders also continue to sing in class, but performances are mostly focused on their instrumental music.

3rd Grade Choir and Recorders

In the Fall, 3rd graders sing in choir in the Winter Concert. They also begin learning the fundamentals of playing recorder in the second quarter of the Fall semester. In the Spring, students have the amazing opportunity to attend the Carnegie Hall Link Up concert with the Walla Walla Symphony where the students get to play their recorders and sing with the symphony. Then, students play their recorders in the Spring Concert. 

K-2nd Grade Choirs and Percussion

Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Graders sing in choir with their individual grades at the Winter and Spring concerts and at various assemblies throughout the year. Sometimes, students will also sing in the Veteran's day assembly. In class, they explore song & dance, percussion with Orff instruments (xylophones and marimbas), rhythm sticks, and hand drums. We learn about different instrument families, feeling the beat together, and exploring music from different parts of the world.