Band, Guitar, & Piano

Room 512 Gold Hall

***Any three Band courses completes a pathway

The Monroe Area High School Instrumental Music Department provides students the opportunity to develop their abilities and express themselves through music. We believe that students should enhance their individual potential to understand music as an art form, promote the use of music as a form of self-expression, and value music as an aesthetic experience.

The band program provides instruction which focuses on a sequential program of skills development while encouraging academic excellence, strong character, leadership, and a strong sense of team in a caring and supportive environment.

Please note that on the course request there is only one option: band. All students wishing to be in any band class should select that option. Students will be placed in the appropriate ensemble and section during the scheduling process. Students will automatically be placed in band for both the fall and spring semester except in the rare case of an unavoidable scheduling conflict.

Beginning Band

Students in any grade who have not had previous band experience, or students who only did one year of middle school band, can sign up for beginning band. This class is faster paced than middle school beginning band. The first semester beginners spend their time working through a method book with the director, practicing independently, and sitting in with the concert band. By the end of the first semester, students are "caught up" with the rest of the class and second semester are full members of the Concert Band. By the end of the year you will be ready to join the Symphonic Band.

*Required for completion of a pathway.

Concert Band (Beginning Band/Intermediate Band)

All incoming freshmen who were members of the band in middle school will be placed in the concert band. This ensemble is designed to continue to build on the fundamentals learned in middle school band and prepare the students to handle the more difficult literature performed in the Symphonic Band. This band performs four concerts during the year (October, December, February, and May) as well as participating in the GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation. Upper level band students may also sign up to be a part of this group to learn a new instrument or perform on a secondary instrument they already play. While not all members of the Concert Band are in the Marching Canes, marching band members (except color guard) are required to enroll in the class.

*Required for completion of a pathway.

Symphonic Band (Advanced Band/Mastery Band)

The majority of 10th-12th graders who have previously been in band are placed in the Symphonic Band. This is our advanced concert ensemble. The group performs a minimum of four concerts per year (October, December, February, and May) as well as participating in the GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation. In addition this group performs for extra events at the school and in the community as well as additional competitive/adjudicated events. While not all members of the Symphonic Band are in the Marching Canes, marching band members (except color guard) are required to enroll in the class. This ensemble works to perform at a high level on both standard wind band literature as well as new works.

*Required for completion of a pathway.

Beginning Guitar

Open to all students, no experience necessary. This course is designed to be a beginning guitar course in which students perform, respond, create, and connect to music through the guitar. Students will take a step by step approach to learning how to play the guitar from reading note to playing chords.

*guitar and method book required

Intermediate Guitar

Enhancing previous course, this class is designed to be an intermediate guitar course in which students perform, respond, create, and connect to music through the guitar. Open to students that have competed beginning Guitar. Students move the the second Method book in the Hal Lenard series

***guitar and method book required

Advanced Guitar

Offers opportunities for advanced-level performers to increase performance skills and knowledge in guitar techniques. Covers performance and production, analysis, and theoretical studies, historical and cultural contributions and influences, creative aspects of music, and appreciation of music. Students will continue to improve their guitar playing skills. This will complete the guitar pathway

***guitar and method book required

Piano

Open to all students, no experience necessary. This course is designed to be a beginning class to learn how to play the piano.

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