First Year/New Student Info

Photo: Georgia Gianopulos '23

For First Year/New Instrumental Music Students at Haven

ALL students are welcome to join bands or orchestras at Strath Haven! There is one requirement: students MUST be willing to get better each day. There is a place for any musician, including students who are experienced players, new players, played years ago but not recently, never played an instrument, or have played an instrument but consider themselves average.

About Strath Haven Instrumental Music

Strath Haven High School has a reputation for being an extremely inclusive place for music education where students enjoy music and perform at a very high level. Haven boasts Bands and Orchestras that sound great while including large numbers of students from diverse backgrounds. As an example, 400 of the 1,200 Strath Haven students are in the Marching Band making it the second largest band in the nation.

Photo: Matthew Chen '23

Courses for Academic Credit

Bands and Orchestras meet during the school day, not after school (except for Jazz Band and Modern Band). Students earn academic credit and grades for these classes.

Averaging 400 students each year, the Marching Band gives a chance for ANY Haven student to become involved. Students can learn Band instruments at any level, including students who have never played an instrument before. 150 students join the Band Front annually, including students who are skilled dancers, are interested in silks flags, or people who do not play instruments but wish to be involved. Band season starts one week before school with a week-long band camp, includes football hame halftime performances each Friday night in the Fall, and often includes parades, Eagles halftime performances, exhibition shows, and trips to Orlando, Florida. This is a first semester course.

80 string players and 20 wind/brass/percussion players play high-level orchestral arrangements or original works as penned by the composer. Orchestra students perform three times per year, including performances in Orlando, Florida. The Symphony Orchestra performed the World Premiere of Jordan Jinosko's Freyja's Chariot as well as classical and modern works written by diverse composers. String players rehearse two classes per week and register for "String Orchestra." Winds/brass/percussion players join the strings for one class per week and register for "Symphony Orchestra." Students of any skill level are welcome.

150 Haven students perform with the Symphonic Band for two concerts and Commencement. The Symphonic Band is open to students of all skill levels. Students may audition for the Wind Ensemble which is a smaller group playing top-level high school band or collegiate repertoire. The Bands perform modern works written by diverse composers in addition to standard band repertoire. These are second semester courses. Check for welcome information around Election Day.

Students audition for the Jazz and Modern Bands. Corequisite for woodwind and brass players: one of these-Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra

The Panther Jazz Band is a full Jazz Big band with woodwind, brass, rhythm section, vocals, and strings. Curriculum includes rag, swing, blues, bebop, South American, Central American, funk, rock, and other genres.

Modern Band is a complete rock and popular band for rhythm section and vocal students. Curriculum includes rock, pop, funk and other current genres. Curriculum includes music by composers from diverse backgrounds. Students must audition to take this course.

The Bands perform five times per year, including at Media Dining Under the Stars, WSSD Jazz/Modern Band Night, Rehoboth Beach Bandstand High School Jazz Festival, and more.

Check for welcome information around Election Day.


Next Steps for First Year Students

Contact Mr. Pignataro to describe interest or ask more questions. Contact your Guidance Counselor to ask for the course(s) to be added to your schedule.

  • Mr. Pignataro: npignataro@wssd.org or npignataro@wssdgmail.org

  • Consider asking Mr. Pignataro for extra lessons, lunchtime help, or registering for "Instrumental Music" class to improve on or learn an instrument.

  • Consider registering for the WSSD Summer Music Program, a summer music camp, or finding a private lesson teacher. Email Mr. Pignataro to learn more about any of these.

  • Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and visit the SHHS Band Boosters on Facebook.