Southaven High School Band Classes

Southaven High School Band

Membership:

All enrolled members of the Southaven High School Band Program including brass, woodwinds, percussion, and color guard members.

 

Entrance Requirements:

All students must complete and pass the Southaven Middle School Band curriculum in order to participate at the high school level. Measurement of this progress will take place during the eighth grade school year and toward the end of the eighth grade year through an audition process.

If a student is moving in from another district (school) he/she will be asked to audition for the Southaven High School Band based upon the aforementioned curriculum. This curriculum will be directly reflective of the music curriculum adopted by the State of Mississippi Educational Department. Included in these curricular requirements are:

  1. Demonstration of proper playing techniques.

  2. The ability to perform the Concert Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, F, C, G, & Chromatic scales at a proficient level.

  3. Intermediate to advanced music reading and performance skills.

  4. The proven ability and discipline necessary to work within a musical ensemble towards the success of that ensemble.

Students must own a properly maintained instrument. If necessary and available, the use of school owned instruments will be designated by the band staff. These instruments will be issued in good playing condition. The maintenance and care of these instruments will be the responsibility of the student they are issued to through school instrument contracts. Students participating with a school owned instrument will be assessed a maintenance fee of $75.00 per semester in order to ensure the normal life expectancy of the instrument through year end cleaning and repair.

Students will be graded, by use of a criteria reference measurement tool, on required skills to ensure individual growth. These skills may include musical selections as well as technical exercises.

After the fall semester this class will be divided into separate concert ensembles through an audition process. Those scoring the highest will be placed in The Southaven High School Wind Ensemble. Placement will be based upon audition score and standard instrumentation requirements for a wind ensemble. The remainder of the students will participate in The Southaven High School Symphonic Band. Both groups will continue to work on individual and ensemble skills. Both groups will also prepare for concerts and the MHSAA State Concert Band Festival. A third educational/performance ensemble, The Southaven High School Concert Band, will be created if student participation necessitates this addition.

Challenges between students will provide each student the opportunity to improve his/her "chair"

(seating) order if the student desires to do so.

Rehearsals:

This class meets daily during first period as a part of the regular, credited class schedule of SHS.

 

The SHS Wind Ensemble will begin after school rehearsals 6 weeks prior to the MHSAA State Concert Festival. Wind Ensemble sectionals will take place on Monday & Tuesday from 3:45 – 5:00. Full Wind Ensemble rehearsals will take place on Thursday afternoons from 3:45 – 5:00.