Napoleon Junior/Senior High School

Grade Levels:9-12
Course Length:Full Year Course
Credits:1.0 Elective Credits (Fine Art)

Band includes both Marching and Symphonic portions.  Grades are based on attendance, attitude, participation, and skill development.

Marching Band

The Napoleon High School Marching Band is organized during the summer months and continues for the duration of the football sea- son. The Marching Band is the most visible musical ensemble in the school. In addition to performing at each half time of Wildcat foot- ball games (home and away), the band also performs at band festi- vals, community parades, pep rallies and other community functions. The Marching Band rehearses each school day during the scheduled band period and also has one rehearsal outside of the school day. This rehearsal takes place on Thursday evenings for approximately two and one half hours. While Saturday performances are not the norm, there will be two Saturday festivals built into the Marching Band’s schedule of performances.

Symphonic Band

This course is a completely instrumental, well-balanced, concert- performing ensemble. Performance of standard concert band repertoire along with innovative new music and advanced performance techniques are emphasized. Symphonic Band performs several con- certs and competes in OMEA-sponsored Adjudicated Festivals, and provides additional musical experiences for Symphonic Band members, guest soloists, conductor, clinicians, and composers who are invited to perform with the ensemble on a regular basis.  This course is offered to all grades on the basis of music capability (as determined by a performing audition during the month of October), attitude/effort evaluation, years of experience in the program, and balance of instrumentation. This class meets after the completion of the marching season.

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Grade Levels:9-12
Course Length:Semester Course
Credits:0.5 Elective Credits (Fine Art)
 
Jazz Band rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM in the High School Band room. Students will practice and perform music in a variety of different styles that make up the Jazz idiom. In addition to Swing, students will also be introduced to Blues, Shuffle, Latin Jazz and Rock and Ballads. Jazz Band is offered to students enrolled in the High School Band. Successful Jazz Band students will be graded based on their concert and rehearsal attendance and participation. Skill development in each of the jazz style will also be factored into grades.

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Grade Levels:9-12
Course Length:Semester Course
Credits:0.5 Elective Credits (Fine Art)
 
All facets of basic musicianship are explored during this semester course including: basic terms, staff notes and pitches, note and rest values, major and minor scales, intervals, chords and inversions, harmonization, and ear training. This course if recommended for anyone planning to major in music or interested in exploring the construction of music.

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Grade Levels:9
Course Length:Full Year Course
Credits:1.0 Elective Credits (Fine Art)
 
This course is open to freshmen whether or not they have had any vocal training.  Basic principles covered are correct vocal production, sight-reading, part reading, and choral technique. Acceptable performance in this group gains membership into Concert Choir. Stu- dents are expected to allow for time outside of class for choir participation.

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Grade Levels:10-12
Course Length:Full Year Course
Credits:1.0 Elective Credits (Fine Art)
 
This course is for students who enjoy choral singing.  All types and styles of music are examined.  This group performs many concerts and participates in festivals, tours, and contests. Permission of the instructor is required for enrollment. Students are expected to allow for time outside of class for choir participation.

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Grade Levels:10-12
Course Length:Full Year Course
Credits:1.0 Elective Credits (Fine Art)
 
This course is a select group of students dedicated to more complicated music.  This group will be audition group of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.  Students are expected to allow for time outside of class for choir participation.

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Grade Levels:10-12
Course Length:Full Year Course
Credits:1.0 Elective Credits (Fine Art)
 
This course is for students interested in singing soprano/alto music. This group performs many concerts and participates in festivals, tours, and contests. Students are expected to allow for time outside of class for choir participation.

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Grade Levels:10 - 12
Course Length:Full Year
Credits:1
Grading:Honors Grading Scale
Prerequisites:Successful Completion of 1 credit of High School Band
Subject:Fine Art Elective
 
Students will need to participate in Band activities: Marching and Symphonic portions with the addition of the following items: Participate and perform with Jazz Band (9th hour AM course); Participate in all Pep Band activities; Participate in Solo and Ensemble Contest (a solo or two ensembles); Audition for OMEA Honors Band and/or others (OMEA will be the minimum and acceptance is not required); Provide weekly evidence of musical and technical practice of materials offered by the instructor and/or private tutor.  Students may also participate in Jazz Lab. Grades are based on attendance, attitude, participation, and skill development.  

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Grade Levels:9 - 12
Course Length:2nd semester
Credits:0.5
Grading:Regular Grading Scale
Subject:Fine Art Elective
 
The Jazz Lab is an additional opportunity for students to explore jazz styles and improvisation during the school day. Students will need to know how to play their instruments and  be able to read musical notation in the range of their instruments. Students will be provided with the opportunity to write music/licks for public performance.  Students will play alone (in front of the class/performance setting) and with other students (in a jazz ensemble class and performance setting).  Finally, students involved with the Jazz Lab will be expected to play with the Jazz Band.  

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