Saratoga High Music Curriculum

 

Music Department

Marching Band
Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Symphonic Band I
Symphonic Band II
Saratoga Strings
Symphony Orchestra
Jazz Band I
Jazz Band II
Color Guard
Winter Guard
AP Music Theory

 

Director:  Jim Yowell

Department Head: Michael Boitz

 

“The choirs at Saratoga High School are an excellent place to make friends.  Even if you have never sung before there is a place for you.  We all work together in a spirit of friendship and the level of excellence is the best in the state.  Come join in the fun and be a part of something special! ” - Jim Yowell

 

There are 4 choral performance groups offered at SHS.  Each choral group is a full year, semester 1 and 2 long course. 

 

1. “Concert Choir” (Mixed Men and Women Voices),  

2. Chamber Singers (Mixed Men and Women’s Voices),

3. “Cantare Chorale” (Women’s Voices)

4. “Soprano Alto Choir/Women’s Ensemble” (Women’s Voices). 

 

Mr. Yowell also offers a lunch-time once a week “Men’s Choir” which is open to any male singer in the school.  This ensemble performs three times a year at the regularly scheduled choral concerts.  No audition necessary.

 

A Hand Bell choir is also offered once a week for one hour after school.  This ensemble performs three times a year at the regularly scheduled choral concerts.  No audition necessary but students should have a minimal proficiency level of reading music.

 

Mr. Yowell also teaches the AP Music Theory class.  This is a full year, semester 1 and 2 long course.

 

Course Descriptions:

 

Concert Choir: This is a mixed voice (men and women) ensemble open to men in the 9-12 grades and women in the 10-12 grades.  No audition is necessary.  Freshman women should enroll in the Soprano/Alto Choir (Women’s Ensemble).  The singer’s grades are based upon attendance at scheduled performances, scheduled rehearsals and class participation.  As part of a singer’s grade all concert choir men are expected to attend a 20 minute, once a week Men’s Choir rehearsal and all women are expected to participate in set up and breakdown for each concert.  There are mandatory scheduled performances during and after school hours.

 

Chamber Singers: This is a mixed voice (men and women) designed to meet the needs of the more advanced male and female singer.  Membership is by audition only.  Enrollment is for 10 – 12 grades students.  Students in this group will also perform as a member of the Concert Choir, It is expected that all Chamber Singers also be enrolled in the Concert Choir too.  The singer’s grades are based upon attendance at scheduled performances, scheduled rehearsals and class participation.  As part of a singer’s grade all Chamber Singers men are also expected to attend a 20 minute, once a week Men’s Choir rehearsal and all Chamber Singers women are also expected to participate in set up and breakdown for each concert.  There are mandatory scheduled performances during and after school hours.

 

Cantare Chorale: This is a vocal ensemble designed to meet the vocal performance needs of female singers in grades 10 – 12.  The singer’s grade is based upon attendance at all scheduled performances, scheduled rehearsals, class participation and set up and breakdown at all scheduled performances.  Attendance at all scheduled performances is mandatory.  No audition is necessary.

 

Soprano - Alto Choir (Women’s Ensemble): This is a vocal ensemble designed to meet the vocal performance needs of the female singer in grade 9.  The singer’s grade is based upon attendance at all scheduled performances, scheduled rehearsals, class participation and set up and breakdown at all scheduled performances.  Attendance at all scheduled performances is mandatory.  No audition is necessary.

AP Music Theory: This is a college-level course that will help the student’s understanding of music theory and will help to prepare the student for the AP Music Theory exam.  Students taking this course should have a strong musical background.  They should be able to play an instrument or sing and be able to read music.  The student’s grade is based upon attendance, class participation, periodic regularly scheduled exams and the completion and self composed and performed musical composition.

 

 

Director: Duane Otani

Department Head: Michael Boitz

 

Saratoga High School offers semester 1 classes in Marching Band, Color Guard, Saratoga Strings and Symphony Orchestra. Semester 2 classes include Saratoga Strings, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band I , Symphonic Band II and Winter Guard. Jazz Band I and II are offered as semester I & II classes.

 

Course Descriptions:

Marching Band: As part of the Marching Band, students can fulfill their first semester PE requirement by taking this class and participating in the marching band. Most students will take this class in addition to Symphonic/Marching band or Wind Ensemble/Marching Band. Marching Band is an active physical activity that requires endurance and physical stamina. Students should plan on an on-campus camp two weeks prior to the first official week of school as well as time outside of the class for competitions.

 

Color Guard/Winter Guard: These courses are performance-based classes that function in conjunction with the marching band (Color Guard) or in the Winter Guard International circuit (Winter Guard). They are both open to male and female students. Movement, equipment, and intermediate dance fundamentals are the core of the curriculum. Students are required to commit to a schedule of rehearsal sessions in class and performances outside of the school day. Color Guard and Winter Guard each fulfill a semester of PE requirement.

 

Band (Symphonic/Marching): Prerequisite: Ability to play a musical instrument. No classroom experience needed. This course is open to students who have the ability to play a wind or percussion instrument. Students without experience participating in a concert band are welcome. This is a year-long course in which students must be enrolled for both semesters. The class consists of two parts: Marching Band during the fall season and Symphonic Band for the remainder of the year. Students should plan on performance and competition time outside of class, as well as an on-campus camp the two weeks before the first official week of school. The bulk of the year is focused on the study of classic and contemporary works for the symphonic band. Students also have the opportunity to participate in solo and ensemble groups as part of the class. Performances are given annually before thousands of spectators at band festivals, competitions and concerts.

 

Band (Wind Ensemble/Marching): Prerequisite: Ability to play an instrument with previous experience in a classroom instrumental music program. Membership in this class is by audition only, and is open to 10 – 12th grade students, unless an instrumentation need exists in the class. The course is designed to meet the academic study of the most advanced band students. Students must be enrolled for both semesters. The class consists of two parts: Marching Band during the first quarter, then Concert Band during the rest of the school year. Students should plan on rehearsal, performance and competition time outside of class, as well as an on-campus camp the two weeks prior to the first official week of school.

 

Orchestra Levels I – V Honors: Saratoga High’s orchestra program is offered for students playing string instruments at an entry level on through advanced, auditioned honors courses. The classes focus on classic and contemporary chamber string literature as well as classic and contemporary full symphony orchestra literature. The orchestra classes combine with auditioned members of the band program for the study of full symphony orchestra literature. Students should plan on spending one evening per week beginning in November for a full class with the auditioned band students. Performances are given throughout the year at concerts and festivals. Orchestra students also have the opportunity to participate in solo and ensemble groups.

 

SHS Jazz Band I & II

Saratoga High offers two Jazz Bands for students. Jazz Band I starts in the winter (after marching band season), and meets on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings.  In order to participate in Jazz Band I, you must be enrolled in a curricular music class during the day (i.e. Symphonic Band, String Orchestra, Concert Choir, etc.).  No previous jazz playing experience is necessary, however you must be able to play and read music on a jazz instrument. 

 

Jazz Band II is an auditioned group meeting three times a week during the seventh period of the school day. Instrumentation is that of a standard jazz ensemble (typically one on a part), and auditions take place in the spring of the previous year.