Band
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (K6 and/or K8)
Instrumental Music Delivery Model (4th Grade General Music)
In 4th grade, students in DVUSD will receive 9 week units of brass, woodwinds, percussion, and vocal music theory in their general music course. The purpose of the model is to expose all students to band instruments prior to the year. They can select an instrument of focus.
Beginning Band (5th Grade or 6th Grade: 1st year of study)
In 5th or 6th grade, students will have the option to have an instrument of focus. The instruments of the band include flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium (baritone), tuba, and percussion. Classes are typically taught in homogenous groupings.
Advanced Band (6th Grade: 2nd year of study)
In 6th grade, students start to work in a heterogeneous setting. Students begin their journey in concert band literature. School bands vary in size and instrumentation, depending on the number of students that are in the band, and the versatility and virtuosity of the players. Some school bands follow a set educational program that dictates particular styles of pieces that are standard for the music curriculum.
MIDDLE SCHOOL (MS and/or K8)
Band I (7th Grade Students: 3rd year of study)
Band II (8th Grade Students: 4th year of study)
Developing basic musicianship skills continues to be a priority at the middle school level. Students will begin to use more articulations, perform scales and music in more difficult key signatures, demonstrate vibrato, and perform music at an intermediate level of difficulty. Ensemble skills will become more developed as students participate in full band settings. Students will describe concepts common to music and other disciplines and will be involved in discussing various cultures, styles, composers, and historical periods. Participation in non-school hour performances is required.
HIGH SCHOOL
Wind Ensemble
Students who perform at the Wind Ensemble Level have built upon the previous skill levels of Elementary and Middle School. The Wind Ensemble instrumental student will perform, discuss, and critically evaluate characteristics of more elaborate music compositions. The students will analyze concepts common to music and other disciplines and will be involved in the study of aural examples of music representing a variety of cultures, styles, and historical periods. Participation in non-school hour rehearsals and performances is required. Prerequisite - Audition
Symphonic Band
Students at the Symphonic Band Level will participate regularly in a band setting. Technical and expressive skills will increase in difficulty as the student demonstrates a variety of articulations, alternate fingerings, and vibrato while playing the required scales, arpeggios, and rudiments in more complex rhythmic patterns. Percussion students will become more proficient in the use of mallet instruments, timpani, and auxiliary instruments. Symphonic Band instrumental students will perform, discuss, and critically evaluate characteristics of more elaborate music compositions. Students will discuss relationships between music concepts and other disciplines, and be involved in discussing various cultures, styles, composers, and historical periods. Participation in non-school hour rehearsals and performances is required. Prerequisite - Audition
Concert Band
Developing musicianship skills will continue to be a priority at the high school level. Students will begin to use more articulations, perform scales and music in more difficult key signatures, demonstrate vibrato, and perform music at an intermediate level of difficulty. Ensemble skills will become more developed as students participate in full band settings. Students will describe concepts common to music and other disciplines and will be involved in discussing various cultures, styles, composers, and historical periods.
Percussion Ensemble
Students at the Percussion Ensemble Level will participate regularly in a band setting. Technical and expressive skills will increase in difficulty as the student demonstrates a variety of articulations while playing the required scales, arpeggios, and rudiments in more complex rhythmic patterns. Percussion students will become more proficient in the use of mallet instruments, timpani, and auxiliary instruments.
Marching Band
Marching band is a site-based performance ensemble made up of students inside the band program. Opportunities in color guard exist. Rehearsals are typically on two evenings from 6-9 pm (varies with school).
Team Leads
4th-8th Grades: Ryan Rockey, Highland Lakes School
High School:
Arizona Academic Standards in the Arts - Music- Performing Ensemble