Music

Marching Band Requirement: Students enrolled in wind ensemble, concert band or symphonic band in the FALL semester are expected to perform as part of the marching band. Students involved in fall athletics at GPHS are encouraged to continue in the band program and have the option of doing marching band, (director approval required). Marching band will meet every Monday and Wednesday night and all Saturdays from September through early November. Summer camp begins in early August and is required of all marching band students. The marching band fee is to be determined and is due during camp in August.

CONCERT BAND
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

This ensemble is designed for all incoming freshman. It is another first class performing group at Grants Pass High School. This group will explore wind literature in various, contrasting styles. The class is designed to build fundamental skills through basic, enduring, technical, and tone exercises. This is a great opportunity to fine tune playing and listening skills in an ensemble setting. This band is a performance based class and all evening concerts and rehearsals are required. Please see above about the marching band requirement. 

WIND ENSEMBLE
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisites:
Recommendation by audition

This is the top band performing group at Grants Pass High School. Devised of the common instrumentation (45-50 winds), this ensemble will perform throughout the state at festivals and competitions for band. The class will continue to build more advanced, individual musicianship through large and small ensemble performance. This is the opportunity for our advanced musicians to showcase their talent through the performance of advanced wind literature. This band is a performance based class and all evening concerts and rehearsals are required. Please see above about the marching band requirement.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisites:
Recommendation by audition

The Jazz ensemble at Grants Pass is a performing group consisting of 5 saxes, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets and a rhythm section (piano, bass, drum set). This ensemble will perform traditional jazz literature at various jazz festivals around the state of Oregon. The group will also perform locally at functions and concerts. Students must participate in a regular “concert ensemble” (concert or symphonic band/wind ensemble) to take part in jazz band. This will ultimately be left up to the director’s discretion. Students who are a rhythm sectionbased instrument such as guitar or piano and are not enrolled in a concert band class will need to pay a $50.00 fee to offset the cost of instruments, festival fees, and music. This band is a performance based class and all evening concerts and rehearsals are required. Note: Concurrent enrollment in orchestra is mandatory for Bass players in Jazz Band.

SYMPHONIC BAND
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisites:
Recommendation by audition

This ensemble is another first class performing group at Grant Pass High School. This group will explore wind literature in various, contrasting styles. The class is designed to build fundamental skills through basic, enduring, technical, and tone exercises. This is a great opportunity to fine tune playing and listening skills in an ensemble setting. This band is a performance based class and all evening concerts and rehearsals are required. Please see above about the marching band requirement.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisites:
Recommendation by audition

Percussion Ensemble is a performance-oriented class that focuses on the performance of both current and historical percussion repertoire. This class utilizes a large variety of percussion instruments including but not limited to: piano, marching percussion instruments, marimba, vibraphone, accessory percussion, etc. This performance group is a great class for all levels of percussion ability as it covers everything from basic rhythmic patterns to advanced world percussion polyrhythms. The ability to read music is helpful but not required. New students to this class will need to pay a $75 dollar fee separate from the Marching Band fee to cover method books and sticks/mallets. As this ensemble is a performance-based ensemble all after school concerts and events are required. Please see the above Marching Band note for all first semester percussionists.

Concert Choir                                                           
Grades: 9-12                                        
Audition Required

The Concert Choir is an auditioned, mixed performance ensemble for students who already possess advanced skills in vocal production and music literacy. The Concert Choir draws its literature from all periods of musical history and performs both sacred and secular music. The goal of the course is to approach the choral art through excellence in singing, reading, and performance skills. Membership is gained through an audition process which tests vocal range, pitch recognition, and music literacy. Previous choir experience is also required for membership. Members will perform at many concerts, festivals & competitions and sometimes tours throughout the region and abroad. This course does include required rehearsals outside of class (sectionals) and members are expected to be dedicated to this time commitment which focuses on refining musical skills.

Contemporary Choir                                          
Grades: 9-12                                        
No Audition Required

Contemporary Choir is a mixed performance ensemble in which students learn how to read music, sing with proper vocal technique, and refine musical and ensemble skills. This choir performs at various choral concerts throughout the year, performing both sacred and secular selections with an emphasis on relatively contemporary literature. This choir typically does not travel.

Melodairs                                                             
Grades: 9-12                                        
Audition Required

Melodairs is an auditioned performing ensemble specifically for soprano and alto voices. It is open to students of any grade level who already possess skills in vocal production and reading music, and sing in the soprano/alto range. This course is designed to enhance individual and group performance skills, as well as musical literacy for treble singers. Ensemble members will demonstrate artistry and musicianship through performances at various choral concerts and festivals throughout the year.

Sounds Unlimited                                               
Grades: 11-12                
Audition and Director Approval Required

Sounds Unlimited is an elite, (auditioned) performance ensemble consisting of 8-16 students who have demonstrated advanced musical skills through previous performances and individual assessments with the director. This group performs all types of choral literature, both sacred and secular, encompassing various time periods and genres. Sounds Unlimited performs for several choral concerts during the year, a variety of community functions throughout Grants Pass, and for various District #7 school activities; members must be able to commit to a busy performance schedule. It is required that members of Sounds Unlimited are also members of the Concert Choir (Another large music ensemble such as band or orchestra is also acceptable, pending director approval). A history of excellence in music participation, performance and attitude is required for membership in this group.

Note: This choir travels annually throughout the GP community, and often performs outside of regular school hours. Members are expected to plan work schedules, appointments, etc. accordingly. Absences from performances will result in dismissal from the group.

Tenor/Bass                                                             
Grades: 9-12                                        
Audition Required

The Tenor/Bass Choir is an auditioned performance ensemble specifically for tenor and bass voices. It is open to students of any grade level who already possess skills in vocal production/reading music and sing in the tenor/bass vocal range. This course is designed to enhance individual and group performance skills, as well as music literacy for tenor and bass voices. Students will study vocal production techniques specific to the tenor/bass range through choral literature. Ensemble members will demonstrate artistry and musicianship through performances at various choral concerts and festivals throughout the year.

Please Note: These are all choral (group-based) performance classes. (Not solo classes.) Solo opportunities arise on occasion in choral classes but are not frequent. Those interested only in solo singing should see Ms. Lehnhardt for options regarding private lessons in the community.

CONCERT ORCHESTRA
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisites: Orchestra or string experience

Concert Orchestra provides continuing growth and foundational studies in music through the study and performance of literature in an orchestral setting. This ensemble is designed for freshman and sophomores as well as returning orchestra students to GPHS and is a prerequisite to String Orchestra. Upper classmen are encouraged and most welcome in this group, this is a perfect fit for those with schedule conflicts. Upper classmen are often leaders and can guide younger students as they enter high school. Although private study is encouraged, it is not a class requirement. This orchestra performs several concerts each year and is designed for students interested in learning and reinforcing fundamental performance skills as well as perfecting proper technique, and refining musical and ensemble skills. This course does require performances and rehearsals outside of class and members are expected to be dedicated to this time commitment which focuses on refining musical skills.

STRING ORCHESTRA
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisites: Concert Orchestra or audition

String Orchestra provides continuing growth in music through the study and performance of intermediate orchestral literature. Concert Orchestra and/or a successful audition are prerequisites for this ensemble. Private study is recommended as this course is designed for serious, motivated students interested in building and refining their technique, performance ability, and ensemble skills. This orchestra performs several concerts each year and competes at the district level. This course does require performances and rehearsals outside of class and members are expected to be dedicated to this time commitment which focuses on refining musical skills.

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisites: Audition

Chamber Orchestra is an auditioned performance ensemble that provides continuing growth in music through the study and performance of advanced orchestral literature. Private study is highly recommended as students must meet rigorous audition criteria to be considered for this group. This orchestra comprised of elite performers has the busiest concert schedule, most frequent rehearsals, regularly performs in the community, and competes at district and state festivals. Additionally, students in the Chamber Orchestra will be expected to maintain participation in small ensembles and occasional full symphony rehearsals outside of the school day as well as participation in solo/ensemble festival. Extra rehearsals and sectionals are required throughout the year. Members are expected to be dedicated to this time commitment which focuses on refining and perfecting musical skills. A history of excellence in music participation, preparation, performance, and attitude is required for this group.