Music & Theatre

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.

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.

THEATRE OVERVIEW
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Theatre Overview is the prerequisite course to all other Theatre department course offerings. Theatre Overview students will participate as an ensemble of artists through performance and technical theatre
projects. Students will explore modern acting methods such as pantomime, improvisation, and how to develop a character through devised and scripted work. In addition to performance, students will also explore the field of technical theatre by learning the basics of makeup design, lighting design, costume design, set design, sound design and stage management. Once completed, the students will determine to continue taking courses in the performance or technical theatre pathway.

ACTING I
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

This course is a basic introduction to acting technique for the stage. It is designed to develop the ability to play dramatic action honestly and believably, using realistic/naturalistic material. Course work includes exercises and improvisations exploring awareness, relaxation, observation, the senses, voice, and physical and emotional life. Scene work, in the first half of the term, will focus on breaking down the play, analysis, identity, motivation and action. Work in preparation of the monologue will be introduced in the second half of the term to prepare students to be audition ready. Out of class assignments include required readings for acting texts and plays. Attendance at one stage production scheduled during the term is required. A commitment to regular journal writing in the form of an Observation Notebook will be expected.

ACTING II
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: Acting I & Teacher Approval

This course explores advanced acting techniques; focusing on characterization, script analysis, blocking and movement. Some technical theatre aspects such as set building, scenic painting, prop-making, theatrical makeup, and costuming will also be addressed. Scenes and monologues chosen for classroom performance may incorporate different period styles of theatre, or be an original student script. Collaborating in partners and groups, students will learn how to provide oral and written critique, as well as direction. Students may also prepare a Shakespeare monologue or sonnet for an in-class Shakespeare competition.

PRODUCTION
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: Acting II & Teacher Approval

This course culminates in a one to two night performance. Students learn advanced script writing, directing, and create an original show for a paying public.

TECHNICAL THEATRE
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: Theatre Overview

This course provides an introduction to procedures and theories of theatrical production including stage equipment, scenic construction, scenic painting, lighting, technical personnel duties, practical applications,
and work on current productions. Students will learn the tools needed in building a set as well as how to safely use them. This course includes both lectures and hands-on learning.

MUSICAL THEATRE
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: Theatre Overview; Choir (co-requisite is acceptable); Teacher Recommendation

Musical Theatre Performance is an exploration of American Musical Theatre. Students will study the work of an actor/singer/dancer and use their gained knowledge to develop as performers. Students will prepare and present as soloist as well as members of small groups and larger ensembles. Students will prepare materials for class presentation and critique. The class will participate in a public performance of rehearsed songs at showcase performance at the end of the semester.