Beginning Concert Band Beginning Band gives an opportunity for middle school students with no prior experience in a school concert band program to begin the process of learning a concert band instrument. The students are divided between four specialized music instructors for woodwinds, upper brass, low brass, and percussion and are combined as a full band when ready to rehearse concert music. Students learn to read music and develop foundational instrumental technique that can be applied to areas such as musical performance, composition, and improvisation. All sixth through eighth graders are eligible and performances are included in the course. Band instructors will assist each student with placement and instrument selection.
Intermediate and Advanced Concert Band consists of middle school students who have at least one year of school band experience on a concert band instrument. The students are divided between four specialized music instructors for woodwinds, upper brass, low brass, and percussion and are combined as a full band when ready to rehearse concert music. Students continue to develop general music literacy and instrumental technique that can be applied to areas such as musical performance, composition, and improvisation. All sixth through eighth graders are eligible and performances are included in the course.
Jazz Band- This activity is offered for students who wish to learn to play basic styles of jazz. Emphasis is placed on the swing style and improvisation using the blues scale. Auditions are held in late August and will be posted in the Shivela band room. Any Shivela student may audition, but preference is given to those students enrolled in one of the regular concert band classes and to eighth graders. Jazz Band performs at school concerts, for the student body, community and at festivals. Only traditional big band instruments are used in this course (saxophones, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, euphonium, electric guitar, bass guitar, piano and drum set).