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Bay Bands
The band program at Whitefish Bay High School offers instrumental musicians a variety of performance experiences based on the traditional concert band program. Students learn and use the fundamentals of wind and percussion performance skills and participate in concert settings. Additional performance experiences are offered through volunteer and audition ensembles such as House Band, Jazz Band, and Pit Orchestra. The fundamental purpose of the Whitefish Bay High School Band program is to train young musicians to be able to perform successfully on the instrument of their choice. The students are trained with the purpose of becoming life-long musicians and being equipped to perform comfortably in traditional concert band and small ensemble settings. In the Whitefish Bay High School Band Program the relationship of the musician to the audience is critical and we strive to perform music and entertainment that is both rewarding for the performer and listener. The bands do travel on concert tours as part of this philosophy. Evaluation in all curricular bands is made through accumulated playing test scores, attendance at required performance and clinic events, and student performance in rehearsals.
Wind Ensemble 9
Grade 9
Prerequisites: Band experience or director's consent
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
Wind Ensemble 9 is the freshman band experience. The purpose of this band is to train the young musician in the fundamentals of tuning, tone production, balance, ensemble skills and building the concept of a traditional concert band sound. Advanced freshmen students will be expected to take leadership roles in this group.
Wind Ensemble 10
Grade 10
Prerequisites: Wind Ensemble 9 or director's consent
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
Wind Ensemble 10 provides intermediate wind ensemble training and performance experience. This ensemble class will allow the wind musician to continue to master the fundamentals learned in Wind Ensemble 9 and experience an increased performance level to prepare them for the demands of Wind Ensemble 11.
Wind Ensemble 11
Grade 11
Prerequisites: Wind Ensemble 10 or director's consent
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
Wind Ensemble 11 provides juniors with the opportunity to extend the developmental curriculum of Wind Ensembles 9 and 10 and to explore a greater variety of musical styles. The concert menu will involve classical, pop, new compositions and ethnic styles. The goal of Wind Ensemble 11 is to expose students to concert music that will present an interesting and rewarding concert experience for musician and audience alike.
Wind Ensemble 12
Grade 12
Prerequisites: Wind Ensemble 11 or director's consent
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
Wind Ensemble 12 provides seniors with the opportunity to extend the developmental curriculum of the Wind Ensemble 9-11 experiences and explore a greater variety of musical styles. The concert menu will involve classical, pop, new compositions and ethnic styles. The goal of Wind Ensemble 12 is to expose students to quality concert music that will present an interesting and rewarding concert experience for musician and audience alike.
Percussion Ensemble
Grade 9-11
Prerequisites: Band experience or director's consent
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
Percussionists will perform as an ensemble, playing music written specifically for percussion and rhythm instruments. Areas of interest especially germain to percussionists are instrument maintenance, snare, tenor and bass drum, tom-toms, Latin instruments, cymbals, tympani, and a myriad of small trap instruments.
Extra-Curricular Bands
House Band is a volunteer ensemble that plays for athletic and community events, with simple improvisation explored as part of this experience. Jazz Band performs for community and school events and explores jazz and fusion music. Chamber Ensembles are formed from volunteer musicians for concert and recital performances.
Bay String Orchestra
String Orchestra is for students who wish to advance in ability to play an orchestral instrument (violin, viola, cello or double bass). Students are required to perform in several public concerts each year. A varied and challenging repertoire is studied for the development of technical skills and advanced musicianship, with selected band students incorporated for the purpose of full symphonic literature. Periodic playing tests, written exams and clinics are given with an emphasis on musical growth and personal expression. Individual practice at home is expected and required. The String Orchestra participates in domestic and European tours on a regular basis. Orchestra members are also called upon to play in the pit orchestra for the annual high school musical. Special supplies are required along with an orchestra instrument (some of which may be rented from the school) and specified concert attire.
Intermediate Orchestra
Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: Attainment of beginning level skills and director's permission
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
This course offers instruction in the development of intermediate performing skills, including individual playing and ensemble techniques and disciplinary skills needed for performance. After school rehearsals and performances are required of all students as a part of the course.
Advanced Orchestra
Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: Successful audition and director's permission
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
This course is designed to help the student develop and refine technical, ensemble and disciplinaryskills necessary for
advanced rehearsals and performances in and out of school. After school rehearsals and performances are required of all
students as part of the course.
Bay Choirs
The choir program at Whitefish Bay High School offers students the opportunity to study and perform masterpieces of choral music. The repertoire used for the curriculum includes secular and sacred music of great Western classical composers as well as a wide variety of multicultural, folk, popular, patriotic, and spirituals. Concepts about music and musical skills are taught throughout the rehearsals, which include singing, listening, and analysis. Course requirements include performing in four annual public concerts and taking periodic exams. Singing is the major focus of the musical experience, producing the foundation for a life-long relationship with music. Courses may be repeated or taken concurrently. Additional opportunities include participating in the annual weekend Choir Retreat, January Pops Concert production, all-school musical production, WSMA Solo and Ensemble Music Festivals, and the Choir tour for select choirs.
Grades 9-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
Art Nouveau ("new art") is a mixed choir of 30-60 voices designed for first- and second-year choir students from any grade. This course focuses on the development of basic skills vocal technique, music reading, and musicianship. Students may participate in the course regardless of prior experience and may register without an audition.
Capriccio
Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: Audition and consent of instructor
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
Capriccio ("whim, fancy; whimsical, capricious") is a choir of 20-50 treble voices designed for the intermediate choir student. The required spring auditions measure music reading ability, tone quality, hearing ability, and previous choral experience. This course focuses on more challenging repertoire for treble voices and seeks to enhance vocal and musical skills at a higher level.
Bel Canto
Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: Audition and consent of instructor
Semester 1-2, One credit per semester
Bel Canto ("beautiful singing") is a balanced mixed choir of 50-65 voices designed for the advanced choir student. The required spring auditions measure music reading ability, tone quality, hearing ability, and previous choral experience. This course requires strong skills and commitment and focuses on a vast, difficult, and comprehensive repertoire for performance at both school and community events.
Extra-Curricular Choirs
Extra-curricular choirs are open to the entire student body, regardless of prior experience or ability. Tower Singers (for bass voices), and That Group (for treble voices), meet outside of class periods at either lunches or evenings. These groups include many students from the curricular choirs, but they also include other students who are not enrolled in choir for credit.
Cantorei is a select chamber ensemble of 20-24 mixed voices chosen by audition each spring. Cantorei provides more experienced singers with further opportunities to explore unique and challenging repertoire. Cantorei performs frequently at school and community events.
World Drumming
Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester 1 or 2, One Credit
In this one semester course, students learn how to play drumming and other percussion and melody instruments taught in the "oral tradition", with the expectation that each individual and each percussion pattern is treated with equal respect and expectation. The phrase "right now is the most important time" is the mantra of this every day is a new day musical experience. Composition and the creative process are also taught. The geographic focus centers primarily in West Africa and Latin America, with students learning, creating and performing oral tradition music from Ghana, Senegal, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other influential nations. The heart of this course is based on a cooperative environment created by the students present on any given day. Consequently, regular, daily, active participation is vital to success.
Digital Music
Grades 10-12
Prerequisites: None
Semester 1 or 2, One credit
In Digital Music, students learn to produce, mix, edit, engineer, and add special effects to music projects. The projects include personal compositions, mastering of prerecorded performances and sound mixing of live performances. As a result of this course, students develop creative and critical thinking skills, along with overall musicianship including basic music theory, composition, vocabulary and listening skills. Through this course, students also have the opportunity to work with professional studio musicians on and off campus.
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