Performing Arts: Band

Concert Band (Beginning)
Prerequisites: Ability to read music and a minimum of 1 year previous band experience playing a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument or approval of instructor.
Concert Band is a performance-based class that will include performing music of various styles and cultures. Emphasis is placed on the basic fundamentals of instrumental music and ensemble playing- air control, tone, intonation, rhythm, articulation, dynamics, phrasing. Concert Band performs a minimum of three public concerts per year. All students new to the Aragon Band program will automatically be placed in Concert Band. Auditions to move up to a more advanced band will only take place if those advanced bands do not have proper instrumentation.

Symphonic Band (Intermediate)
Grades 10-12 (Grade 9 occasionally admitted)
Prerequisites: Ability to read music. 1 year or more of performing in Concert Band and earning a C or better or approval of instructor. Ability to play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. Ability to play a Major Scales on your instrument. Audition.
Symphonic Band is a performance-based class that will include performing music of various styles and cultures. Emphasis is placed on advanced level ensemble playing and preparation for Wind Ensemble. Symphonic Band performs a minimum of three public concerts per year.

Wind Ensemble (Advanced)
Grades 10-12 (Grade 9 occasionally admitted)
Prerequisites: Ability to read music. 1 year or more of performing in Concert Band and earning a C or better or approval of instructor. Ability to play a Major Scales on your instrument. Audition only.
Wind Ensemble is our top performing ensemble. Emphasis is placed on studying and performing wind band literature of the highest levels. Wind Ensemble performs in a minimum of ten public concerts per year. Please note that there is limited instrumentation in Wind Ensemble and therefore one must be performing at top level in order to earn one of the coveted spaces available.

Jazz Ensemble
Grades 11 - 12 (Grades 9 - 10 occasionally admitted)
Prerequisites: Ability to read music. Ability to play a Major and Minor Scales on your instrument. Ability to improvise on your instrument. Audition only.
This award-winning ensemble is for students who wish to perform music in the jazz idiom (styles include swing, rock, ballad, and Latin music). Admittance is by audition only and auditions take place in the spring of the prior school year. Priority is given to students who concurrently enroll in another large ensemble at Aragon (band, orchestra, or choir). Jazz Ensemble performs in a minimum of ten public performances per year. Please note that there is extremely limited instrumentation in Jazz Ensemble and therefore one must be performing at top level in order to earn one of the coveted spaces available (5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, 1 piano, 1 guitar, 1 bass, 1 drum, 1 vibes, 1-2 percussion).

Jazz Ensemble (Jazz Band - 0 period)
Prerequisites: Ability to read music. Ability to play a Major and Minor Scales on your instrument. Ability to improvise on your instrument. Audition only.
This group is for students who wish to perform music in the jazz idiom (styles include swing, rock, ballad, and Latin music) and meets during zero period, beginning at 7:00AM. Students in the Jazz Band are expected to concurrently enroll in another large ensemble at Aragon (band, orchestra, or choir).