Wind Ensemble | Concert Band | Jazz Band | Marching Band | Chamber Ensembles
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is made up of student musicians performing at an advanced level on instruments in the brass, percussion and woodwind families. The instructional focus in this class is ensemble performance: intonation, rhythmic precision, pitch accuracy, ensemble balance, musical expression technique, complex articulation echniques, and instrumental performance style. In addition, the band will review basic music theory and be introduced to more complex theory-scales (major and minor), harmonic progressions, ear training (intervals, melodies and chords) and rhythm motives. Sight reading skills will be reinforced during all rehearsals. The Wind Ensemble will perform at school and community concerts, Brevard County Band Festival events, and a regional or national band event. Each spring the Wind Ensemble takes a spring trip. Past locations have included New York City, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Ga..
Music Curriculum Goals and Objectives
- 12 Major scales, arpeggios, thirds-using the FBA format
- Relative Minor scales (harmonic, melodic, natural forms)
- Modes
- Intonation Studies
- Harmonic analysis
- Melodic transposition
- Review simple and complex meters
- Review simple and complex rhythms
- Advanced articulation studies
- Blend and balance of sound
- Advanced instrumental technique
- Literature from seven historical time periods-Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical (18th Century), Romantic (19thCentury), Twentieth Century, Contemporary
Concert Band
The Concert Band is made up of student musicians performing on wind and percussion instruments at an intermediate level of technical ability. The instructional focus in this class is on tone production, proper breath support, intonation studies, reinforcing proper instrumental technique, rhythm and pitch precision, ensemble balance, ear training, scale studies, and sight reading skills. The Symphonic Band will perform at school and community concerts, and may compete at FBA and/or regional band festivals, depending on a balanced instrumentation.
Music Curriculum Goals and Objectives
- Major scales, arpeggios, and thirds-B flat, E flat, D flat, G flat
- Chromatic scales-B flat, E flat, D flat, G flat
- Relative minor scales, arpeggios, thirds (harmonic, melodic and natural forms)-G minor, C minor, F minor
- Simple and complex meters-4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8, 5/4
- Simple and complex rhythms-whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes, and dotted rhythms
- Articulation-slur, staccato, accent, marcato, legato, tenuto
- Tone production
- Blend and balance of sound
- Instrumental technique
- Literature from seven historical time periods-Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical (18th Century), Romantic (19thCentury), Twentieth Century, Contemporary
Jazz Band
The Jazz program is an integral part of the band program. Made up of outstanding musicians, the Jazz Band seeks to broaden their musical knowledge of other genres in music. Genres that include swing, blues, Latin, and contemporary styles in the jazz repertoire today. As jazz is slowly fading from the memories of a growing nation, the Jazz Band seeks to learn and develop this American art form and keep its heritage alive.
Marching Band
The Minutemen Marching Band is the Pride of Cocoa Beach. The marching band is marked with a tradition of musical and visual excellence that extends for many decades. The marching band has earned countless awards for many years and have earned top honors in many competitions. Marching Band is open to any band student (in good standing). Brasses include: trumpet, mellophone, flugelhorn, trombone, baritone horn, and Sousaphone. Woodwinds include: flute, piccolo, clarinet, alto and tenor saxophones. Percussion is divided between battery (field percussion) and pit (sideline percussion). The battery consists of: marching snare drums, tonal bass drum, and quads. The pit consists of: marimba, xylophone, timpani, chimes, suspended cymbals, gong, and other auxiliary instruments. The Marching Band will perform at all home football games, away games within the county and FBA sponsored marching band events. The band will perform event within the Florida Marching Band Competitions as well. Marching Band will rehearse throughout the month of August, with one of three weeks designated as Band Camp. During camp week, the group focuses with an intense work ethic in preparation for a competitive marching season. The color guard is open to any student (in good academic standing). The color guard marches with the marching band using flags and other apparatus. The color guard routine enhances the musical concepts of the marching band show and is a vital part of the band’s success.
Chamber Ensembles
Chamber ensembles are open to all students (in good standing) in the Concert Band or Wind Ensemble. Students perform locally and in District and State evaluations. Often State sites include travel to Miami, Coral Springs, Ocala, Tampa, Orlando and many more!
Chamber groups may include:
- Flute Choir (Flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute)
- Clarinet Choir (Soprano, Alto, Bass, and Contrabass Clarinets)
- Saxophone Ensemble (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophones)
- Woodwind Quintet (Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, and French Horn)
- Brass Quintet (2 Trumpets, French Horn, Trombone or Euphonium, Tuba)
- Brass Choir (Trumpets, French Horns, Trombones, Euphonium, Tubas)