Performing Ensembles & Classes
Marching Band (1st Semester) [Course: Symphonic Marching Band]
1st Semester - 1st Hour - Grades 9-12 - Audition Required, Summer Attendance Required, Participation in 2nd Semester Band Required
Marching Band is a co-curricular class offered to students in Grades 9-12 during the 1st Semester of the school year. Marching Band begins with Pre-Season Evaluation Audition Camps at the end of May. Students meet occasionally during the summer months for music and visual conditioning sessions. Percussionists & Colorguard begin their formal summer camp in mid-July and focus on percussion or colorguard specific concepts and fundamentals prior to the start of the school year. The full marching band meets for a two week summer marching band camp during the last weeks of July and/or the first week of August. Once the school year beings, students in Marching Band rehearse at 7:10am through first hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, as well as Wednesday nights from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The Marching Band performs at 4-5 BVN home football games, Homecoming, possible football playoff games, and 3-4 marching festivals throughout the season. The marching season is completed before the end of October when students finish out the 1st Semester in a Concert Ensemble setting. Students should also be enrolled in a band class for 2nd Semester.
Concert Band/Freshmen Band (1st and 2nd Semester)
1st Semester and/or 2nd Semester - 2nd Hour or 7th Hour - Mostly Grade 9, Some Grades 10-12
Concert Band is a class comprised of primarily 9th Grade students. Concert Band is structured similarly to band classes in middle school. It is offered for one class period and has minimal commitments beyond the school day beyond concerts and basketball pep band. This ensemble will teach students how to develop into more intermediate level musicians and achieve the level of technical skills needed for performing in the high school band. Concert Band performs in 4-5 concerts throughout the school year, a potential adjudicated festival performance, and continues building on fundamentals of quality sound, tone, technique, expression, and musicianship through daily rehearsal. Freshmen in Concert Band are encouraged to audition for the John Philip Sousa Honor Band and ECKMEA District Honor Band. Students should be enrolled in a 1st Semester Band Class and a 2nd Semester Band Class, and are expected to participate in Basketball Pep Band.
Symphonic Band (2nd Semester) [Course: Symphonic Marching Band]
2nd Semester - 2nd Hour - Grades 9-12 - Audition Required, Participation in 1st Semester Band Required
Symphonic Band is considered the core concert ensemble of the band program and is comprised of students from Grade 9-12 who were also enrolled in Marching Band or Concert Band. Membership in Symphonic Band is based on a concert ensemble audition completed by all Blue Valley North Band Students at the end of October or Early November. Students develop from intermediate musicianship skills towards advanced skills. Symphonic Band performances include 3-5 Concerts, an Adjudicated Festival Performance, and participation in Basketball Pep Band. Students in Symphonic Band are encouraged to audition for the ECKMEA District Honor Band, as well as prepare/perform a solo or small ensemble for the KSHSAA Regional Solo & Small Ensemble Festival each April.
Wind Ensemble (2nd Semester)
2nd Semester - 1st Hour - Grades 9-12 - Audition Required, Participation in 1st Semester Band Required
Wind Ensemble is an advanced concert ensemble comprised of students who were also enrolled in Marching Band or Concert Band. This group is mostly comprised of upperclassmen, with a few underclassmen earning membership in the ensemble. Membership in Wind Ensemble is based on a concert ensemble audition completed by all Blue Valley North Band students during at the end of October or Early November. Wind Ensemble performs advanced literature and moves at an accelerated pace. Performances include 3-5 Concerts, an Adjudicated Festival Performance, possible regional and state special performances, and participation in Basketball Pep Band. Students with membership in the Wind Ensemble are expected to take lessons, audition for the ECKMEA District Honor Band in November of each school year, as well as prepare/perform a solo or small ensemble for the KSHSAA Regional Solo & Small Ensemble Festival each April.
Jazz Band
Semester 1 and/or Semester 2 - 6th Hour - Grades 9-12 - Director Permission or Audition Required
Jazz Band is an ensemble that explores the mediums of jazz, improvisation, rock, funk, latin, and other various styles of music. Any student in the Blue Valley North Band Program regardless of previous Jazz Band experience is allowed to join the Blue Valley North Jazz Band with director permission or by audition. The Jazz Band performs 3-4 times per semester, including adjudicated jazz festivals, outreach performances, and jazz centric performances. Jazz Band students are encouraged to audition for the ECKMEA District Jazz Band. Guitar, Piano, Bass, and Drumset Performers are encouraged to participate with permission/audition. Please reach out to a director to discuss the opportunities available to you in Jazz Band.
Basketball Pep Band
December through March - All BVN Band Students Grades 9-12
All Blue Valley North Band Students are assigned to 5-7 Blue Valley North Boys & Girls Varsity Basketball Games for a fun and exciting public performance opportunity. This group provides evaluated spirit at atmosphere for our school and community, and provides strong visibility for the band program. Students with exemplary basketball game attendance are also eligible and invited to perform and travel for any post-season play. Most games begin some time in December and last through February, with post-season play happening in the first half of March.
Percussion Ensemble (Co-Curricular)
November through April - All BVN Band Percussion Students Grades 9-12
Percussion Ensemble is a performance ensemble opportunity for percussion students in the Blue Valley North Band Program. Percussion ensembles meet during their respective classes, but also rehearse on Wednesday Evenings from 6:30pm to 8:30pm following the completion of the marching season. Students in Percussion Ensemble will receive appropriately challenging percussion-specific pedagogy and skill development from our percussion instructors. Students will prepare ensemble literature to perform at the KSHSAA Regional and State Solo & Small Ensemble Festivals in April, multiple concerts throughout the school year, as well as the Blue Valley North Area Percussion Concert in April.
Musical Pit Orchestra (Extracurricular)
November/December through January - Any BVN Band Student by Invitation and/or Audition
Musical Pit Orchestra is an ensemble comprised of advanced musicians who begin preparing for the Musical in November or December, and continue rehearsing through January. This gorup performs for the Blue Valley North Musical in January or February. This is an exciting collaboration between all of the performing arts departments (theater, choir, band, and orchestra). Music for musicals is quite advanced and takes extra preparation. Individual practice along with several rehearsals after school are required to participate and achieve success.
Solo & Small Ensemble (Extracurricular)
Any BVN Band Student by Invitation, Audition, or Interest
All students are encouraged to prepare a solo or small ensemble piece to perform at KSHSAA Regional Solo & Small Ensemble in April. Students will go through the process of refining a piece of music and performing for an instrument-specific adjudicator for feedback and a rating. Students who earn a 'I' (Superior) Rating at the Regional Festival are invited to perform at the State Festival level a couple of weeks later.
Marching Mustangs Colorguaurd (Co-Curricular)
Marching Mustangs Colorguard - 1st Semester - Grades 9-12 - By Audition or Invitation in Previous April
The Marching Mustangs Colorguard is the visual performing ensemble of students Grade 9-12 which collaborates with the Marching Mustangs throughout the marching season (Summer through October). Colorguard auditions, invitations, and selections take place in April the previous year, and the group follows the Marching Mustangs schedule (see Marching Band description above). This group performs at 4-5 BVN Football Games, Homecoming, and 3-4 Marching Festivals. The marching season ends at the end of October, when students finish the semester refining more skills and composing their own colorguard choreography to perform as a final project.
Talons Indoor/Winter Colorguard (Extracurricular)
Talons Indoor/Winter Colorguard - December through March - Grades 6-12 - By Invitation and Selection
The Talons Indoor/Winter Colorguard meets in December through March as its own entity with students Grade 6-12. Students obtain skills in movement, dance, flag, rifle, and other conventional and unconventional colorguard visual equipment. This group focuses on training, ranging from basic skills to intermediate and advanced skills, along with collaboration and mentorship between middle school and high school students. This group will perform at 1-3 middle school and/or high school basketball games and will finish the season with a capstone showcase performance with other area colorguards in March.
Music Theory (1st Semester, or AP/Honors Full Year)
Suggested and Recommended for Future Music Majors - Grades 11-12 - AP/Honors/Collegiate Credit Possible
Music Theory is a rigorous course designed to develop further musical skills and understanding for those who are considering a career in music as well as those who desire to study it for further enrichment. Enrollment is offered to students grades 10-12, but is highly encouraged for Juniors or Seniors that have aspirations of majoring or minoring in some domain of music (performance, education, therapy, etc.). Enrollment in a Blue Valley North Performing Ensemble (Band, Choir, Orchestra) is not required, but is highly recommended. Students enrolled in Band, Choir, or Orchestra that have an interest in Music Theory should consult their ensemble director to determine if Music Theory would be a valuable course selection. Students that are NOT enrolled in a BVN Performing Ensemble should reach out to the course instructor to schedule an in-person meeting and discuss their interest and potential achievability in enrolling in Music Theory. At the conclusion of this course students will be prepared to take the AP Music Theory Exam and to pass an introductory college or university theory placement examination. The goal of Music Theory is to develop the ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic elements and structures of musical compositions. Students will primarily study techniques used in the music of the Common Practice Period (1600–1750), although music of other stylistic periods will also be studied and explored. To reach this goal, each class will focus on activities related to performing (singing and playing), composing, improvising, listening to, and analyzing music. Students may also enroll and receive credit for this course through Johnson County Community College or Baker University.