Programs at Parkway Heights

Beginning and Intermediate Band

This class is open to students with previous band experience or those with little or no prior musical knowledge but who wish to learn the fundamentals of playing an instrument as part of a performance ensemble. 

Students learn the fundamentals of reading and understanding music. The class focuses on understanding all aspects of music notation, rhythm, tone production, intonation, and ensemble performance.  

Students are required to own or rent an instrument for this class. Students who choose to borrow a school-owned instrument may not receive the exact instrument they prefer. 

Students are also expected to own concert attire consisting of a white shirt or blouse, black dress slacks or skirts, and black dress shoes.

Intermediate band is a performance class, and attendance at all concerts is mandatory.

Both beginning and intermediate band are one period, year-long classes. Homework includes but is not limited to two hours of home practice per week.

Advanced Band

Students in this class will continue to focus on reading and understanding all aspects of music notation, rhythm, tone production, intonation, and ensemble performance. Admission to this class is based on ability, prior band experience, and teacher recommendation. 

Students are required to own or rent an instrument for this class. Students who choose to borrow a school-owned instrument may not receive the exact instrument they prefer. 

Students are also expected to own concert attire consisting of a white shirt or blouse, black dress slacks or skirts, and black dress shoes.

Advanced band is a performance class, and attendance at all concerts is mandatory

Advanced band is a one period, year long class. Homework includes but is not limited to two hours of home practice per week.

This class focuses on the different genres of the jazz idiom: swing, be-bop, funk, jazz-rock, Latin, Afro-Cuban, and ballads.

Jazz band is open only to advanced band students, who are subject to audition and approval by the band director. 

Jazz band meets daily during zero period before school. 

This is a semester-long class in which students learn the fundamentals of reading and understanding music. 

Students initially focus on reading and understanding all aspects of music notation, eventually learning how to write and perform music individually and in small groups using voice and rhythm and melodic instruments such as drums, recorders, or electronic keyboards. 

Students must purchase a recorder and set of drumsticks (7A or 7AN) from a music store or the school.

Students exercise creativity and express themselves in this class using a variety of artistic mediums and techniques. 

The course is designed to be fun and enjoyable for all; no artistic experience is necessary.

Students work with drawing pencils, colored pencils, construction paper, magazines, paint, clay, and more.