Home About Counseling Athletics Departments IB Administration Faculty Students Parents Alumni

Music Department

Parents: To register to receive updates from the Palmer Band Parent organization, send an email to:

williamjpalmerbands@yahoo.com

Palmer Band Newsletters 07-08

Students must audition or interview for Digital Music, advanced bands, A Cappella Choir, and jazz choirs. Mr. Meacham and Mr. Crowder will audition students at Mann, North, and Holmes. Students attending other schools should call for an audition appointment. To arrange an audition or interview, please call:
Band: Mr. Meacham 328-5028
Choir/Digital: Mr. Crowder 328-5136
Orchestra: Mrs. Caplinger 328-5027

Students who enroll in Band and Orchestra are required to enroll for the entire year. This enables instruction to progress throughout the year without having to spend time reviewing at the beginning of each semester. Students enrolled in Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble must participate in Marching Band during the first quarter.

Marching Band performs at all home football games. The Director may choose to participate in College sponsored band days and regional or state contest as approved by the CHSAA. Due to performance requirements at the beginning of the school year, rehearsals of sections or the entire band could begin one month prior to the opening of school. Students are expected to attend all extra rehearsals outside of school time. Attendance at all scheduled performances is required and is considered part of the student’s grade.

DIGITAL MUSIC THEORY AND DESIGN
Course Length: 1 Semester
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Elective)
Prerequisite: Instructor approval

This course will instruct students in the development of music multimedia productions and presentations. The course will include multi-media applications and presentation techniques using various music multimedia tools. Each student will produce a multimedia presentation individually or cooperatively. The course is designed to develop music composition skills using the Sibelius music notation software program.

WIND ENSEMBLE 1, 2
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Instructors Approval and Audition

Wind Ensemble provides the opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation of music through performance. This band performs for school and community events throughout the year. They also participate at various music contests. Students selected for Wind Ensemble show an above-average understanding of their instrument and display a high level of musical sophistication through their performance. Attendance at scheduled performances is required and is considered part of the student's grade. Members are required to participate in marching band during first quarter.

SYMPHONIC BAND 1,2
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Instructors Approval and Audition

This band is designed to help prepare students with skills necessary to participate in Wind Ensemble. Literature is geared to the members' abilities with emphasis being placed on improvement of tone quality, reading skills and technical proficiency. This band may participate at music festivals and contests at the discretion of the director. This band performs for school and community events throughout the school year. Attendance at scheduled performances is required and is considered part of the student's grade.

PERCUSSION 1, 2
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Elective)
Prerequisite: One year of band experience at either middle or high school levels.

This course is designed for those students who have selected percussion as their instrument of choice. The students in this class will make up the marching band drum line. DRUM SET INSTRUCTION WILL BE VERY LIMITED.   

JAZZ ENSEMBLE 1, 2 (Advanced Level)
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Instructor's approval through audition. Must be a member of a concert ensemble.

Only those students who demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of their instruments will be considered for inclusion in this group. Basic instrumentation includes saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar, and trap set. Jazz ensemble performs at jazz festivals, assemblies, concerts, and community events. This band provides an opportunity for the student to study and perform music in the jazz idiom. Attendance at scheduled performances is required and is considered part of the student's grade.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE 3, 4 (Intermediate Level)
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective) or .5 per quarter
Prerequisite: Instructor's approval through audition. Must be a member of a concert ensemble.

Open instrumentation. This is an introductory course to jazz. This band provides an opportunity for the student to study and perform music in the jazz idiom. Attendance at scheduled performances is required and is considered part of the student's grade.

GUITAR (BEGINNING) Fee of $25 required
Course Length: 1 Semester
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Instructor's approval
This is a beginning course for students who choose to play guitar. A variety of music will be provided to improve skills and prepare for performances. A limited number of instruments may be available, however, in most cases, the student must provide his/her instrument and method book. Attendance at scheduled performances is required and is considered part of the student's grade.
NOTE: Because of enrollment limits, upperclassmen will be given preference when scheduling this class. NOTE: This class cannot be repeated.

CONCERT STRINGS 1,2
Course Length: 2 Semester
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Level 1 strings class or Instructor’s approval

This is a level 2 high school instrumental music class. The class requires some playing experience. This is a training group to prepare students with skills necessary to participate in a level 3 high school music class. Literature is geared to the members’ abilities with emphasis being placed on improvement of tone quality, reading skills and technical proficiency. Attendance at scheduled performances is required and is considered part of the student’s grade.

SYMPHONIC STRINGS 1, 2 (Intermediate Level)
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective) or .5 per quarter
Prerequisite:Level 2 instrumental class or Instructor's approval with audition

This is a Level 3 high school instrumental music class. Students must audition to enroll in the class. Symphonic Strings is a class in which various styles of music are studied and performed. Emhpasis is placed on the improvement of ensemble playing. This orchestra performs at school concerts and community events. Wind and percussion players may be added when needed. Attendance at scheduled performances is required and is considered part of the student’s grade.

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA 1, 2 (Advanced Level)
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective) H
Prerequisite: Level 3 high school instrumental music class or Instructor's approval through audition

This is a level 4 high school instrumental music class. Students must audition to be in the class. Chamber orchestra is a class in which various styles of music are studied and performed. Emphasis is placed on the improvement of ensemble playing. This orchestra performs at school concerts and community events. Students selected for Chamber Orchestra show an above average understanding of their instrument and display a high level of musical sophistication through their performance. Wind and percussion players may be added when needed. Attendance at scheduled performances is required and is considered part of the student's grade.

A CAPPELLA CHOIR 1,2 (Intermediate Level Choir)
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Audition

Membership is drawn from gifted and talented vocal music students. Membership is by audition. Students perform on many occasions. A variety of Classical and Broadway styles will by used at a level of difficulty designed to challenge the advanced vocal students.

CONCERT CHOIR 1, 2 (Introductory Level Choir)
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: None

The purpose of this choir is to represent the school and the department at programs in the school and in the community. Individuals will increase their music appreciation through the performance of choral literature, and develop skills that will prepare them for future musical experiences. This choir may perform at middle schools.

CHAMBER SINGERS 1, 2 (HIGHEST LEVEL CHOIR)
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective) or .5 per quarter
Prerequisite: Audition. Membership in another music group is encouraged.

Membership for this highly select choir is made up of students with previous choir experience. The range of music includes Renaissance madrigals to contemporary choral literature. This ensemble participates in the CHSAA Large Group Festival.

JAZZ/SHOW CHOIR 1, 2 (ADVANCED CHOIR)
Course Length: 2 Semesters AFTER SCHOOL
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective) or .5 per quarter
Prerequisite: Singing and dancing auditions. Membership in another music class is encouraged.

This highly select choral ensemble performs vocal jazz, swing, and popular music set to choreography.

MUSIC THEORY 1, 2
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9,10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Permission from instructor

This course is designed to develop and strengthen
skills in music fundamentals, ear training, elementary harmony, and composition. These skills will be developed through reading, writing, and singing music with some elementary keyboard experience. Study of the various styles and forms will lead to an awareness and appreciation of
music history from antiquity to the 21st century. Synthesizer/computer music technique will be taught.

IB MUSIC STANDARD LEVEL 1, 2
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Permission from instructor

This course is designed to develop and strengthen skills in music fundamentals, ear training, elementary harmony, and composition. These skills will be developed through reading,
writing, and singing music with some elementary keyboard experience. Study of the various styles and forms will lead to
an awareness and appreciation of music history from antiquity to the 21st century.