Curricular Instrumental Music

9th Grade Band

All 9th grade band students at Apple Valley High School begin their band experience participating in the 9th Grade Band. During first trimester, students will be given the opportunity to audition for Wind Ensemble. Students demonstrating exceptional musical ability based on their audition will be placed in the Wind Ensemble beginning second trimester. All remaining 9th graders will continue in the 9th Grade Band throughout their freshman year.

In the spring, all band students, including 9th graders, will audition for placement in one of the concert bands for the following school year. Audition results are shared with students shortly after the audition process is complete

Marching Band

Marching Band is an integral part of the Instrumental Music curriculum at Apple Valley High School. With few exceptions, all band students in grades 10 thru 12 participate in Marching Band each fall. An enormous amount of preparation and planning goes into our fall marching program. Since plans are made with a specific student group in mind, each individual is essential to the success of every Marching Band performance and rehearsal. Therefore, attendance at all rehearsals and performances is required unless exceptions are requested in writing and agreed upon in advance. Please click here for more detail.

Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble at AVHS

Each spring, all Instrumental Music students in grades 9 thru 12 will audition for placement in Concert Band, Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble for the following school year. Participation in these bands begins in the fall when the Marching Band season ends. Complete information about auditions and expectations for the audition process is provided to students well in advance of the audition date. Placement is made based on each student?s individual performance level and how the directors feel their musical education needs can best be served and advanced. Band placement is determined jointly by the directors and their decision is final in all audition situations.

These band groupings serve as the classroom setting for our AVHS band program, allowing for the synthesis of individual skills and talents into unified musical expression. While the focus of the band is largely on group expression, members continue to develop individual musicianship through daily attention to the fundamental of music and music making.

Concert Band

This ensemble rehearses each school day during trimesters two and three, performing in concerts during each trimester. Concert performances are included on the school calendar and can also be found on the Band Calendar. In addition to furthering technical abilities as individual musicians, great emphasis is placed on creating a unified musical expression by the entire ensemble. A variety of repertoire will be explored, in addition to relevant theoretical and historical concepts and information.