Wind Ensemble/Wind Ensemble (Honors)
These classes meet at the same time during period 3 (10:25-12:05 on odd days). All students in the Panther Band must be in one of these two classes in order to participate in any other groups. During the fall, the focus is primarily on Pep Band and our performances are at all home football games, the Homecoming Rally, and sometimes the Camarillo Christmas Parade. Around the end of September/early October, we change gears from Pep Band for the rest of the year to focus on Concert Band music. We put on a formal Winter Concert in December and often also participate in an optional music workshop at Disneyland.
Students who successfully audition into the Honors section of this class will earn Honors credit for their participation. Those auditions are held the week before school starts; specific audition dates will be posted on the band website. This is an active performing ensemble and all students who enroll in the Band Program should be able to commit to attending rehearsals and performances outside of the normal school day.
Concert Band/Beginning Instruments
This class is a non-performing instrumental music class for students whose skills are not strong enough to participate in the regular band or for those students who have never played an instrument formally before and don’t know how to read music. This class meets during 2nd period (8:30-10:10 on even days) and is an excellent way to get started with participating in the band program. Within one semester, successful students are often ready and able to perform with the regular band and many of our strongest musicians actually started in this class early on in their high school career. Students will learn how to read music, play an instrument, and are prepared to participate in any of the other band classes at a fundamental level.
Jazz I (Studio Jazz Ensemble Honors)
The Jazz Band meets during 0 period every day from 7:15-8:20. In order to participate in this class, students must also be enrolled group in either Wind Ensemble or Wind Ensemble (Honors). This ensemble is comprised of Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano, Guitar, Bass, or Drums. Students must be able to read music and play a Jazz Band instrument. This group will have many public performances throughout the year both locally, at our concerts, and at competitive jazz festivals throughout Southern California. Students in this group must be able to commit to attending rehearsals and performances outside of the school day.
Students who successfully audition into the Honors section of this class will earn Honors credit for their participation. Those auditions are held the week before school starts; specific audition dates will be posted on the band website. Students who make it into the band, but don’t pass the audition into the Honors section are enrolled in Jazz Ensemble.
Jazz II (Jazz Ensemble)
Jazz II is an entry-level jazz ensemble that meets during 7th period starting after Winter Break and performs in the Spring semester at several local jazz festivals with Jazz I. There is no audition to participate in this group and we have had many students come in with no prior experience and even learning new instruments that eventually make it into Jazz I within a year or two. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn about the Jazz tradition and begin learning some of the important fundamental music theory that will help you grow into a competent improviser.