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Piedmont High School Band Program
Band at the High School level is much more advanced than on the middle school level. Our class meets everyday during the school day for 90 minutes. Students that sign-up for the class must enroll for both semesters (the entire year). There is just one band class during the school day. The class is home to Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. Honors Credit is offered to Juniors and Seniors for the Spring semester only. There are many different ensembles in the high school band program. There is the Marching Band, the Concert Band, the Jazz Ensemble, the Brass Ensemble, the Woodwind Ensemble, and the Color Guard. The Jazz, Brass, and Woodwind Ensembles are all volunteer groups that meet after school usually once a week. In order to play in these ensembles, students must be enrolled in the band class.
As a member of the Marching Band and Concert Band at Piedmont High School, you are also given the chance to travel to different places all over the United States and beyond. In just the last few years, Piedmont has performed in Toronto, Orlando, and New York City.
Marching Band
All students that enroll in band at the high school must participate in the Marching Band. This group begins rehearsing for the up-coming Fall contest and football seasons during the last few weeks of Summer vacation. During band camp, students will begin learning their marching show for contest and half-time performances. This group does practice every day in class during the first few months of school, but also practices after school two days a week to better prepare themselves for a winning, contest season. Students are expected to perform at every Friday night football game, home and away, as well as some Saturday Contests in late September and October. The Marching Band program consistently receives Superior Ratings at contest, as well as many 1st Place Awards where ever they go. In 2004 and 2005, the Piedmont Marching Panthers won back-to-back Grand Champions at the Food Lion Classic.
The Marching Band is also a great way for parents and the community to get involved in their child’s education. The are many opportunities for parents to volunteer their services, such as in the Pit Crew, the Uniform committee, a concession stand worker, a bus chaperone, a bus driver (must have a CDL License with a P endorsement), Prop committee, or even serving as a board member in the Piedmont Band Booster Club.
Concert Band
As the marching season comes to a close, the class simply changes its style from a Marching Band setting to Concert Band setting. The class itself does not change. We still meet everyday at the same time. Our focus just changes from a stadium to a concert hall type rehearsal and performance. In Concert Band, the students strive for perfection in the type of music they are playing. The Concert Band gives an annual concert during the Holiday Season, and at the end of the school year.
The Concert Band also performs in the North Carolina Concert Band Festival on either a Grade IV or a Grade V level of performance. Traditionally, Grade IV is considered a solid level of high school band literature, while Grade V is your more advanced high school level of music. Grade V can also be found at many college and university ensembles around the country. The Piedmont High School Concert Band consistently receives Superior and Excellent Ratings at the NC Festival.
Jazz Ensemble
This is strictly an after school activity that typically meets once or twice a week. In the Jazz Band, students get the chance to learn a completely different style of music. They study classic Jazz such as “In the Mood,” made famous by the Glenn Miller Orchestra to very modern types of Jazz. Students learn how to “improv” on their instruments as well, something that is not usually found in the concert or marching setting. The Jazz Band will give at least two public performances, one in December and one at the end of the year.
Brass and Woodwind Ensembles
These two groups are the newest of the performing groups at Piedmont. They were created to offer students another opportunity to play different types of works that they would not get a chance to play in any other ensemble. The Woodwind Ensemble studies music mostly from the Classical time period. Here they study music from composers such as Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart. The Brass Ensemble studies music that is a little more modern than the Woodwind Ensemble. They study music from other brass groups such as the Canadian Brass and the Dallas Brass.
Color Guard
The Color Guard is a group that is connected completely to the Marching Band. The students selected to be in this group must go through a 4-day audition process that meets after school. Anyone is welcome to audition for the Color Guard. Members do not have to be part of the band program to audition. A private dance and choreography instructor works with the Guard during the Summer camp and Fall season. These students rehearse with the band during after school practices and every Friday night game and Saturday contest. The Guard is not part of any school curriculum, so it is considered an after-school activity. Once the marching season is complete, the Color Guard season is complete as well.
Piedmont Middle School Band Program
6th Grade Band (Beginning Band)
This is the first year that students are offered an instrumental, intensive music class in the public school system in Union County. Much attention is given to the individual students so they may excel on their instrument as much as possible. Because of this, the 6th Grade Band is divided into two separate classes. Two community concerts are given, one in December and one toward the end of the school year. Each class meets everyday during school for approximately 40 minutes. Listed below is a brief description of each class.
6th Grade Brass
This class is designed to introduce beginning band students to the Trumpet or the Trombone. Students will learn the basic concepts of playing these instruments while learning how to apply the music theory studied to their instruments. During this year in band, the brass students will have the opportunity to audition for French Horn, Baritone, or Tuba. This audition is only open to 6th Grade Brass students.
6th Grade Woodwinds and Percussion
This class is designed to introduce beginning band students to the Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, or the Percussion. Percussion students will start on the Bells, and then eventually learn how to play the Snare Drum, Bass Drum, and other percussion instruments. Students will learn the basic concepts of playing these instruments while learning how to apply the music theory studied to their instruments. Opportunities are given for students in this class to audition for Oboe, Bass Clarinet, or Tenor Saxophone. These instruments are only open to the 6th Grade Woodwind students.
7th Grade Band
This is a continuation of 6th Grade Band, with the exception that both groups are now combined into one class during the school day. In 7th Grade, students are still on a beginner level at first, but will quickly develop their skills beyond the beginning student. Students will broaden their range of notes above and below the staff, learn how to tune their instruments to each other, and learn how to play together more as an ensemble. Students will perform a public concert in December and at the end of year, as well as perform in the North Carolina Concert Band Festival to be adjudicated by competent judges from around the South Eastern United States.
8th Grade Band
This class is a very intensive class for the band students. By now they are expected to have a firm grasp of their knowledge of music theory and performing on their instrument. The more advanced players are invited to participate and perform with the Piedmont High School Marching Band. Here students can be given an even greater challenge by playing with older, more advanced musicians. The level of difficulty of music begins to increase in this third year of playing. They not only learn how to tune their instruments, but how to tune to each other by playing chords and by using their ears to make adjustments. Students in 8th Grade Band typically play in three public performances. They will perform a concert in December and at the end of year, as well as perform in the North Carolina Concert Band Festival to be adjudicated by competent judges from around the South Eastern United States. The 8th Grade Band also has the opportunity to perform for the 5th grade students that are part of the Piedmont School Cluster, when they come to visit our campus.
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