Ensembles

Ensembles -Overview

Our Mission. To provide a high level of music performance training through reading and performing a large selection of classical repertoire in a variety of venues.

Exposure to Professionals. To provide contact with professional musicians through coaching, master classes, and concert attendance. For the 2001/2002 year, musicians of the Seattle Symphony have adopted the Garfield Symphony as coaches and mentors for the Garfield musicians.

Competition. To encourage students to strive for even higher levels of performance by participating in local, regional, and international competitions and festivals.

Teamwork and Discipline. To teach the value of teamwork, discipline, and hard work through the reward of the great performances that result.

Citizenship. To instill good citizenship by contributing to the cultural life of the community through performance at School events  and other public places and events.

Understanding and Love of Music. To instill knowledge, love and deep enjoyment of  music that will enrich the students throughout their lives.

Exemplary Program. To set an example of excellence in education for public schools by setting lofty goals and achieving them

Our Programs

Concert Band - provide students a high level of music performance training through reading and performing a large selection of  repertoire in a variety of venues. Concert Band will provide a  comprehensive study of music through the concert band, which develops skills in the psycho-motor, cognitive, and affective domains.  Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas.  Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited:  (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills (6) analyzing music and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature.

Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting, playing by ear and sight-reading.  Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer’s intent in order to connect the performer with the audience.  Students experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day.  Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances.  A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students are required to participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.

Marching Band - is the most visible of all the ensemble and consists of members from all the Symphonic Winds.  It teaches teamwork, discipline, communication, time management, and leadership skills along with a sense of “family”.  The marching band performs original shows and concepts while education students on musical concepts set forth in the Symphonic Winds.

Color Guard – The Color Guard, or “Auxilliary”, combine dance, drama, and performance – with the manipulation of flags, sabers, and rifles – into a magical pageantry. Color Guard is now one of the most popular activities for girls in the high school curriculum. This outstanding performing group is an intricate part of the fall season Marching Band program. In the winter and spring seasons, students perform in a number of dance recitals plus official Winter Guard appearances. The Winter Guard often travels to venues across the state and region in pageantry theater competitions incorporating a wide range of visual performance arts and choreography.

The Color Guard and Winter Guard performs with the Marching Band at all appearances and in local, state and national events. Visual effects are important elements in competition scoring and high scores require a competent and highly rehearsed Color Guard.

The Color Guard and Winter Guard are integral components of the School Instrumental program and are supported and funded in part by High School Band Booster organization.

Drum Line & Percussion -The Concert Percussion Ensemble is made up of all percussionists and pianists who perform some of the finest percussion ensemble literature written. The members of this ensemble have the opportunity to explore numerous percussive instruments and various styles and techniques.

No band or musical ensemble of any kind can effectively perform without a competent percussion and/or rhythm section. Affectionately referred to as “The Pit” in marching band lingo, the students who make up the Percussion Ensemble are a vital element of the Marching Band and Concert Band programs.

Students in the Percussion Ensemble study under the direction of dedicated percussion instructors. The band program is privileged to have a variety of traditional and nontraditional percussion and mallet instruments on which the students learn and perform. From marimbas, to timpani, to vibraphones and concert drums, students are exposed to the musical tools that drive the beat!