Sir Bills graphic Greater Johnstown School District masthead  
      Music Department  
Link to Glebe Street Elementary School Link to Pleasant Avenue Elementary School Link to Warren Street Elementary School Link to Knox Junior High School Link to Johnstown High School
Link to District Contact Us
DISTRICT LINKS
Johnstown A-Z
Academics
Alumni
  Archives  
Athletics
Atlas
Board of Ed
  Calendar  
Community
Feedback
  Food Service  
Forms
  Grade Level
  Grouping
 
  GLG - Staff  
Hall of Fame
  Info-Tax Online  
  IT Department  
Job Openings
  Link It!  
Music
Parent Spot
  Policy Manual  
  Registration  
  School Museum
  School Tool  
  Search Our Site
Special Ed
  StaffTrac  
  Superintendent's
 Corner
 
Transportation
  Google Mail  
  Employee
  Resources
 

 

 

     
 [District Home]
 
Instrumental Music

Johnstown High School
The Johnstown High School bands are directed by Mr. Andrew LaCoppola. Currently, there are two curricular performing groups (Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble), and two co-curricular groups (Jazz Ensemble and Marching Band). Students are given group instrumental lessons each week; these groups may sometimes perform as chamber ensembles, such as Percussion Ensemble, Woodwind Choir, Brass Ensemble, etc.

Symphonic Band
Symphonic Band is the transitional band between the instrumental experiences at Knox and the JHS Wind Ensemble. Symphonic Band, typically working at a NYSSMA level 3-4, is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores, as well as some upper classmen who had room in their schedule. The group is full of promising talent! The band rehearses every day during seventh period. The intensive rehearsals provide musical development which virtually guarantees success for the individual performer and for future bands in Johnstown High School. The students take weekly lessons and will learn solo or duet pieces and all their major scales.

Wind Ensemble
Wind Ensemble is the top instrumental ensemble of the high school. It is comprised of mostly junior and seniors, with a few talented sophomores and a few hard-working freshman that made the cut. The group plays at a NYSSMA level 5-6, as well as the standard literature of the band repertoire. The group also experiments with the more contemporary styles of recently composed pieces. The music selected for this group truly relies on the individual performers. These students take weekly lessons, learn solo works, small ensemble pieces and all their major scales. The Wind Ensemble meets every day during second period, making great music together. The group will continue to perform major contemporary works from the band repertoire as well as some lighter numbers for the enjoyment of our audiences.

All students in the program are required to present a performance final, which mirrors the requirements of a NYSSMA solo performance. This final exam determines their placement for the following year. The students are also encouraged to attend the NYSSMA Solo Festival in the Spring to perform for a trained adjudicator and receive a rating.

Knox Junior High School
The Knox Junior High School bands are directed by Mr. James Morton. The Knox Band Program includes two curricular performing ensembles; the Purple Band and the Gold Band that meet and rehearse on a daily basis and an extra-curricular Jazz Band. All band students are required to attend a weekly small group instrumental lesson focusing on playing and rehearsal techniques, rhythmic study, scale study, history and pedagogy all specific to their instrument.

The Purple Band is comprised mostly of seventh graders who are performing at a NYSSMA Level I after the sixth grade. Also included are eighth graders who are either starting out, or did not achieve a NYSSMA Level II by the end of their seventh grade year. The group performs music that reinforces basic music skills and concepts, usually at the Level I or Level II range. The band gives several public performances a year including the Winter Concert, PRISM Concert (Celebrating Music in our Schools Month), Spring Concert, and Eighth Grade Promotion. In June, students are required to perform a NYSSMA Level II solo, scales, and sight-reading in order to be promoted to the Gold Band the following year.

The Gold Band is made up of those eighth graders who have successfully completed the requirements of the Purple Band program. Advanced seventh students may be recommended by their elementary band teacher to perform with the Gold Band. The members perform more challenging music (NYSSMA Level II, Level III and Level IV), and must reach higher standards of musicianship in their group lessons. The Gold Band also gives several public performances a year including the Winter Concert, PRISM Concert (Celebrating Music in our Schools Month), Spring Concert, and a daylong tour of the Johnstown elementary schools. In June, students must perform a solo, scales and sight-reading at or above NYSSMA Level III. Successful completion of the Gold Band program will automatically advance students into the JHS Symphonic band the following year. Gold Band students may be invited to audition for a seat in the High School Wind Ensemble by the JHS Band Director in June.

The Knox Jazz Band meets after school once a week from October to May. The band membership includes band students in both seventh and eighth grades, as well as the occasional student not involved in other performing groups. Instrumentation includes alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, guitar, bass, drums, and percussion. Instrumentation may be customized at times to accommodate interested students that do not play traditional jazz instruments. The students are exposed to basic jazz playing technique and rhythms, jazz history, artists, and listening -during rehearsals to expand their developing improvisation skills. A commitment to after school rehearsals is required to be a member of the group.

All students in the program are encouraged to attend the NYSSMA Solo Festival in early June to perform for a trained adjudicator and receive a rating. Students that choose to do this are exempt from performing their solo, scales, and sight-reading for promotion at the end of the year.

Elementary Band
The Glebe Street, Pleasant Avenue and Warren Street elementary band programs are under the direction of Ms. Tamara Healy. Elementary school students have the opportunity to begin instruction on a musical instrument in fifth and sixth grade.

Each elementary school has a concert band consisting of second year instrumentalists and the more advanced first year band students. Students involved with the concert band perform for Veteran’s Day assemblies, the Winter Concert, the All-City Band & Chorus concert in May, and end of the year assemblies.

In celebration of national Music in Our Schools Month, each concert band performs for the community at the Johnstown Senior Citizens Center, the Wells House Nursing Home, or the Willing Helpers Home for Women.

Selected second year players perform with the Fulton County Music Educators Association’s All County elementary band held in February.

(top of page)


 
 

 

         
   
This page is maintained by the District Clerk according to Web publishing guidelines used by the Greater Johnstown School District. All rights reserved. This Web site was produced by the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service, Albany, NY © 2004.