Instrumental Music Ensembles
Pride of Sunnyside Marching Band
Prerequisites: Band Camp, after school rehearsals, be enrolled in Wind Ensemble the previous semester or Audition.
Length of Class: Fall Semester
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
The Pride of Sunnyside Marching Band is the most active music ensemble on campus. These students perform at all school events, including football games, pep assemblies, and other school activities. In addition to school events, the Pride of Sunnyside participates in community parades, marching festivals, community outreach, and performances for local businesses. The students of this ensemble dedicate many extra hours to performance. This group is made up of the Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble during the fall semester, as well as color guard. The fall semester of this course counts as half of a PE credit (Those students enrolled in percussion ensemble also get the half-credit during fall semester).
Length of Class: Fall Semester
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
The Pride of Sunnyside Marching Band is the most active music ensemble on campus. These students perform at all school events, including football games, pep assemblies, and other school activities. In addition to school events, the Pride of Sunnyside participates in community parades, marching festivals, community outreach, and performances for local businesses. The students of this ensemble dedicate many extra hours to performance. This group is made up of the Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble during the fall semester, as well as color guard. The fall semester of this course counts as half of a PE credit (Those students enrolled in percussion ensemble also get the half-credit during fall semester).
Wind Ensemble
Prerequisites: Previous Wind Ensemble/Band experience
Length of Class: Spring Semester
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
The Wind Ensemble of Sunnyside High School prepares many performances throughout the year. In addition to concerts, this group performs with the Percussion Ensemble at all football games home and away, marching festivals, community events, and school events. These students work to prepare quality concert band literature. The students in this class perform on wind instruments only.
Length of Class: Spring Semester
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
The Wind Ensemble of Sunnyside High School prepares many performances throughout the year. In addition to concerts, this group performs with the Percussion Ensemble at all football games home and away, marching festivals, community events, and school events. These students work to prepare quality concert band literature. The students in this class perform on wind instruments only.
Percussion Ensemble
Prerequisites: Drum Camp, Band Camp, Audition, after school rehearsals, be enrolled in Percussion Ensemble the previous semester.
Length of Class: Full Year
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
The Percussion Ensemble is made up of students who perform on percussion instruments. During the fall semester, this group performs with the Pride of Sunnyside Ensemble, filling the role of Drumline and Front Ensemble. These students attend both Drum Camp and Band Camp over the summer, and have many hours of work put into their craft. Students in this ensemble combine with the Wind Ensemble on all concerts, as well as preparing their own repertoire of all percussion music. The students in this class perform on percussion instruments only.
Length of Class: Full Year
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
The Percussion Ensemble is made up of students who perform on percussion instruments. During the fall semester, this group performs with the Pride of Sunnyside Ensemble, filling the role of Drumline and Front Ensemble. These students attend both Drum Camp and Band Camp over the summer, and have many hours of work put into their craft. Students in this ensemble combine with the Wind Ensemble on all concerts, as well as preparing their own repertoire of all percussion music. The students in this class perform on percussion instruments only.
Jazz Ensemble
Prerequisites: Audition with Instructor
Length of Class: Full Year
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
The Jazz Ensemble at Sunnyside High School focuses on jazz technique. Students in this advanced ensemble work with basic music theory in regards to chord structure and scales, read music at a high level, and work to prepare and perform big band charts as well as combo music. Students learn jazz history and its relation to American and World History. Students also learn a variety of jazz styles and how to play in them. Standard instrumentation of a jazz band will be accepted into this ensemble, including alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, trumpets, trombones, guitar, bass, piano, drum set, auxiliary percussion, and vibraphone.
Length of Class: Full Year
Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
The Jazz Ensemble at Sunnyside High School focuses on jazz technique. Students in this advanced ensemble work with basic music theory in regards to chord structure and scales, read music at a high level, and work to prepare and perform big band charts as well as combo music. Students learn jazz history and its relation to American and World History. Students also learn a variety of jazz styles and how to play in them. Standard instrumentation of a jazz band will be accepted into this ensemble, including alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, trumpets, trombones, guitar, bass, piano, drum set, auxiliary percussion, and vibraphone.