Band Opportunities at McNary
There are eight band performance classes offered at McNary High School!
Core Band Classes:
Concert Band:
Ms. A and Mrs. Hering co-teach this class, so it is open to beginners through intermediate skill levels. Students who wish to learn a second instrument may also take this class. The beginners will split off into a small instruction group with Mrs. Hering while the intermediate and second-instrument students will stay with the large group with Ms. A.
The Concert Band has minimal commitments outside of the school day. Students will perform for 3-4 family concerts each year and may also choose to participate in optional events.
Symphonic Band:
The Symphonic Band is a band that performs advanced literature and is open to students who play at an intermediate or advanced level. Symphonic Band students are selected via audition or director recommendation.
The Symphonic Band students perform at approximately 4 family concert, 2 festivals, graduation, and a small number of basketball games each year. There are also optional events that may be selected as well. (Solo & Ensemble, All City, All State, football games, etc.)
Wind Ensemble:
The Wind Ensemble is the most advanced band at McNary High School and is open to advanced students who perform advanced and professional level literature. Students in the wind ensemble are selected through audition and are strongly encouraged to take private lessons (boosters can help financially support students who may not be able to afford lessons). Students who wish to perform in the Wind Ensemble must be able to double-block A and B days with either Symphony (winds) or Percussion class (Percussion).
The Wind Ensemble has the most active schedule of the three concert bands and performances include family concerts, 3-4 festivals (including the State Championships), a spring retreat, and a small number of basketball games. Wind Ensemble students participate in weekly sectionals, but care is taken to avoid athletic schedules. Wind Ensemble students audition for All City and All State and are encouraged to participate in Solo & Ensemble, though it is not required.
Symphony Orchestra:
Mr. Williams and Mrs. Hering co-teach the Symphony Orchestra. Students in Wind Ensemble automatically become members of the Symphony Orchestra and perform with the string section of this ensemble for one family concert and 3 festivals (including the State Championships).
Elective Band Classes:
Percussion Class:
The percussion class is open to any student who is enrolled in band, orchestra, or choir and who reads music and would like to learn percussion skills and perform concert percussion literature. Percussionists in Drumline are required to take this class for fall semester and percussionists in Wind Ensemble are required to take this course for the entire year (Wind Ensemble percussionists double-block Percussion Class instead of Symphony Orchestra).
Percussion class explores percussion techniques, rehearses drumline music, and learns and performs concert percussion literature. This class performs at family concerts, Solo & Ensemble, and percussion festivals.
Marching Band:
The marching band is a fall semester class that can count as both a fine arts and a P.E. credit. The marching band is a "late-bird" class which means it meets outside of the school day. Rehearsals for the Marching Band begin in August and conclude at the end of October. More information about the Marching Band can be found here.
The Marching Band is open to students in band classes. Students who read music but don't play a band instrument and who wish to learn a band instrument and be a part of the Marching Band should enroll in Concert Band class as well as Marching Band.
Jazz 2:
Jazz 2 is the intro level jazz band at McNary High School and is held during 1st period. Students must be enrolled in a core band class to participate in jazz band. Students who play bass may be enrolled in orchestra as their core "band class". Students who play guitar or piano and do not have a primary band or orchestra instrument do not need to be registered for a core band class.
Jazz 2 performs for family concerts and several festivals.
Jazz 1:
Jazz 1 is the advanced level jazz band at McNary High School and students are admitted through an audition or director recommendation. Jazz 1 is a 0 hour class and meets before the school day on "A Days". In addition, there is one after school rehearsal held each week after marching season ends. Students must be enrolled in a core band class to participate in jazz band. Students who play bass may be enrolled in orchestra as their core "band class". Students who play guitar or piano and do not have a primary band or orchestra instrument do not need to be registered for a core band class.
Jazz 1 performs for family concerts and several festivals including State.
Extra-Curricular (non-credit) Band Opportunities:
All-State (and All Northwest) Bands The All State Bands are made up of the best musicians in Oregon (PNW) and held in Eugene over a weekend in January each year. Audition information can be found here. Participants are required to provide their own transportation and funding for this honor band.
All City Band: The SKPS All City Ensembles are a time-honored tradition and often the highlight of the year for many of our young musicians. Auditions are in January and All City events happen in February. There is no cost associated with All City.
WIBC is an honor band held near Seattle each fall. Students who wish to audition can use their All State auditions. Participants are required to provide their own transportation and funding for this honor band.
Pit Orchestra is open to students enrolled in a music class and performs for the all-school musical. Students are generally chosen via chair placement as there are a limited number of spots available.
Chamber Music groups are encouraged. Students may peruse our chamber music library and use the band rehearsal spaces before and after school as long as one of the directors is at school. Chamber Music students may perform at concerts and Solo & Ensemble festivals.
Core Band Classes:
Concert Band:
Ms. A and Mrs. Hering co-teach this class, so it is open to beginners through intermediate skill levels. Students who wish to learn a second instrument may also take this class. The beginners will split off into a small instruction group with Mrs. Hering while the intermediate and second-instrument students will stay with the large group with Ms. A.
The Concert Band has minimal commitments outside of the school day. Students will perform for 3-4 family concerts each year and may also choose to participate in optional events.
Symphonic Band:
The Symphonic Band is a band that performs advanced literature and is open to students who play at an intermediate or advanced level. Symphonic Band students are selected via audition or director recommendation.
The Symphonic Band students perform at approximately 4 family concert, 2 festivals, graduation, and a small number of basketball games each year. There are also optional events that may be selected as well. (Solo & Ensemble, All City, All State, football games, etc.)
Wind Ensemble:
The Wind Ensemble is the most advanced band at McNary High School and is open to advanced students who perform advanced and professional level literature. Students in the wind ensemble are selected through audition and are strongly encouraged to take private lessons (boosters can help financially support students who may not be able to afford lessons). Students who wish to perform in the Wind Ensemble must be able to double-block A and B days with either Symphony (winds) or Percussion class (Percussion).
The Wind Ensemble has the most active schedule of the three concert bands and performances include family concerts, 3-4 festivals (including the State Championships), a spring retreat, and a small number of basketball games. Wind Ensemble students participate in weekly sectionals, but care is taken to avoid athletic schedules. Wind Ensemble students audition for All City and All State and are encouraged to participate in Solo & Ensemble, though it is not required.
Symphony Orchestra:
Mr. Williams and Mrs. Hering co-teach the Symphony Orchestra. Students in Wind Ensemble automatically become members of the Symphony Orchestra and perform with the string section of this ensemble for one family concert and 3 festivals (including the State Championships).
Elective Band Classes:
Percussion Class:
The percussion class is open to any student who is enrolled in band, orchestra, or choir and who reads music and would like to learn percussion skills and perform concert percussion literature. Percussionists in Drumline are required to take this class for fall semester and percussionists in Wind Ensemble are required to take this course for the entire year (Wind Ensemble percussionists double-block Percussion Class instead of Symphony Orchestra).
Percussion class explores percussion techniques, rehearses drumline music, and learns and performs concert percussion literature. This class performs at family concerts, Solo & Ensemble, and percussion festivals.
Marching Band:
The marching band is a fall semester class that can count as both a fine arts and a P.E. credit. The marching band is a "late-bird" class which means it meets outside of the school day. Rehearsals for the Marching Band begin in August and conclude at the end of October. More information about the Marching Band can be found here.
The Marching Band is open to students in band classes. Students who read music but don't play a band instrument and who wish to learn a band instrument and be a part of the Marching Band should enroll in Concert Band class as well as Marching Band.
Jazz 2:
Jazz 2 is the intro level jazz band at McNary High School and is held during 1st period. Students must be enrolled in a core band class to participate in jazz band. Students who play bass may be enrolled in orchestra as their core "band class". Students who play guitar or piano and do not have a primary band or orchestra instrument do not need to be registered for a core band class.
Jazz 2 performs for family concerts and several festivals.
Jazz 1:
Jazz 1 is the advanced level jazz band at McNary High School and students are admitted through an audition or director recommendation. Jazz 1 is a 0 hour class and meets before the school day on "A Days". In addition, there is one after school rehearsal held each week after marching season ends. Students must be enrolled in a core band class to participate in jazz band. Students who play bass may be enrolled in orchestra as their core "band class". Students who play guitar or piano and do not have a primary band or orchestra instrument do not need to be registered for a core band class.
Jazz 1 performs for family concerts and several festivals including State.
Extra-Curricular (non-credit) Band Opportunities:
All-State (and All Northwest) Bands The All State Bands are made up of the best musicians in Oregon (PNW) and held in Eugene over a weekend in January each year. Audition information can be found here. Participants are required to provide their own transportation and funding for this honor band.
All City Band: The SKPS All City Ensembles are a time-honored tradition and often the highlight of the year for many of our young musicians. Auditions are in January and All City events happen in February. There is no cost associated with All City.
WIBC is an honor band held near Seattle each fall. Students who wish to audition can use their All State auditions. Participants are required to provide their own transportation and funding for this honor band.
Pit Orchestra is open to students enrolled in a music class and performs for the all-school musical. Students are generally chosen via chair placement as there are a limited number of spots available.
Chamber Music groups are encouraged. Students may peruse our chamber music library and use the band rehearsal spaces before and after school as long as one of the directors is at school. Chamber Music students may perform at concerts and Solo & Ensemble festivals.