Ballston Spa Central School District Music Department

 Music Groups in Our Schools

Click on a group name in this table to see a description.

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Concert Schedule

Curriculum

Music Festivals

Music Groups

Regional Performing Groups

Staff

SOFA (Supporters Of Fine Arts)

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Questions/comments?  Please e-mail jmerrill@bscsd.org

High School Band

Symphonic Band - All high school band instrumental students are eligible to play in the Symphonic Band.  The band meets 3 times a week during the school day.

Jazz Band - Students are taught elements of jazz and jazz improvisation in this class that meets 3 times a week.   Students in Jazz Band must also perform with Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble. Students perform at 3 major concerts during the school year and additional performances may be scheduled as permitted.

There is a concert band for each grade level, 6-8. The sixth grade band spends a great deal of time working on the development of tone, awareness of intonation and the ability to play as an ensemble, striving for balance of parts. This ensemble typically performs at a NYSSMA level 2. The seventh grade band continues to work on developing better tone, using a more discerning ear for intonation, and adds more complex rhythms in the repertoire. This group usually performs at a NYSSMA level two and/or three. The eighth grade band strives to play with a more mature sound, scrutinizing intonation further, and playing more difficult repertoire, usually a NYSSMA level three and/or four.

Students are required to have a one half hour group lesson, weekly, in order to address individual strengths and weaknesses. Students perform in winter and spring concerts. Students are given the opportunity to perform a solo at a NYSSMA festival for adjudication. These evaluations are used to determine participants for area performing groups such as All-County, Area-All State and Suburban Council ensembles. Everyone is strongly urged to participate in preparation of a solo.

N. Munger (Band Lessons)

All 4th and 5th grade students have the opportunity to have music instruction on woodwind, brass or percussion instruments. The 5th grade second year band students receive one 30-minute lesson and participate in one 30-minute large group rehearsal each week during school.   The 4th-5th grade beginning band students receive one 30-minute lesson and have large group rehearsals during school at approximately 4-6 weeks prior to concert time. All band students also have the opportunity to participate in a district-wide band.  It is the goal of the program to provide the skills for each student to become both an active participant and an educated listener of music.

The BEGINNING BAND is primarily made up of 4th grade students (beginners that start in 5th grade would also belong in this band). The sign-up for beginning band lessons is usually in the spring of third grade. Students are introduced to the instrument families in general music class and third grade recruitment for band takes place shortly after that. Instrumental choice is based on the following:  instrument audition, director-guided selection for physical and musical appropriateness and student preference. Students may perform in a Winter Concert and in the “Afternoon T” Concert in March.  Additional performances are at the discretion of the directors.

The 2nd Year CONCERT BAND is made up of 5th Grade Band students displaying the appropriate playing level for a second year band. A variety of music is performed throughout the year.  The Harvest Concert, Winter Concert, Spring Concert and the District-Wide Intermediate Band Concert are some of the performing venues in which these students will perform.  Selected students are chosen to participate in the NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festivals. Performers may also be seen at Albany’s Empire State Plaza for a noontime concert in the spring.

T. Brehmer (Band Lessons)

The Intermediate Jazz Band is a select, district-wide band open to all second year 5th grade students by audition only.  Rehearsals are held once a week after school.  Some of our faculty members participate in this ensemble. This group performs a variety of jazz styles and serves as an introduction to the jazz idiom.  This group performs at the Budget Vote, the District-Wide Intermediate Band Concert, and the Albany Empire State Plaza Noontime Concert.

K. Hargis (Intermediate Schools)

High School Choir

Select Choir - is for students in grades 10 - 12.  About 30 students will be chosen through Spring auditions for membership.  Activities will include participation in  approximately four concerts per year, the possibility of outside performances and instruction in voice techniques.  Students are evaluated on sight-reading and singing every quarter.

Concert Choir -  is for students in grades 9 - 12.  3 - 4 mixed part music of the last six centuries is sung, but with a definite slant towards our own times.  Basic sight reading ability, good vocal technique and basic music theory skills are needed.  Participating in concerts is part of the course requirement.  Students are evaluated on sight-reading and singing every quarter.

The Ballston Spa Middle School Chorus has expanded to include members of Orchestra and Band who can not fit chorus into their daytime schedule, and is offered for 6th, 7th and 8th graders after school.  These students will be able to participate in the Winter and Spring Concerts as well as NYSSMA and/or All County chorus along with any Suburban Council performance opportunities.  Both day and after school students receive full credit for chorus on their report cards.  Please free to contact Ms. Munger at nmunger@bscsd.org

Intermediate Choruses - The Malta Ave 4th and 5th Grade Chorus is led by Mr. Thomas Hemans.  Rehearsals are in the MA Auditorium.  Third graders are invited to join chorus each January.  We develop music-reading skills, sing in 2, 3 and 4 part harmonies, and help students adjust to their maturing voices.

Mr. Brian Bailey leads the Wood Road 4th and 5th Grade Chorus. Rehearsals are after school, 3:30-4:15 PM, 4th grade on Tuesday and 5th grade on Thursday. Students may ride a late bus; forms for permission are available in the WR office.

Each school has winter and spring concerts for the chorus, band and orchestra. Please check the concert listing. Detailed information about expectations, rehearsals and concerts will be given to your child to take home, please ask them about it. Parent volunteers are welcome to help at concert time.

T. Hemans (Malta Avenue)

High School String Orchestra - is made up of string players, grades 9-12, who rehearse 3 times a week.  Students in this group typically have a minimum of five years playing experience when starting ninth grade.  The orchestra focuses on building musicianship, technique, and ensemble performance skills.  A wide range of music literature is studied during the year.

Attendance at one group lesson each week is a mandatory part of the course.  

The Middle School String Orchestra -  program is designed as a continuation for those students who have previous experience in string instrument instruction. Orchestra is a performance-based course that focuses on the development of technical and musical skills necessary to contribute to performing in a string orchestra.  Students in all groups will be exposed to an increasing variety of musical material and concepts as they progress through the grades.

Currently, there are three grade level orchestras at the middle school, each rehearsing twice a week. Sixth Grade Orchestra is for students beginning their third year of instruction where students learn new techniques that will enable them to play increasingly varied orchestral music, exercises and solo works as well as reinforce basic, familiar skills. Seventh and Eighth Grade Orchestra rehearse separately and then combine shortly before their concert performances. Students will have the opportunity to perform varying styles of music that will increase their technical skills, musicianship and awareness of string orchestra repertoire.

K. Norris  (Grade 6 lessons)

                              Questions/comments?  Please e-mail jmerrill@bscsd.org