Symphonic & Marching Band
Symphonic/Marching Band is a full year course designed to be the cornerstone of the complete band program and the culmination of a student's wind and percussion instrumental education. The Marching Band meets in the fall and usually lasts through the first nine weeks of school, after which a transition is made into Symphonic Band for the remainder of the year. Both segments of the program focus on advanced musicianship skills, discipline and teamwork. Details on fundraising and fees can be found here.
This ensemble is co-curricular, meaning that there are required rehearsals and performances outside of the regular school day. These include, but are not limited to, summer marching band camp (usually June & August), home football games, school spirit events, festival performances, evening rehearsals and evening concerts. A current listing of these events can be found on our calendar.
Auditions will be held each spring for students interested in participating in Symphonic/Marching Band. Prerequisites to audition for participation include completion of Concert Band and/or permission from the director.
CONCERT BAND
Concert Band is a non-auditioned group that studies and performs wind band literature throughout the school year. This class focuses on broadening each student's technical and musical skills in preparation for joining the school's advanced ensembles. The prerequisite for participation is the successful completion of 8th Grade Band or the director's permission. Details on fundraising and fees are here.
Members of Concert Band do not participate in the Grizzly Marching Band at RMHS.
JAZZ BAND
This course is listed as "Varsity Jazz Ensemble" and has not been offered as a regularly scheduled course for credit at Rocky Mountain High School due to a lack of student registration. If enough students register for jazz band, it will be offered as a regular class next year.
However, we have started a regularly meeting Jazz Band club! Our rehearsals are held Monday and Thursday from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM in room A3. Our goal is to study jazz and perform. Anyone interested in learning more about this great Amercian art form is welcome - no experience necessary.
Please don't hesitate to contact Mr. DeWitt if you have any questions.
PERCUSSION CLASS
This course is listed as "Drumline and Pit Ensemble Class" is designed to expose students of all levels to a variety of areas in percussion. Students will learn about marching percussion, concert percussion, world percussion and finish the semester with drumset skills in a variety of skills. Director permission is required to enroll in the course.
This course was not included in this year's schedule of classes due to limited registration, so I have scheduled a weekly meeting on Tuesday's from 3:30 to 4:30 in room A3. Anyone is welcome to attend, and no experience is necessary.
MUSIC THEORY
This one semester course covers the inner workings of music, music composition, and some music history. There is enough flexibility in the curriculum that we have the ability to include areas of specific student interest in our studies. It is highly advisable that students enrolled in this course have some previous experience with music, and it is even better if they are currently participating in an ensemble at Rocky.
BEGINNING GUITAR
Open to any students at Rocky. Assumes no prior knowledge and introduces students to playing the guitar. Material covered can be found on the RockyBands.net website.
ADVANCED GUITAR
Continued study of the guitar, open to any students who have successfully completed "Beginning Guitar". Syllabus can be found on the RockyBands.net website.
GRIZZLY MARCHING BAND
See the course description under "Symphonic Band". Details on fees are here.
Uniforms:
Uniforms will be worn at each of our home football games and marching band festival performances. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask, but here are some details on how the uniform should be worn:
- Socks: Black mid-calf length.
- Shoes: Black "Directors Showcase MTX Marching Band Shoe".
- Gloves: Black "Long Wrist SureGrip GL301B".
- UNDER THE UNIFORM: 2011 GMB shirt & shorts that are not bulky (compression style is best),
- Hair: Long hair up under the shako. I discourage anyone from getting last minute hair style changes that would negatively impact the uniformity of the band's appearance in performance (mohawks, extreme color changes, etc
COLOR GUARD
The Rocky Mountain Color Guard is the visual complement to the sounds of the Grizzly Marching Band. Participation in the Color Guard is open to all students at Rocky Mountain High School and no prior experience is necessary. Members of the Color Guard need not be enrolled in Symphonic/Marching Band to participate, but must be able to attend all rehearsals. Details on fundraising and fees are here.
Contact Mr. DeWitt if you have any questions or feel free to stop by his office in room A3.
Please don't hesitate to contact Mr. DeWitt if you have any further questions.
Rocky Mountain High School
5450 North Linder Road - Meridian, ID 83646
Phone: (208) 350-4340 x1601 - Fax: (208) 350-4369