AGOURA HIGH MUSIC
COURSE GUIDE
2010-2011 School Year
Wind Ensemble I
2-3 years playing experience is recommended and/or approval by a middle school director. Private lessons are encouraged. This class meets and rehearses along with the marching band class. The class plays beginning to intermediate pieces along with one or two advanced selections.
Wind Ensemble II
This class is by audition only and open to freshmen with a recommendation by their middle school director. This class performs intermediate to advanced repertoire. Private lessons are highly recommended.
Wind Ensemble II (Honors Credit)
This class is by audition only. Freshmen wishing to take this class must audition and also participate in the Marching Band class. Private lessons are required. This class is has mostly junior and senior musicians along with select sophomores and freshmen.
Marching Band - Also known as, "Blue Crew Band."
2-3 years of playing experience is recommended for this class OR at least a year of private lessons. No audition is necessary, but approval from your middle school teacher is required. This group rehearses with the Wind Ensemble I class during period 3. During the football season, this class performs at all home football games and select away games. In addition, students receive P.E. Credit for this class. Students in this class rehearse basic marching steps and formations for the performance in the Reyes Adobe Parade, Pep Rallies, and football pre-game/half-time shows. One after-school rehearsal per week is required during the football season.
Orchestra I
Approval by a student’s middle school director or 2-3 years playing experience is recommended. Private lessons are encouraged. This group performs music that ranges in difficulty from intermediate to advanced.
Orchestra II
This ensemble is by audition only. This group performs advanced repertoire that is often at the collegiate level. Students are encouraged to have private lessons and a minimum of 4 years playing experience. At various times throughout the year, students from this group perform pieces written for full orchestra. Students from this group are also selected to play in the school musical.
Women's Choir
This class is recommended for incoming vocal students. A recommendation by a middle school music teacher is necessary to take this course unless an audition is performed. This class focuses on basic music fundamentals, basic vocal technique, and levels of music that range in difficulty from easy to advanced.
Mixed Choir
Female vocalists wishing to take this class must participate in one year of Women's Choir before auditioning as an incoming sophomore. Freshmen Male vocalists must arrange an audition with Mr. Mosley.
Jazz B
2-3 years playing experience is necessary along with an audition and approval by your middle school music director. It is highly recommended that students enrolled in this class also take Wind Ensemble I or Marching Band. Priority will go to those enrolled in a Wind Ensemble or Marching Band class. Private lessons are highly recommended. This class is primarily for freshmen students but is open to all grade levels based on their audition.
Jazz A
This class is available to select freshmen students who have demonstrated an ability to excel in the style of Jazz music. 2-3 years playing experience is necessary along with an audition and approval by your middle school music director. It is highly recommended that students enrolled in this class also take Wind Ensemble I or Marching Band. Priority will go to those enrolled in a Wind Ensemble or Marching Band class. Private lessons are required. One year of Jazz B is recommended before joining Jazz A.
Studio Jazz Ensemble
Incoming sophomores may audition for this class once they have completed a year of another ensemble at Agoura High. Freshmen are not accepted into this class.
If you have any questions about the courses listed above, please contact Mr. Bloom by calling 818-889-1262 x592 or emailing: cbloom@lvusd.org.
Agoura High Music
Incoming Student Info & Audition Form
Full Name:________________________________________
Instrument:_______________________________________
Home Phone:______________________________________
Parent’s Full Name:________________________________
Parent’s email:_____________________________________
(Information regarding auditions will be sent to this address.)
Current School:________________________________
Current ensemble(s) as an 8th grader:_______________________________________
Amount of time you’ve played your instrument:______________________________
Which ensemble(s) out of the Agoura High Music course guide are you interested in auditioning for? (Please put an X or check next to all that apply.)
Jazz B ___ Orchestra II ___
Wind Ensemble II ___ Jazz A ___
Wind Ensemble II Honors ___ Mixed Choir ___
The following ensembles do not require an audition but do require your director’s approval. Please let us know if you plan on signing up for any of the following:
Orchestra I ____ Woman’s Choir ___
Marching Band (Blue Crew Band) ___ Wind Ensemble I ___
Middle School Director Approval:__________________________________________
(If this form is sent through email, AHS will confirm approval with your director.)
Please return this form to your music director, or email it to: cbloom@lvusd.org
AUDITION INFORMATION
& REQUIREMENTS
• Auditions will take place on May 24, 25, 26 & 27 (if needed) from 3:30pm-5:00pm in the Agoura High Band Room (J3).
• All students interested in JAZZ A, JAZZ B, WIND ENSEMBLE II, WIND ENSEMBLE II (HONORS), ORCHESTRA II and MIXED CHOIR must audition in order to receive the class.
• Auditions times are given on a first-come first-serve basis. You may email your audition form to: cbloom@lvusd.org.
WIND ENSEMBLE II & WIND ENSEMBLE HONORS Audition Info:
1- Please perform all 12 major scales the full range of your instrument.
2- Perform an etude or piece that you have prepared with your private instructor.
Percussion
1. Demonstrate several basic rudiments on snare drum.
2. Sight-read a piece to demonstrate your reading ability.
3. Demonstrate 12 major scales on a marimba and xylophone.
Orchestra II (Strings)
1. Demonstrate all 12 major scales the full range of your instrument.
2. Perform a classical etude or piece that demonstrates your technical ability.
3. Sight-read a piece presented to you at your audition.
MIXED CHOIR
Perform an aria from the book, “Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Arias,” published by Schirmer’s Library of Musical Classics.
JAZZ BAND
(Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone)
1 - Play all 12 major scales.
Trumpets & Trombones: Play all 12 major scales the full range of your instrument.
Saxophones: Play all 12 major scales the full range of your instrument. If you play a double such as flute or clarinet, perform two scales that demonstrate your range on those instruments.
2 - Perform the 12 bar bebop melody to Billie's Bounce and prepare a 1-2 chorus solo.
3 - Perform an excerpt or a full transcription by a major Jazz legend on the instrument that you play.
4 – Perform a classical etude that demonstrates your technique and reading ability.
Rhythm Section Players
Piano
1 - Perform a classical etude or composition demonstrating your reading ability. (A Classical piece or composition with stride piano is acceptable.)
2- Perform all 12 major scales in several octaves.
3- Prepare the blues melody to Billie's Bounce. Prepare at least a one-chorus solo and be able to comp the chord changes.
4- Perform an excerpt or a full transcription by a legendary Jazz pianist.
Drums
1- Perform a rock beat, latin beat, funk beat, up-tempo swing, medium swing & shuffle.
2- Learn and play the form to the blues melody of "Billie's Bounce" and a Jazz standard with the form: AABA. (Examples: Oleo, Perdido, I’ve Got Rhythm)
3- Sight-read a short piece of music to demonstrate your reading ability.
4. Perform an excerpt of a drum solo by a legendary Jazz drummer.
Guitar
1- Perform a classical etude or composition demonstrating your reading ability.
2- Perform all 12 major scales in several octaves.
3- Perform the bebop melody to "Billie's Bounce." Prepare at least a one-chorus solo and comp the chord changes.
4- Play an excerpt or full transcription of a legendary Jazz guitarist.
Bass
1- Play all 12 Major scales in two octaves.
2- Perform a walking bass line and the melody to the bebop tune of, "Billie's Bounce."
3- Perform a classical etude or piece that demonstrates your technical ability.
4- Sight-read a written bass line and provide a bass line to some chord changes that you sight-read.
INCOMING STUDENT PROCEDURE:
1. Read about the class you’d like to take in the Agoura High Music Course Guide.
2. Fill out the, “Agoura High Music Incoming Student & Audition Form.” If you are not doing an audition, we would still like to receive this form so we know who you are. Return it to your music director or email it to: cbloom@lvusd.org.
You can obtain the digital copy by visiting the music booster’s webpage:
http://www.agourahighschool.net/content/view/158/703/
OR… Mr. Bloom’s Webpage off the Agourahighschool.net site under Faculty/Teacher Webpages.
3. Review the audition information for your instrument. Feel free to ask questions. You do not need to audition if you sign up for: Wind Ensemble I, Marching Band, Orchestra I or Woman’s Choir (Choir I).
4. Agoura High Counselors will be handing out course selection material to you. If you are auditioning for a class, sign up for the entry-level course. (Example: Jazz B, Orchestra I, Wind Ensemble I.) We will place you in the correct class after your audition.
After the auditions, ensemble lists will be announced through email and posted outside of the AHS Band-room.
PFC/Boosters 
