Concert Bands and Ensembles

The benefits of learning to play musical instruments are recognized in schools throughout the United States.  Therefore, such opportunities have become curricular.  At Enloe, the primary focus of the band program is curricular (concert) band.  That is, the study of wind and percussion instrument playing as outlined in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. We are fortunate to have so much interest in band that we are able to offer three levels of study: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble.  

 

Students are assigned to these classes based on their current ability, which is assessed in band placement auditions each spring.  Each band performs in regular concerts, and the preparation for these concerts is an integral part of learning to play in an ensemble. However, the primary focus in each class must be on the individual.  If the ensemble is to perform well in concert then each member of the ensemble must be musically literate. To that end tests, formal and informal, are administered to assess individual learning.

 

At the beginning of the school year each of the three band classes begin with a review of the basic elements of playing their instruments.  Typically, the class with the most freshmen is the Concert Band, and it moves relatively slowly through the review process until the majority of the class is “on the same page.”  Each class moves at its own pace and the proportion of emphasis on the individual over the ensemble eventually shifts.  Initially all classes begin with all the emphasis on the individual and none on the ensemble.  As the individuals develop a common set of skills increasing emphasis is transferred to the ensemble.  When a class is able to focus on ensemble they have reached a level in which music can be made collectively.  This is what hooks the kids on being “in the band.”  Most do not wish to spend the entire year focusing only on individual skills, but long to arrive into the realm of real ensemble music making.  This “summit experience” of true music making in an ensemble is our goal through the concert/curricular course offerings.

  • Concert Band 
  • Symphonic Band 
  • Wind Ensemble 
  • Solo/Ensemble 

Grading

  • 50% Tests – Musicians are tested frequently at the beginning of the year and less frequently as the year continues.  Students will also be asked to submit recordings as test grades.  They may do this from home and submit via e-mail, or they may use a school-owned recording device during the school day. 

  • 30% Concerts - Participation in concerts is mandatory.  15 points may be recovered with rigorous after school work in the band hall only if Mr. Hunter approves the absence prior to October 1.  Sickness with a doctor’s note and death in the family are excused, and therefore the student is allowed to recover points with after school work in the band hall.

  • 10% Daily Participation – Each day that a student is unprepared for class he/she will lose 1 point from his/her end of term average.  If an instrument is in the shop the student must notify Mr. Hunter via e-mail and provide him with the shop’s telephone number.  He may be able to move the instrument up in the shop’s priority.

  • 10% Performance Attendance Credit (PAC) - It is important that musicians become consumers of artistic music.  To that end it is required that all students attend concerts as audience members.  Opportunities will be posted in the band room and on our website (enloeband.org), but feel free to explore the Internet (cvnc.org for example), newspapers, etc.  Each student must accumulate 10 points per grading period.  A professional concert (NCSO, military band) are worth 10 points alone.  Adult amateur performances will earn the attendee 7.  School concerts and student community performances will earn 3, provided the student is an audience member, not a performer.

 

*Quarters with no group performance will be weighted 80% tests 10% music consumer credit, 10% participation.

 

Events 

Students please check you calendars and schedule your recitals and other non-curricular performances around our band calendar.  School performances supercede community performances.  Let Mr. Hunter know your non-school performance dates so that he can help publicize them.  If you have an irresolvable conflict with a required performance date then let me know (rchunter@wcpss.net) by the end of September. 

 

Honor Bands – Though participation in honor bands and their audition process is not a requirement it is hoped that the students will choose to challenge themselves with these wonderful opportunities for personal growth.

 

All District Band – Auditions are usually held in early January.  The clinic for those selected will be held in late January.

 

All State Band – Auditions for the All State Band are reserved for the top few chairs in each section of the All District Band.  Auditions are usually held in early March.

 

UNCG Honor Band – This prestigious clinic involves students from several states and is held at UNC-Greensboro in February.  Auditions are submitted via recording.  Applications will be made available after the Thanksgiving break.