Marlborough Public Schools Music Association
Concert Band
This ensemble is open to any interested student who desires to become proficient on a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument. All participants will be expected to perform with the band at all rehearsals after school, parades, concerts, festivals, and halftime shows for all home football games. This ensemble emphasizes on continuing to develop technique, performance skills, music reading skills, musicianship, and an appreciation for playing a variety of musical styles including standard wind literature in a large ensemble. The final instrumentation and roster personnel are at the sole discretion of the ensemble director and music department supervisor.
Wind Ensemble
The members of the Wind Ensemble are selected by audition. The audition process will begin in May for selecting the instrumentation for the following year. The audition material for this select group may include some or all of the following: scales and arpeggios, chromatic scale over the working range of the instrument, any selection of music literature currently being studied, and sight reading. Students in this ensemble are expected to attend all rehearsals after school, parades, concerts, festivals, and halftime shows for all home football games. Performance repertoire will include masterworks for the wind band and advanced 20th century compositions. Emphasis is placed on independence of parts, technical proficiency, and musical interpretation. A minimum of one year’s experience in Concert Band is strongly recommended. The final instrumentation and roster personnel are at the sole discretion of the ensemble director and music department supervisor.
Mixed Chorus
This ensemble is open to any student who desires to become a proficient singer in a group setting. Through singing two, three and four-part harmony, students will learn more about breath support, diction, musical interpretation, harmony, blend and other elements of proper vocal technique. Members will sing music in a variety of styles, both accompanied and unaccompanied. Members will become familiar with reading music by using Kodaly hand symbols and the “moveable do” solfege system. Attendance at all concerts, rehearsals, festivals and community performances is expected. The final instrumentation and roster personnel are at the sole discretion of the ensemble director and the music department supervisor.
A Cappella Choir
The members of this ensemble are selected by audition in May for admission into the following year’s ensemble. The audition material may include some of all of the following: scales and arpeggios, tonal recall, a prepared classical solo and sight-reading. This ensemble is designed for the experienced singer who wishes to explore a variety of musical literature from a wide range of time periods, cultures and languages. The music is most often performed with little to no accompaniment, thus developing the student’s musical ear and strengthening harmonic singing. Through singing two, three and four-part harmony, students will learn more about breath support, diction, musical interpretation, harmony, blend and other elements of proper vocal technique. Emphasis will be placed on the development of sight-singing skills using Kodaly hand symbols and the “moveable do” solfege system. The final instrumentation and roster personnel are at the sole discretion of the ensemble director and the music department supervisor.
Symphony Orchestra
Symphony Orchestra is an ensemble that is open to students in grades 10-12 who have experience in playing a string instrument. Students continue to develop advanced individual and ensemble skills and gain an appreciation for playing a variety of musical styles including standard orchestral music in a large ensemble. Symphony Orchestra performs several concerts throughout the school year. All participants will be expected to participate in all concerts, festivals, rehearsals, and community performances. The final instrumentation and roster personnel are at the sole discretion of the ensemble director and the supervisor of music.
Jazz Ensemble
The members of this ensemble are selected by audition. The audition process will begin in May for selecting instrumentation for the following year. This group is designed for students with sufficient musical skill who would like to develop an understanding of and ability to perform music of various jazz style with specific instrumentation. The group will be limited to saxophones, trumpets, trombones, keyboard players, percussionists, bass, and guitar. Music selected will include rock, soul, jazz, swing, and standards. Students in this ensemble are expected to attend all rehearsals, concerts, festivals and community performances. The final instrumentation and roster personnel are at the sole discretion of the ensemble director and music department supervisor.