Piedmont High School Band

Piedmont High School Band Program

Band at the High School level is much more advanced than on the middle school level.  Our class meets everyday during the school day for 90 minutes.  Students that sign-up for the class must enroll for both semesters (the entire year).  There is just one band class during the school day.  The class is home to Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.  Honors Credit is offered to Juniors and Seniors for the Spring semester only.  There are many different ensembles in the high school band program.  There is the Marching Band, the Concert Band, the Jazz Ensemble, the Brass Ensemble, the Woodwind Ensemble, and the Color Guard.  The Jazz, Brass, and Woodwind Ensembles are all volunteer groups that meet after school usually once a week.  In order to play in these ensembles, students must be enrolled in the band class.

As a member of the Marching Band and Concert Band at Piedmont High School, you are also given the chance to travel to different places all over the United States and beyond.  In just the last few years, Piedmont has performed in Toronto, Orlando, and New York City.

Marching Band

All students that enroll in band at the high school must participate in the Marching Band.  This group begins rehearsing for the up-coming Fall contest and football seasons during the last few weeks of Summer vacation.  During band camp, students will begin learning their marching show for contest and half-time performances.  This group does practice every day in class during the first few months of school, but also practices after school two days a week to better prepare themselves for a winning, contest season.  Students are expected to perform at every Friday night football game, home and away, as well as some Saturday Contests in late September and October.  The Marching Band program consistently receives Superior Ratings at contest, as well as many

The Marching Band is also a great way for parents and the community to get involved in their child’s education.  The are many opportunities for parents to volunteer their services, such as in the Pit Crew, the Uniform committee, a concession stand worker, a bus chaperone, a bus driver (must have a CDL License with a P endorsement), Prop committee, or even serving as a board member in the Piedmont Band Booster Club.

Concert Band

As the marching season comes to a close, the class simply changes its style from a Marching Band setting to Concert Band setting.  The class itself does not change.  We still meet everyday at the same time.   Our focus just changes from a stadium to a concert hall type rehearsal and performance.  In Concert Band, the students strive for perfection in the type of music they are playing.  The Concert Band gives an annual concert during the Holiday Season, and at the end of the school year.

The Concert Band also performs in the North Carolina Concert Band Festival on either a Grade IV or a Grade V level of performance.   Traditionally, Grade IV is considered a solid level of high school band literature, while Grade V is your more advanced high school level of music.  Grade V can also be found at many college and university ensembles around the country.  The Piedmont High School Concert Band consistently receives Superior and Excellent Ratings at the NC Festival.

Jazz Ensemble

This is strictly an after school activity that typically meets once or twice a week.  In the Jazz Band, students get the chance to learn a completely different style of music.  They study classic Jazz such as “In the Mood,” made famous by the Glenn Miller Orchestra to very modern types of Jazz.  Students learn how to “improv” on their instruments as well, something that is not usually found in the concert or marching setting.  The Jazz Band will give at least two public performances, one in December and one at the end of the year.

Brass and Woodwind Ensembles

These two groups are the newest of the performing groups at Piedmont.  They were created to offer students another opportunity to play different types of works that they would not get a chance to play in any other ensemble.  The Woodwind Ensemble studies music mostly from the Classical time period.  Here they study music from composers such as Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart.  The Brass Ensemble studies music that is a little more modern than the Woodwind Ensemble.  They study music from other brass groups such as the Canadian Brass and the Dallas Brass.

Color Guard

The Color Guard is a group that is connected completely to the Marching Band.  The students selected to be in this group must go through a 4-day audition process that meets after school.  Anyone is welcome to audition for the Color Guard.  Members do not have to be part of the band program to audition.   A private dance and choreography instructor works with the Guard during the Summer camp and Fall season.  These students rehearse with the band during after school practices and every Friday night game and Saturday contest.  The Guard is not part of any school curriculum, so it is considered an after-school activity.  Once the marching season is complete, the Color Guard season is complete as well.