Fraser High School Band

Concert Band

The Concert Band consists of students in grades 10 through 12, and performs as a concert and marching unit at school and community functions. It studies standard band literature from an intermediate to advanced level. Emphasis is placed on the continuing development and study of all technical and musical concepts. This class includes weekly Wednesday evening and seminar rehearsals during the marching season, and may include extra rehearsals at other times throughout the school year. The student must attend a summer band camp (at their expense). Failure to fulfill the requirements of Marching Band will result in loss of credit for the Concert Band for the first marking period.

In addition to the marching season, the Concert Band performs in the Holiday concert in December, the Festival concert in February, the Band Festival in March, and the Spring concert in May each year. There are also opportunities for students to participate in the District and State Solo & Ensemble Festival as soloists, small ensembles, and large chamber ensembles.

Jazz Ensemble

The Jazz Band is open to all students grades 9 through 12 by audition only, and is a performing ensemble. Music from the early swing period of the 1930's to contemporary jazz will be studied and performed. Students will be expected to learn many different styles related to, but not limited to, jazz, rock, Latin, swing, etc. This class also focuses on improvisation skills essential to jazz performance. Students will learn blues scales and jazz modes as tools for improvising. Typical instrumentation would be 5 saxophones (2 alto sax, 2 tenor sax, 1 baritone sax), 5 trombones, 5 trumpets, 2 drummers, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, and keyboard. Final instrumentation is at the director's discretion.

Members of the Jazz Band must be enrolled in one of the other regular instrumental performing ensembles (Varsity, Concert, or Symphony Bands), except for the rhythm guitar, bass guitar, and keyboard players.

Each year, the Jazz Band performs at the Holiday concert in December, the State Jazz Festival in March or April, and the Spring concert in May. There are also many opportunities for performances in the community, at banquets and receptions, competitions around the state and country, and honors jazz ensembles.

Students should sign up for an audition time on the sheet posted in the band room. Time slots are first-come, first-served. Remember, all students who want to be in Jazz Band must audition.

Auditions are open to all students, 9th – 12th grade. Typical instrumentation needed is: 2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, 1 baritone sax, 4-5 trumpets, 4-5 trombones, guitar, piano, bass guitar and drums.

The audition will consist of:

Performing the 12 blues scales from memory
Prepare and perform the supplied music excerpt

If you have any questions, please see Mr. Rodgers or leave a message in the band office at 586-439-7328.

Audition Timeline
- Audition music available: Monday, March 18, 2024
- Sign up for audition: Monday, March 18, 2024
- Audition Dates: Tuesday, April 23 and Wednesday, April 24, 2024
- Audition Results Posted: Wednesday, May 1, 2024

If you have any questions regarding the process, please email Mr. Rodgers at James.Rodgers@Fraserk12.org.

Marching Band

Colorguard

Color Guard Information Sheet

Audition Videos- *Please record TWO separate videos*

Video 1: Marching Technique

Use the 'counts' video on the YouTube Page to record yourself marching:

8 counts towards the camera
8 counts away from the camera
8 counts in front of (across) the camera.

Video 2: Audition Routine (Flag & dance)
Record yourself performing the audition routine. Remember to smile!

Wear ALL BLACK in your videos.
Be sure your entire form (head to toes!) is visible in the video.
Use separate devices to record your video and play music from: iPad, tablet, phone, laptop, etc.
Do a test run (or two)!
Record marching technique & audition routine separately.
SMILE! :)

Please answer the following questions in your email:

New Students:

Why are you interested in joining FHSCG?

Returning Students:

What do you enjoy about color guard/FHSCG?

Remember to please also include your name, grade in the fall, indicate if this is your first time auditioning; if it is NOT, tell us how many years you have been on the team.

Auditions need to be submitted to fraserguardcoach@gmail.com

If you are having difficulties emailing your videos, upload them to Google Drive and share the video with fraserguardcoach@gmail.com

How to share a video on Google Drive:
1. Open Google Drive and ensure you're logged into your Google account.
2. Click the "+New" button on the left-hand side and upload your video from your computer. If your video file is already uploaded to Google Drive, locate it in your Drive's file list.
3. Click on the video file once to highlight it.
4. Right-click on the file name to open a menu of options.
5. Click "Share."
6. In the pop-up window that appears, type in the contact name or email address of the person that you want to share the video with.
7. Click "Send."

Good Luck!!

Symphony Band

Symphony Band consists of students in grades 9 through 12, accepted by audition only, and performs as a concert and marching unit at school and community functions. It studies standard band literature of an advanced level, striving for an attainment equal to the best high school and college band organizations. Emphasis is placed on the continuing development and study of all technical and musical concepts. This class includes weekly Wednesday evening and seminar rehearsals during the marching season, and may include extra rehearsals at other times throughout the school year. The student must attend summer band camp (at their expense). Failure to fulfill the requirement of marching band will result in loss of credit for Symphony band for the first marking period.

In addition to the marching season, Symphony Band performs in the Holiday concert in December, Festival concert in February, Band Festival in March, and the Spring concert in May each year. There are also opportunities for students to participate in District and State Solo & Ensemble Festival as soloists, small ensembles, and large chamber ensembles, as well as District, State, and university honors bands, and the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. There are also opportunities to travel for out-of-state music competitions.

IF YOU WISH TO AUDITION FOR SYMPHONY BAND:
Those wishing to audition for Symphony Band must learn all 12 major scales and be able to play them from memory. Play the scales in chromatic order with a steady quarter-note or eighth-note rhythm, starting on the C major scale (on your instrument), one octave, ascending and descending.
Example:
C scale Db scale D scale Eb scale E scale, etc.
There will also be a short excerpt of music for sight-reading.
1. Each person will have one opportunity to audition.
2. Current Symphony Band members should list Symphony Band on their schedules.
3. Incoming 9th graders—please list Varsity Band on your schedule.
4. Current Concert Band members should list Concert Band on their schedules.
***If your schedule changes as the result of auditions, it will be adjusted through the counseling office.***

Please call the H.S. band office at (586) 439-7328 or email james.rodgers@fraserk12.org to set an audition time.

Varsity Band

Varsity Band is the band in which all 9th grader students should enroll. It performs as a concert unit with an emphasis evenly placed on achieving a high level of ability in all technical and musical aspects of performance. No student may enroll in Varsity Band for more than one year without the consent of the director. Upon completion of Varsity Band, students may enroll in Concert Band, or audition for acceptance into Symphony Band.

Students who enroll in Varsity Band have the OPTION to participate in Marching Band. Marching Band includes attendance to band camp which is prior to the start of school (at the student's expense), weekly practices on Wednesday evenings and during SMART, and the marching obligations of the class. By choosing to participate in Marching Band, the student must understand that it is a commitment for the entire marching season. Failure to fulfill the obligations of participation in Marching Band will result in the loss of credit for Varsity Band for the first marking period.

Each year, the Varsity band performs in the Holiday concert in December, Festival concert in February, Band Festival in March, and the Spring concert in May. There are also opportunities for students to participate in District and State Solo & Ensemble Festival as soloists, small ensembles, and large chamber ensembles.

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