Bayonne High School Band Faith, Honor, Determination

Ensemble Guidelines

Bayonne High School has a number of different ensembles in which students can participate. Here are a number of guidelines that all students must follow:

1. All students must perform with the concert band and attend all after school concert band rehearsals and lessons.
2. All students except freshmen, must choose to perform with either Pep Band or Marching Band.
3. All Students need to take the Band I or Band II (or other qualifying performance/theory class) in order to participate with Band.

With a Concert Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, and Sax Ensemble, just about every child can find time to participate in our band. For more information about each ensemble click the name of the ensemble in the list to the left.

The BHS Concert Band

All students must perform with the Concert Band. The Concert Band is the core of our program - all other ensembles revolve around the Concert Band. Non-instrumental color guard students and guitarists do not need to participate. In Concert Band students learn basic ensemble technique through daily and weekly exercises and a diverse repertoire.

• The Concert Band/Wind Ensemble rehearses in the band room every Tuesday afternoon, immediately after class from 2:40 pm to 5:00 pm
• Concert Band performances include a winter concert, SLAM in June, and the annual commencement ceremonies. Other performances may be added on during the course of the school year.
• Concert Band students should enroll in the Band I class.

The BHS Wind Ensemble

The Wind Ensemble is made up of our most advanced and dedicated students. Each year students will be selected to participate in Wind Ensemble based on their practice effort and musicianship. All students must maintain a regular practice schedule at home and come to rehearsal with all of their music prepared for rehearsal.

• The Concert Band & Wind Ensemble rehearses in the band room every Tuesday afternoon, immediately after class from 2:40 pm to 5:00 pm
• Wind Ensemble performances include a spring concert tour, the Student Faculty Alumni Concert in March, and the SLAM production in June.
• Extra after school rehearsals for Wind Ensemble will be scheduled throughout the year as needed.
• Students in Wind Ensemble may also be chosen to perform with the orchestra in the Drama departments annual spring musical if their schedule allows, performing with professional musicians and a very limited rehearsal schedule.
• Wind Ensemble students may audition for Region I Band in January. Solo requirements are published in the spring so students must begin preparing at least 6-8 months in advance for this important audition and it is recommended that they study privately
• Wind Ensemble students should enroll in the Band II class or audition for Jazz Ensemble. Junior and Senior students may request permission to participate in Wind Ensemble as an extra curricular activity in order to take another music class needed for college.

The BHS Jazz Ensemble

All students who wish to perform with the BHS Jazz Ensemble must audition for the group and take the Jazz Ensemble class. The BHS Jazz Ensemble is comprised of only or best musicians who can read music, practice regularly, and have already achieved a high level of student musicianship.

• Jazz Ensemble performances include a holiday/winter tour from November through December, spring performances and tours including the Student Faculty Alumni Concert in March, an elementary school tour in April celebrating Jazz in Our Schools, and the annual SLAM production in June.
• All Jazz Ensemble students practice improvisation and should be able to play all major and minor scales as well as the dorian, mixolydian, pentatonic, and blues scales and arpeggios. A complete list of audition requirements is published and posted online in February of each year.
• After school rehearsals are scheduled as needed and are mandatory.

The BHS Marching Band

As the Marching Band is the most active ensemble, it requires students to have the highest dedication and respect for the ensemble.

• The Marching Band performs at all home football games and parades across the tri-state area.
• The BHS Color Guard is a part of the Marching Band. Color Guard students must follow all of the same rules and guidelines as regular band students.
• Performances include, but are not limited to, the Pulaski Day Parade in New York City, the Bayonne Columbus Day Parade, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and Memorial Day Parade, and all home football games.
• Weekly sectionals include Wednesday and Thursday marching rehearsals from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Guard sectionals will be on Tuesdays from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm unless otherwise noted due to staff scheduling problems and percussion sectionals will be held on Monday evenings from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

The BHS Pep Band

The Pep Band performs at all BHS Football games entertaining fans from the stadium bleachers along with members of our marching band. They do not perform in the half-time show and are not permitted to travel on the annual overnight trip. The main purpose of the Pep Band is to entertain BHS fans and to promote school spirit. In addition to the football games all Pep Band Members must also perform in all Parades with the Marching Band.

• Pep Band music will be rehearsed on Tuesday afternoon, immediately after class from 2:40 pm to 5:00 pm during regular Concert Band rehearsals. No extra rehearsals are required.
• In addition to the nine football games each fall, the Pep Band and Marching Band must also perform in several parades throughout the school year including the Bayonne Columbus Day Parade, Hispanic Day Parade, Memorial Day Parade and St. Patrick's Day Parade. The band also performs at the annual Pulaski Day parade in New York City on the first Sunday of every October.