BAND, ORCHESTRA and CHOIR
The Westmount band program provides opportunities from beginner to advanced levels of performance. Placement for students new to Westmount is determined through audition. All Band students are required to rent/purchase their instrument and supplies, (method books and workbook are provided in Course fees). Students are also required to own the Band uniform, appropriate to their Band membership (orders are placed in late September). A complete list of materials is distributed to registered students, or upon request.
High School students are eligible to earn 5 credits in each of their grade 10, 11 and 12 years under the course title, “Instrumental Music 10/20/30” and marks will be submitted under this name at the completion of the school year.
Intermediate Band (Level III) Pre-requisite: Junior 7 Band or minimum 2 years of Band experience. This course is for Grades 8/9 students with at least 2 years of experience on their instrument, and previous experience playing in a Concert Band. Study is more in-depth than in Junior Band and requires strong commitment to a regular practice routine. The level of difficulty of the music begins the year at Grade 3 and the year ends with some Grade 4 repertoire.
Senior Band (Level IV) Pre-requisite: Intermediate Band and Audition Senior Band is for the most experienced and advanced band students. Students new to Westmount must submit a recorded audition before acceptance into the Senior Band, with emphasis placed on skills and musicianship. Music study begins with Grade 4 music and finishes the year with some Grade 5 repertoire.
String Orchestra II
Pre-requisite: String Orchestra I or minimum one year of experience
Ensemble performance group for students in Grades 7-12 with experience playing violin, viola, cello or double bass. Students should have at least one year of experience playing their string instrument. The school owns cellos and basses in limited numbers for students to play in rehearsals. Violinists and violists are required to bring their own instrument for rehearsals. Music study begins with Grade 2 music and finishes the year with some Grade 3 repertoire.
Instrumental Jazz 15 (5 Credits)
Co-requisite: Students enrolled in Instrumental Jazz 15/25/35 must also enroll in either Junior or Senior Jazz Band.
The High School Instrumental Jazz program is an integral part of the Fine Arts program which is process-driven, culminating with public performance opportunities. This genre is extremely demanding in that it provides an opportunity for students to work independently as critical thinkers, performers, and artists. Students engage in the study of complex harmonies, chordal progressions and rhythms only associated with this form of music.
Instrumental Jazz offers students the opportunity to study music as a performance-based course. This unique area of study gives the student the opportunity to focus their
learning by exploring and experiencing skills necessary to understand, communicate and
perform publicly. This course is created by, and offered with the permission of the Calgary Board of Education.
Jazz Band (Extra-curricular) Westmount Concert Band or Orchestra membership is mandatory for acceptance into one of the Jazz Bands. Rehearsals are after school, once a week (Tuesday or Wednesday). Instrumentation is limited to alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, trumpet, trombone, piano, double bass, drums, and guitar. There are currently 2 levels of study: Junior and Senior Jazz Band. Junior Jazz is for Grade 7+ students who are new to Jazz or have 2 or fewer years of Jazz experience. Senior Jazz is for the most experienced players who have studied Jazz for at least two years previously.
Choir
Pre-requisite: none
Students enrolling in Choir should be able to read Music, although vocal experience is not required.