Beaverton High School Bands and Ensembles
Music Classes Offered at BHS
The Beaverton High School Music Department offers a huge array of music courses. Here's a breakdown:
Concert Band
A group of intermediate musicians that play wind and/or percussion instruments. This ensemble rehearses during the school day, and performs at seasonal concerts. Students that want to join this ensemble must be able to read music fluently, and it is recommended they have at least one year of experience in a similar ensemble.
Symphonic Band
An auditioned group of advanced musicians that play wind and/or percussion instruments. This ensemble rehearses during the school day, performs at seasonal concerts, and competes at festivals in the spring. Students that want to join this ensemble must either be recommended by their previous band director, or audition with Mr. Simantel.
Jazz Band
group of intermediate musicians that play trumpet, saxophone, trombone, bass guitar, electric guitar, piano, or drums. This ensemble is a class that students get credit for, but it meets before school on M/W/Th/F on school days. Members must be able to read music fluently, and rhythm section members are required to audition. Auditions take place in the first two weeks of the school year.
Other Band Classes Offered
Instrumental Music Studio: A group of beginning or near beginning musicians who want to learn the fundamentals of music. This class allows students to learn beginning music theory and literacy, as well as beginning technique on a variety of instruments including guitar, piano, ukulele, and percussion.
Music Production: A group of musicians and music makers of all levels and abilities. This class allows students to create, arrange and perform music by applying basic techniques used in music production software. Students will analyze compositions for musical elements and learn the rudiments of multiple acoustic instruments, and transfer those elements and skills into their own compositions using Soundtrap.