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Concert Band is appropriate for students with prior experience in a middle
school band or an equivalent level of musical instruction. This group
performs several concerts a year and is designed for younger students to
make the transition to high school band. Admission to the Symphonic Band
requires an audition and spots are reserved for only the most exceptional
musicians at Garner Magnet High School. For audition information such as
times or audition material, please contact the band director. Concert Band
and Symphonic Band are offered as courses that earn elective credits. The
Symphonic Band frequently holds additional rehearsals after school during
preparation time for major performances.
Marching Band is an extra-curricular activity at GMHS and does not rehearse
during the day. It is expected that all members of the Concert and Symphonic
Band be members of the Marching Band since the Marching Band is an extension
of the classroom band program. This group marches at all football games,
participates in approximately four marching competitions, and performs at
parades, concerts, community events, and other venues. The Colorguard is an
integral part of the Marching Band and combines dance and other forms of
movement art to highlight the musical aspects of the marching band. The
Colorguard and Winterguard (a competitive winter Colorguard ensemble) are
audition only sections of the band program. For more information, please
contact the band director.
Garner Magnet High School also offers a jazz band class that is combo
oriented. This is an audition only class that focuses on improvisation as
well as jazz history and jazz theory. It is offered during the spring
semester. An Advanced Placement Music Theory class is also offered as part
of the music curriculum at GMHS. This class is a college-level music theory
class where students learn to analyze, evaluate, and discuss music at a much
more advanced level. College credit can be earned by taking the College
Board’s AP Music Theory exam at the end of the year. This class is offered
in the fall and students are selected by recommendation only.
Concert
Band and Symphonic Band students are asked to pay $65 per year for the
expense of operating the program.
Marching
Band – $350 per year to cover the cost of band camp held prior to the
opening of school and the expenses of operating the program. Students who
participate in Marching Band do not have to pay additional expenses to
participate in Concert of Symphonic Band.
In
addition, students must pay the travel expense associated with out of town
trips in the spring including transportation, lodging, festival fees, and
meals. Participation in these trips is totally voluntary. Cost of these
trips will vary based upon destination and form of travel. Past trip
expense has typically ranged between $500 and $750 per student.
Fundraising opportunities are managed by the Band Booster Club - which
provide ample opportunity to raise all the funds necessary to meet each
student’s Fair Share commitment with no outlay of cash. Fundraising can be
used to assist families with meeting the student’s fair share, as well as
raise funds for the band general fund. In addition, scholarship funds are
available. Contact the band director if you are interested in requesting
scholarship assistance.
Student
accounts are credited based on the fundraising dollars raised by the
families, or by their participation in fund raising at Alltel Walnut Creek.
This money can be used to offset the students expenses, such as fair share,
spring trips, etc. When a student graduates, money remaining in their
account can be awarded to the student in the form of scholarship dollars
payable to the students chosen institution of higher learning. Details
about this program are presented to all students at the beginning of each
school year.
All
money is spent on basic operating expenses for the band program. Expenses
include: sheet music, transportation, instruments, competition fees,
colorguard uniforms and supplies, instruction for colorguard and battery,
and the expenses associated with concert performances. The budget is
presented to the Band Boosters General Membership during the May meeting,
and a vote is taken to approve the budget at that time.
Fair
Share is the amount of money assessed to each band member to cover the
expected operating expenses for the program each band. The Band Boosters
officers and the Band Director determine the annual budget for each band.
The cost of the budget is then distributed equally between all members in
each band to calculate the "fair share" for each student.
The
band director selects all marching competitions after discussions with the
appropriate members of the Band Boosters and student leadership. The school
calendar, sports events calendar, SAT dates, costs of competitions, times
and transportation are all issues discussed prior to any decisions being
made. All decisions must meet with the approval of the school
administration.
The
band director selects the spring trip after discussions with the appropriate
members of the Band Boosters and student leadership. Some of the issues
taken into consideration are: dates, times, costs, distance, type of
festival or competition, proximity of other sites of travel interest,
transportation requirements, etc. All decisions must meet with the approval
of the school administration.
The
Fair Share payment made at the beginning of the year covers several trips to
the dry cleaners for the Marching Band uniforms. We ask that you do not try
to clean or alter the Marching Band uniform. All uniform problems should be
reported to reported the appropriate member of the Band Boosters in charge
of uniforms. If your child needs new shoes, please have the contact the band
director or band boosters and we will order a new pair of shoes for you.
It is always recommended to insure your child’s instrument privately. It
is also a sound policy to keep a record of the serial number of your child's
instrument.
Absolutely!!! We encourage all family members to attend marching
competitions and all performances at GMHS. For directions or times, please
contact the band director or look on the calendar section of this website.
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