Welcome to Peninsula High School’s Instrumental Music Department Peninsula high school is proud to offer a comprehensive instrumental music program that can meet the needs of most students from the beginning flute player to the most advanced violinist. Our multiple ensembles offer the opportunity to learn a new instrument, or hone already learned skills.
Our instrumental program includes the following year round classes which all require an audition with the instructor to ensure proper placement and instrumentation:
Advanced Orchestra, Intermediate Orchestra, Advanced Jazz Band, Intermediate Jazz Band, Marching Band/Concert Band/Wind Ensemble. We also offer Percussion Ensemble, known to some as Drum Line, as a by-audition after school group. Our Marching Band is accompanied by Color Guard, which operates as Winter Guard when the Marching Band Season is over.
All of our classes are year round and are UC Fine Arts approved. As such, they require daily practice at home as well as during classroom instruction time. They meet 5 days a week during the regular school day and are performance based requiring attendance at multiple performances during the year. All groups compete at high levels locally and some nationally. All groups culminate the school year by playing at the graduation ceremony.
ORCHESTRA /orchestra1.html Students in both Intermediate and Advanced Orchestras receive year long fine arts credit for the class. Students in our Advanced Orchestra receive weighted grades.
The Orchestras have two mandatory concerts each year, one in the Winter and one in the late Spring. The Orchestras have approximately 3 festivals during the school day in the Spring – requiring the students to miss some classes, and occasionally attend 2 day festivals.
MARCHING BAND/CONCERT BAND /marching-bandcolor-guard.html Marching Band supports football games in the fall, preparing a full field show and in-the-stands repertoire, and converts to a concert band in second semester. Performing at pep rallies, the Band is a core part of Pen High school spirit!
Marching Band students receive either year round P.E credit or year round fine arts credit.
Marching Band students must attend Band Practice in August, normally scheduled the week of or just prior to registration (more info in the Marching Band tab). In addition to their regularly scheduled class during the fall, after school practices are Tuesdays from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. The Marching Band plays at all football games home and away and the Peninsula Holiday Parade the first weekend of December.
Marching/Concert band students attend 1-2 mandatory festivals in the spring as well as 2 mandatory concerts spread over the year.
JAZZ BANDS /jazz-band1.html Students in both Intermediate and Advanced Jazz Bands receive year long fine arts credit for the class. Students in our Advanced Jazz Band receive a weighted grade.
The Jazz Bands have 3 concerts, one in the late fall, one in the late winter and one in the late Spring.
Jazz Bands have approximately 3 Festivals on Saturdays in the Spring, and often a 3-4 day National Festival.
In addition the advanced Jazz Band is often requested to perform at events on campus such as the 8th Grade Open House and Honors and Awards Night.
MORE ABOUT OUR MUSIC PROGRAM All of our groups often have the opportunity to perform in places such as New York, Reno and Hawaii. They are highly sought out by local businesses as entertainment.
Each group has an active Parent Booster Organization which helps out the program financially and with Volunteer support. Please consider joining your child’s Booster group. Tax deductible donations to the Boosters support assistants and specialized instructors several days a week, new music selections, instrument repairs and purchases, festival fees and more.
In addition, the District requests that you consider a participation donation for all sports and activities to pay for transportation and stipends.
Parents with questions, contact Mike Lloyd (Jazz Band, Marching Band, Concert Band) at lloydm@pvpusd.net or Dan Doctor (Orchestra) at doctord@pvpusd.net