West Chester East High School – Honors Jazz Band

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

This ensemble provides instrumentalists an opportunity to perform and develop their skills in a variety of musical styles, such as blues, swing, Latin, fusion, rock, pop, and more. The focus of the ensemble is to develop skills in improvisation and ensemble playing for beginning to intermediate players. Practice and preparation of music is essential. Prerequisites: Experience on a primary instrument OR a recommendation from the director to play a secondary instrument. Accelerated Honors Wind Ensemble (9, 10, 11, 12) .6 credit/3 days a cycle Select students who play band instruments at a high level are provided the opportunity to perform many styles of advanced band literature from the classical and contemporary periods. Prerequisites: High command of a band instrument meeting curriculum requirements, balanced instrumentation, and a successful audition by the director. Accelerated Honors Jazz Band (9, 10, 11, 12) .4 credit/ 2 days a cycle This ensemble specializes in advanced jazz literature and provides the more talented jazz instrumentalists an opportunity to perform advanced music in the style of influential jazz pioneers. The focus of this ensemble is to develop and refine the skills of advanced jazz performers. Music selection such as: Blues, Swing, Latin, Fusion, and Rock may be included in the Jazz Band repertoire. A high ability level of improvisation should be demonstrated. Prerequisites: High command of a jazz band instrument, meeting curriculum requirements, and successful audition by the director and appropriate instrumentation for Jazz Ensemble Music (one person on a part). Student must participate in Honors Concert Band or Advanced Honors Wind Ensemble to be considered. (Exceptions include piano, guitar, or bass players.)