Instrumental Music
The Ninth Symphony fosters the highest performance standards while offering its members an opportunity to expand their technical, intellectual, and musical horizons. The ensemble is exclusively comprised of freshmen students, and is directed by Ms. Bednarcik. The group seeks to broaden performance and learning skills through the programming of exemplary literature while cultivating an interest in the band as an integral part of the Roxbury High School musical experience. The Ninth Symphony participates in the Region I Concert Band Festival, as well as other local and out-of-state festivals and competitions. They also host a highly successful and admired Freshmen Band Invitational on an annual basis.
The Roxbury High School Symphony Band is an auditioned curricular ensemble that meets daily during ninth period. High quality contemporary and standard literature for wind band make up the musical repertoire performed by the ensemble, and they are dedicated to playing outstanding and challenging works of strong artistic merit. Directed by Mr. Hartsuiker, the Symphony Band has developed an exemplary reputation throughout the country from both performances and clinics, and they have proudly worked in clinic and concert with guest conductors and artists such as Dr. Mark Scatterday, Dennis Fisher, the Boston Brass, Dr. John Whitwell, Fred Mills, Dr. Brad Genevro, Bruce Yurko, Eddie Daniels, Dr. John Stanley Ross, Dr. Andrew Boysen, Jr., Dr. Stanley Saunders, and Allen Vizzutti. They have been selected to represent Region I at the State Gala Concert on multiple occasions and have received Superior and Gold ratings at local and out-of-state festivals and competitions. They also finished in 3rd place in the nationwide Boston Brass National Concert Band Competition in 2008.
The Wind Symphony is the premier instrumental performing arts ensemble consisting of auditioned students grades 10-12. Conducted by Mr. Nichols, the Wind Symphony pursues the highest standards, and is determined to bring its audiences the finest artistic repertoire from all musical periods, cultures and styles. Any student who is selected as a member of the Wind Symphony receives honors credit for this course. A high level of musicianship is demanded from every member of the ensemble and they have received critical acclaim from adjudicators across the country. They have been selected to represent Region I at the State Gala Concert for ten consecutive years since its inception and have received all Superior Ratings at local and out of state competitions. The Wind Symphony is proud to have represented New Jersey in the 2008 Music For All National Concert Band Festival and the 2008 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. On a historical note, they were the first concert band from New Jersey to have ever been selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic.
Basic Music Theory is a deveopmental course for students who are planning to further their study of music either as a primary or secondary vocation.
Advanced Placement Music Theory has a prerequisite of Basic Music Theory. Additionally students must be recommended to take this class by the Basic Music Theory teacher. This course is designed for the highly motivated, musically inclined student who possesses an interest in pursuing music in college. The ultimate goal of AP Music Theory is to develop a student's ability to recognize, understand, and descrive the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score. The achievement of this goal is promoted by integrated approaches to the student's development of: aural skills through listening exercises, sight singing skills through performance exercises, written skills through written exercises, compositional skills through creative exercises, and analytical skills thorugh analytical exercises. The course will integrate aspects of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, musical analysis, elementary composition, history and style. Musicianship skills such as dictation, sight singing, and keyboard harmony will be explored.