Myers Park Band Ensembles

Bands courses are offered for 1 unit of academic credit:

Band I
This ensemble consists of nearly all freshmen in the Myer Park Bands.   The Freshman Band will perform a variety of literature, ranging from Grade II-Grade IV.  This ensemble allows students and Mr. Blount a year to get to know one another, as well as a chance to reconcile the many different styles of middle school bands that students come from.  Don’t be shocked if we start from the very beginning of the beginning band book and review EVERYTHING you learned in grades 6-8!  The most important goal of Freshman band is to get everybody playing at a consistent proficiency level.  

The Freshman Band will perform at four concerts per year, depending on the band’s proficiency at the beginning of the year. 

Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band consists of 10-12 graders who have successfully completed Band I.  This ensemble will perform literature ranging from Grade III to Grade V.  The group will perform on each of the four scheduled concerts, and at South Central District MPA (Music Performance Adjudicationl.  Students will continue to enhance and develop performance skills. 

Wind Ensemble
Myers Park’s Wind Ensemble is open to 9-12 graders by audition only.  Though any age student may audition, the group consists mostly of Juniors and Seniors.  The Wind Ensemble performs demanding literature ranging from Grade IV to VI, so a high level of playing proficiency is required of each student in this band.  In addition to performing four regular concerts per year, the Wind Ensemble also performs at the South Central District MPA, as well as Myers Park’s commencement ceremony. 

Jazz Ensemble (“Jazz in the Park”)
Jazz Ensemble is open to 9-12 graders by audition only.  Like the Wind Ensemble, it usually consists mostly of upperclassmen.  The instrumentation is as follows: 5 Saxophones, 4 Trombones, 4 Trumpets, Piano, Bass (upright or guitar), Drums (trap set), and Guitar. 

Jazz in the Park is no walk in the park.  Despite Jazz’s unearned reputation as a less-serious type of music, the Jazz Ensemble here at MP has all the academic and performance demands as any other ensemble.   Unlike other bands, this is the only ensemble at Myers Park (band or otherwise) where each player plays their part alone, so students need to be strong, confident, and independent musicians. 

 The group performs a variety of Jazz styles, ranging from Swing to Samba to Funk.  The basics of each style as well as music theory and improvisation are major foci of the course.  The Jazz Band Performs at all 4 regular band concerts, but also gets out in the community for a handful of “gigs.”

Extra-Curricular Ensembles

The Marching Mustangs
The most visible part of our band program is the Marching Band, consisting of around 70 dedicated 9-12 graders.   Participation is voluntary, but the ensemble sells itself by being one of the most fun and spirited student organizations on Myers Park’s campus.  The Marching Mustangs perform around 20 times per year, mostly at football games and Marching Band Contests, but special performances are not unusual (Field Trip!).  The Band performs in Charlotte’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in odd numbered years. 

Like most high school marching bands, The Marching Mustangs is a functional society.  Students and parents fill roles and do jobs so that the band can thrive and prosper.  Leadership is provided almost entirely by students, guided by the expertise and wisdom of the director and other hired staff.  The Marching Mustangs are a close-knit, interdependent, family-style ensemble.

The Marching Mustangs have enjoyed competitive success of late, earning only Superior and Excellent ratings at festivals, several 1st-in-class awards, as well as one Grand Championship.  The group continues to gain the respect of spectators and other bands each year.