BJHS Music Courses

Music

Opportunities exist for music students to attend Illinois Music Educators Association Festivals and Illinois Grade School Music Association Contests.  All music groups have performance opportunities including nursing/retirement homes and elementary school tours.

Chorus - Membership in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade chorus is open to students by audition only.  Sixth and seventh grade chorus members each have one sectional rehearsal per week and one full chorus rehearsal per week.  Eighth grade chorus members have one sectional rehearsal per week and two full chorus rehearsals per week.  All sectionals and full chorus rehearsals occur during the school day.  All choirs have concert performances in the fall and spring plus community performances that might include caroling and mall singing.

Sixth Grade Band - Sixth grade band is open to students who have played a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument for one year or by audition.  Each week students attend two group lessons and one full band rehearsal during the school day.  The sixth grade band performs a minimum of three concerts each year.

Seventh Grade Band - Seventh Grade Band is open to students with two years of playing experience or by audition.  Full band meets two times per week during the school day.  Every student also receives group instruction an additional one to two times per week.  The band plays two to four performances per year.

Eighth Grade Band - Eighth grade band is open to students with three years of playing experience or by audition.  Full band meets two times per week during the school day.  Every student also receives group instruction an additional one to two times per week.  The band plays two to four performances per year.

Orchestra - Students who have played a stringed instrument many choose to participate in orchestra.  Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students meet separately during the regular school day for orchestra.  Students in the seventh and eighth grade orchestras combine for four rehearsals immediately prior to the two annual concerts.

General Music - All sixth grade students attend a nine-week period of daily general music instruction (sequential to that completed in grades K-5).  With an emphasis on exploratory learning, the curriculum contains units on playing guitar, tonette, and keyboards.