Our Program
A splash page for new members. Welcome!
Embedded Files
Our band program has everything you need to get into the Eastman School of Music or just relax with your band friends and have fun making music. Our program is built around opt-in opportunities, so every type of student finds their place naturally. And because everything we do is designed to be genuinely fun, students tend to want to do more - not less! We have many students who only participate in our wind bands, and we have many others who opt to add on marching band, jazz band, and our honors programming. A majority of our members have heavy, college bound courseloads and participate in sports. Several maintain part time jobs and/or balance caring for younger siblings. Every type of band student is important, and we make room for everyone.
Please take a moment to review the Credits / Graduation Requirements linked above. That page will walk you through how it is possible to take a heavy academic load at BHS while staying involved in music for all four years. It includes a four year schedule builder, and overlays band as an arts elective over BHS' college bound recommendations.
Marching Band at BHS is like a fall sport. It is optional for all BHS band members. Members meet the second half of August for an intensive fall band camp where they learn the majority of a competitive marching band show, then meet 2-3 times a week in September and October, performing for home football games and at three marching band competitions. It's hard work, great fun, and a wonderful way to make close friendships while doing something challenging, physical, and rewarding. The Spartan Marching Band has won many, many awards for excellence over the years, and the more students who opt into the program, the more fun it is. You can learn more about registering for marching band here.
Jazz at BHS is a class that meets during zero period. We have two jazz bands, and several small ensembles at BHS, but they are all contained within the same course in Skyward, "Jazz Band." In reality, there is a lot of nuance within the jazz program, depending on the student's time and experience.
Jazz One is BHS' top big band. Think of it as a varsity team. It's members are mostly upperclassmen, and they meet 5 mornings a week with Mr Thomas.
Jazz Two is BHS' second big band. It is more of a JV team that meets 3-4 mornings a week with our Jazz Assistant Coach, Zac Clark. Jazz Two is majority underclassmen.
Jazz9 is BHS' top jazz combo. This ensemble is made up of our most advanced jazz musicians and performs several extra performances each year in semi-professional settings. They have also performed at KNKX as part of their School of Jazz program multiple times. The KNKX School of Jazz Student DJ's we have been able to get on air have also been members of Jazz9. Our secondary combos are named Combo2, Combo3, etc.
The Spartan Brass Band is a New Orleans style street band that does a lot of NOLA brass band covers of Rebirth Brass Band, Lucky Chops, and Soul Rebels tunes in addition to learning some NOLA traditional tunes. It's the most fun.
Wind Bands & Percussion Ensemble
Wind Ensemble at BHS is an auditioned group of wind and string musicians, mostly upperclassmen, who play advanced concert music at concerts and festivals.
Symphonic Band is a non-auditioned group of wind and string musicians, mostly underclassmen, who perform advancing music (progressing from 8th grade to 11th grade each year) at concerts and festivals.
Percussion Ensemble is a non-auditioned group for all of our 9th grade to 12th grade percussion musicians. The ensemble covers the wind band music, and several percussion specific pieces throughout the year. There is a state level contest for percussion ensembles, and our group won 1st place in the state in 2022, and 3rd place in 2025. All our classes are special, but percussion is extra special...!
Basketball Band is a winter experience that is part of the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Percussion Ensemble classes. Students get credit for participating in a few games, then they get extra credit for participating in additional games. Mr Meehan led our Basketball Band for the 2025-26 school year.
Our Honors Program is made of three optional activities.
Honor Bands - advancing students can audition or apply for a series of off-campus opportunities in the fall of each year. Participating in honor bands is a great way to cultivate ambition, and to rub elbows with other ambitious students, practice first impressions, prepare for big events, and be part of something bigger than anything we can do alone here at BHS.
Chamber Music - all students are able to participate in our regional Solo & Ensemble competition. Learning a solo or small ensemble piece is a great way to speed up your development as a young musician, and to really practice the essense of being a great musician - have fun playing your instrument and practice being *really great* at something for 10 minutes. This is wonderful practice for interviews and other high pressure events in young adulthood.
Band Leadership Team - there are many opportunities to be a student leader in the program at BHS, including being a part of our BLT, a club that meets during CCS and works to promote a healthy and tidy band experience for everyone. Don't be timid! :)
In odd numbered springs, the band takes an optional spring trip over Memorial Day weekend. These trips make memories that will last a lifetime! There is scholarship money available, so money shouldn't hold anyone back. We want to take every BHS band member on these special trips. Here is a tentative lineup of our upcoming trips:
Spring 2027 - Los Angeles & Disneyland
Spring 2029 - New York City or Washington DC
Spring 2031 - Los Angeles & Disneyland
Spring 2033 - New York City or Washington DC
Past Trips:
2013 - SF
2015 - NYC
2017 - SoCal
2019 - CHI
2023 - SoCal
2025 - NYC
Report abuse