Bands
CHBA’s five concert bands can accommodate student musicians of all levels from beginners to advanced high school musicians, and our Pop-Rock Ensemble is designed to introduce students to a wide range of popular styles and fun music.
See Our Class Schedule
Beginning Band
Sarah Starbuck, Music Director
Beginning Band students learn the fundamentals of tone production, articulation, rhythm, music theory, and playing with an ensemble. High teacher-to-student ratios ratios make these classes a wonderful opportunity for young students to receive individualized feedback and progress rapidly.
Who
Students with no experience or students who have less than a year’s experience on a band instrument.
What
Each class includes one-on-one coaching for each student in addition to a full-group rehearsal workshop. Seasonal Saturday workshops and seasonal public performances.
Where
Small-group classes are held in a variety of locations across the Denver metropolitan area. All Beginning Band groups gather together at our central location in Denver (216 S. Grant Street, Denver, CO 80209) for several combined rehearsals in preparation for our Winter and Spring Concerts.
When
Weekly afternoon classes. September—May. (Beginning Band merges with Intermediate Band during the summer months.) Students with no prior experience may join in September; students with experience may join at any time during the year.
Intermediate Band
Sarah Starbuck, Music Director
Intermediate Band students increase their range of notes and expand their repertoire of rhythms, scales, and articulation patterns. They build upon their knowledge of music theory and enhance their understanding of intonation and group performance. High teacher-to-student ratios ratios give all students the opportunity to receive individualized feedback and progress rapidly.
Who
Students with one to three years’ experience.
What
Each class includes one-on-one coaching for each student in addition to a full-group rehearsal workshop. Season Saturday workshops and seasonal public performances.
Where
Small-group classes are held in a variety of locations across the Denver metropolitan area. All Intermediate Band groups gather together at our central location in Denver (216 S. Grant Street, Denver, CO 80209) for several combined rehearsals in preparation for the Winter and Spring Concerts.
When
Weekly afternoon classes are held year-round. New students may join at any time during the year.
Basic Musical Expectations Upon Entry
- Four major scales memorized with arpeggios, eighth notes at MM 72 (C, B♭, E♭, & A♭ Concert Major Scales)
- Memorized chromatic scale, one octave
- Ability to sustain a tone for 15 seconds (10 for flute and tuba)
- Percussionists only: Proficiency in 10 standard rudiments (as listed in curriculum book)
Advanced Band
Steve Martin, Music Director
Advanced Band musicians perform stylistically diverse music and learn subtle techniques that allow them to play with more musical expression. Students develop a mature, characteristic tone quality throughout the full range of their instruments. Students receive one-on-one feedback and specialized coaching in weekly Master Classes.
Who
Typical Advanced Band students are in 6th to 9th grade and have three to five years’ experience on their instruments.
What
Students participate in full-band rehearsal workshops with a Music Director and attend weekly Master Classes with instrumental specialists who provide small-group instruction and one-on-one coaching.
Where
Classes are held at our main Denver location (216 S. Grant Street, Denver, 80209).
When
Advanced Band meets on Monday evenings from 5:30-7:20 PM. (Master Classes 5:30-6:00 PM; Full-Band Rehearsal Workshop 6:30-7:20 PM)
Basic Musical Expectations Upon Entry
- Eight major scales memorized with arpeggios, eighth notes at MM 72 (C, F, B♭, E♭, A♭, G, D, & A Concert Major Scales)
- Memorized chromatic scale, two octaves
- Understanding of a wide range of rhythmic patterns, including dotted rhythms, triplets, and sixteenth note patterns.
- Understanding of a variety of time signatures including “cut time” and fast and slow 6/8.
- Percussionists only: Proficiency in 16 standard rudiments (as listed in curriculum book)
Symphonic Band
Keith Farmer, Musical Director
Symphonic Band explores the standard band literature and pushes students to be great individual contributors to the group sound. Students continue to refine technique and tone quality to reach the goal of excellence in performance. Students receive one-on-one feedback and specialized coaching in weekly Master Classes.
Who
Typical Symphonic Band students are in 7th to 12th grade and have four to six years’ experience on their instruments.
What
Students participate in full-band rehearsal workshops with a Music Director and attend weekly Master Classes with instrumental specialists who provide small-group instruction and one-on-one coaching.
Where
Classes are held at our main Denver location (216 S. Grant Street, Denver, 80209).
When
Symphonic Band meets on Monday evenings from 6:30-8:30 PM. (Master Classes 6:30-7:00 PM; Full-Band Rehearsal Workshop 7:00-8:30 PM)
Basic Musical Expectations Upon Entry
- Memorization of all major scales in two to three octaves.
- Memorization of chromatic scale, full range of instrument.
- Proficiency in all rhythmic patterns
- Percussionists only: Proficiency in and memorization of 27 Rudiments (as listed in curriculum book)
Symphony Winds
Orlando Otis, Musical Director
Symphony Winds delves into high-level, innovative modern literature. The ensemble achieves a high degree of precision and tonal blending as students learn to play as individual voices of a single, unified sound. Students receive one-on-one feedback and specialized coaching in weekly Master Classes.
Who
Typical Symphony Winds students are in high school and have five or more years’ experience on their instruments.
What
Students participate in full-band rehearsal workshops with a Music Director and attend weekly Master Classes with instrumental specialists who provide small-group instruction and one-on-one coaching.
Where
Classes are held at our main Denver location (216 S. Grant Street, Denver, 80209).
When
Symphony Winds meets on Monday evenings from 7:00-9:00 PM. (Master Classes 7:00-7:30 PM; Full-Band Rehearsal Workshop 7:30-9:00 PM)
Basic Musical Expectations Upon Entry
- Mastery of major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales, full range of instrument at MM 120
- Mastery of all rhythmic patterns
- Percussionists only: Proficiency and memorization of all 40 Rudiments
Pop-Rock Ensemble
Keith Ewer, Musical Director
The Pop-Rock Ensemble is designed for students wishing to explore different types of popular music. They will increase their stylistic range by playing pop, rock, and jazz tunes, and they will learn to read jazz charts and to improvise.
Who
Students who join the Pop-Rock Ensemble should be in Advanced Band or higher. Rhythm section players (guitar, bass, piano, and drums) must audition.
What
Students participate in a one-hour weekly rehearsal workshop, and perform several times a year.
Where
Classes are held at our main Denver location (216 S. Grant Street, Denver, 80209).
When
Pop-Rock Ensemble meets on Monday evenings from 4:30-5:30 PM.
Basic Musical Expectations Upon Entry
- Memorization of the 12 major scales.
- Rhythm section players need to demonstrate a knowledge of chords, rhythm, and styles endemic to pop, rock, & jazz.
