THE OFFICIAL HOME OF
THE FOSSIL RIDGE BAND
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is considered the top performing ensemble for the band program and is open to students in grades nine through twelve, although most students are grades 11 and 12. In order to be a member of this group, students must:
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• demonstrate the highest level of musical maturity, technical proficiency, and commitment to performances, rehearsals, practice time, and private lessons (It is strongly recommended that each Wind Ensemble student take individual private lessons in order to maintain the technical demands of the course)
• pursue individual and ensemble goals on their instrument
• attend weekly region sectionals during the fall semester
• attend weekly sectionals held either before or after school between the months of January and May
• attend a full ensemble rehearsal once weekly outside of the school day as scheduled during the spring semester
• prepare and audition for the All-Region Band
• prepare and perform a solo and an ensemble at a KISD Solo & Ensemble competition
• attend additional performance opportunities specific to the Wind Ensemble Wind Ensemble members cannot miss rehearsal from the beginning of school until the final performance for anything other than school-sponsored competition, illness, or emergency.
Members of the Wind Ensemble are required to register for the corresponding section of Instrumental Ensemble. Performance Level 6 is required for placement in the wind ensemble (see Minimum Skills Chart and FRHS Grading Description).
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Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is the second performing ensemble for the band program and is open to students in grades nine through twelve, although most students are grades 10, 11, and 12. To be a member of this group, a student must:
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• demonstrate the highest level of musical maturity, technical proficiency, and commitment to performances, rehearsals, practice time, and private lessons (It is strongly recommended that each student take individual private lessons in order to maintain the technical demands of the course)
• attend weekly region sectionals during the fall semester
• attend weekly sectionals held either before or after school between the months of January and May
• attend daily extended rehearsals at 8:00am during the spring semester
• prepare and audition for the All-Region Band
• perform a solo and an ensemble at the KISD Solo & Ensemble competition in May (or FRHS recital with director approval) Members of the Symphonic Band cannot miss rehearsal within 7 days of performance for any reason other than school competition, illness, or emergency.
Performance Level V is required for placement in the Symphonic Band (see Minimum Skills Chart and FRHS Grading Description)
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Concert Band 1
Concert Band 1 is the third performing ensemble for the band program and is open to students in grades nine through twelve. To be a member of this group, a student must:
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• demonstrate the highest level of musical maturity, technical proficiency, and commitment to rehearsals and practice time. (Private lessons are highly encouraged)
• attend weekly sectionals held either before or after school between the months of January and May
• attend daily extended rehearsals after school until 4:10pm during the spring semester
• prepare TMEA All State etudes or designated Non-Region etudes to a level sufficient for an audition
• perform a solo (and an optional ensemble) at the KISD Solo & Ensemble competition in May (or FRHS recital with director approval) Members of the Concert Band cannot miss rehearsal within 7 days of performance for any reason other than school competition, illness, or emergency.
Performance Level IV is required for placement in the Concert Band (see Minimum Skills Chart)
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Concert Band 2
Concert Band 2 is a non-competing ensemble. This class is open to students in grades nine through twelve. The goal of Concert Band II is to develop individual skills and/or give students with severe schedule conflicts or attendance issues a place to participate in band. This band does not compete at UIL Concert & Sight Reading Contest.
NOTE: For all students, the All-Region Band etudes will be included in the December auditions. Focused commitment to the preparation of the Region music is expected. All four concert ensembles perform regularly and work for outstanding performance opportunities.
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Jazz Band
The Fossil Ridge High School Jazz Band offers students an opportunity to enrich their musical education by exploring various genres within the great American art form of jazz. These genres include blues, swing, bebop, funk, latin jazz, and more. Additionally, Jazz Band students explore the harmonic vocabulary embedded within the music, opening the door to improvisation, the pinnacle of jazz musicianship. The ensemble performs publicly numerous times from the Winter Concert to the Spring Concert, typically including one festival per year such as Denton Arts & Jazz, the Denton High School Jazz Festival, or a local college festival.
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Marching Band
The marching band is an ensemble comprised of the entire band membership, including three concert bands, drumline, and color guard. The marching band performs at all FRHS pep rallies, varsity football games, parades, and exhibitions. Participation in the marching band is required for all members in the band program, and P.E. credit is awarded to participants (maximum of 1 credit over 2 Fall semesters). There are required pre-season training camps that enable the group to put on public performances early in the school year. Each student is responsible for the annual band participation and materials fees to help pay for expenses necessary to put on a quality and competitive program on the field and concert stage.
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Indoor Percussion
Indoor Percussion has been active at Fossil Ridge High School since 2014. Indoor Percussion is made up of percussion students and other high school students that play piano, bass guitar, electric guitar, and other specific percussion instruments. The Indoor Percussion fee changes each year depending on the class we are competing in and the design cost for the show. For more information regarding Indoor Percussion please email Mr.Murray at chad.murray@kellerisd.net, or you can search the Fossil Ridge Percussion Page.
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Percussion
Fossil Ridge percussionists participate in the marching band, region audition process, band concerts, winter percussion concert, indoor percussion, spring percussion concert, concert band UIL and sight reading, and KISD solo and ensemble. All percussionists should have a practice pad, a mallet bag, a set of 4 yarn mallets, a pair of concert snare drum sticks, and a pair of timpani mallets. High School percussionists are expected to have a solid understanding of all 40 essential rudiments, 12 major and minor scales, and be proficient in music reading on the three standard percussion idioms. If you have questions regarding the percussion program, please email Mr. Murray at chad.murray@kellerisd.net, or you can search the Fossil Ridge Percussion Page.