YVHS Music Department

Course Offerings

Please click on the course to access the Course Description, Syllabus, and Classroom Policies.  You may print these document if you wish.  All documents are in .pdf format.  You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the files.  You may download the most current version here.

Concert Choir (not currently being offered)

• The Concert Choir is a vocal performance ensemble open to all students on campus.  Students are strongly encouraged to have at least one year of choir at the middle school level.  There is no audition requirement for concert choir, but a vocal placement audition will be conducted during the first week of class.  This placement audition is simply to allow the vocalist to be placed within the proper section in the choir.

Select Choir

• The Select Choir is an audition-only vocal performance ensemble open to students in grades 10-12.  Members are selected in the spring of each year for the upcoming year.  Not everyone who auditions is selected.  Students are traditionally those who have taken private voice lessons or who have outstanding natural vocal ability.  Members also possess an excellent work ethic and desire to work hard as part of the group.  The members of the Select Choir are considered to be the top vocalists at Yucca Valley High School.

"Trojan" Marching Band

• The Marching Band is a competitive performing group that operates during the fall season each year.  It is open to all students on campus who play a band instrument and who can accommodate the rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule the group demands.  The group meets during the regular school day and has a minimum  of three hours of evening rehearsal each week.  Extra rehearsals are not uncommon, especially as the group approaches its' competition season. The Marching Band performs at ALL home football games, pep assemblies, local parades, and other activities selected by the director.  In addition, the group performs throughout southern California at marching band competitions.  The group has attended competitions at these locations:
  • Riverside Community College (Redlands Preview and Big Orange Classic)
  • Barstow High School
  • Apple Valley High School
  • Silverado High School (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Trabuco Hills High School
  • Ramona High School (Riverside, CA)
  • Claremont High School (Montclair, CA)
  • Palm Springs High School
• The Marching Band is also an annual participant in the:
  • Morongo Basin Veteran's Tribute Parade
  • The Grubstake Days Parade
  • And has appeared twice in the annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade.

"Sunsations" Colorguard

• The "Sunsations" Colorguard is a competitive performing group attached to the "Trojan" Marching Band.  Members are selected after an intense, week-long audition held in the spring each year.  The auditions are open to all students at Yucca Valley High School, from incoming freshmen to current 11^th graders.  The "Sunsations" go everywhere the Marching Band goes and performs with them at all functions.  They rehearse with the band and also have a separate rehearsal schedule.  The "Sunsations" meet during the regular school day and also for a minimum of two hours each week for separate rehearsal.  They have uniforms and flags that complement and coordinate with our competition show each year.  The ultimate goal of the "Sunsations" is to add pageantry, color, and movement which enhances the overall performance of the Marching Band.

Symphonic Band

• The YVHS Symphonic Band is a traditional concert band/wind ensemble.  It is open to all students on campus who play a traditional band instrument.  Other non-traditional band instruments (i.e.: guitar, electric/string bass, violin, etc.) may be included at the discretion of the director.  The Symphonic Band rehearses and performs standard wind band literature selected by the director.  Rehearsals occur primarily during the school day.  Sectional rehearsals and/or evening rehearsals may be called by the director if necessary.  The group performs a minimum of four times each year: a Holiday Concert in December, a Winter Concert in February/March, a Spring Concert in May/June and at the yearly Graduation Ceremony.  Other activities have included: a Combined Concert with the Twentynine Palms High School Music Department, participation in Disney's Magic Music Days, and participation in the Festivals of Music competitions.  Members from the Symphonic Band often audition for and are selected to be in the San Bernardino County Music Educators Association (SBCMEA) High Desert Honor Band each winter.

Jazz Ensemble

• The YVHS Jazz Ensemble is an audition-only performing ensemble.  Students are selected based upon a placement audition in the spring of each year.  Standard big-band instrumentation is used.  This includes: 2 alto saxes, 2 tenor saxes, 1 baritone sax, 4 trombones, 4-5 trumpets, piano, electric/string bass, guitar, drum set, auxiliary percussion, and a vocalist.  There is traditionally one player per part.  Members are considered the best instrumentalists at Yucca Valley High School.  Improvisation and soloing are important concepts that are addressed and fostered.  The group rehearses daily during class and also meets for a minimum of two hours each week for evening rehearsals.  Sectionals are regularly scheduled.  All rehearsals and performances are mandatory for Jazz Ensemble members.  The Jazz Ensemble competes extensively during the spring each year.  The group has competed in the Festivals of Music competitions and has traveled to the following locations for jazz competitions:
  • Irvine High School
  • Val Verde High School
  • La Sierra High School
  • Brea-Olinda High School
  • Fullerton College
  • Rim Of The World High School
  • Riverside Community College
  • Santa Barbara High School

   

History of Rock and Roll (not currently being offered)

• This course is a survey of rock music.  The focus is on the music, musicians, the sociological, political, and economic conditions merged into the evolution of this art form.  This course will give the student some of the basic tools by which you may judge and appreciate the development of Rock and Roll from the 1950s to the present.  You will become familiar with the most significant artists of each decade/style period and be able to identify their sound.  The course is presented in a lecture-style format with video and audio elements blended into the lecture.  There are 2 written assignments for the course and several written and listening tests.  It is important to note that this course deals with issues that have impacted Rock and Roll music throughout its history.  These issues include racism, drugs and alcohol.  It would be impossible to cover every artist, band, and song in the history of Rock and Roll.  Therefore, a strong emphasis will be placed upon identifying representative works by various artists.  Students may need to obtain and listen to musical examples on their own for complete understanding.