More Information About The Duxbury Music Department
Duxbury students in grades 5-12 participate in a diverse Music Department.
On average 90% percent of the fifth grade class start on an instrument every year. In sixth grade there is a band, orchestra, and chorus, which place ninety five percent of these students in a performing group. The seventh and eighth grade students can choose from three bands, two orchestras, and a chorus. These are part time courses and meet every other period for rehearsal. Extra curricular groups include two junior jazz bands, a junior chamber orchestra and the Junior Chamber Singers.
The high school music program has three bands, two choruses, and two orchestras. The Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, String Ensemble, and Chamber Singers are groups where students are accepted by audition. Students audition the previous year, and are asked to meet certain musical criteria to be placed in the advanced group. Those students who want to continue playing, but do not wish to prepare an audition will have the opportunity to play in the larger performing groups: Concert Band, Concert Orchestra, and Concert Choir. All high school performing groups are full time courses that meet five days in the seven-day cycle. Other music courses include music theory, two levels of piano lab, music business, jazz improvisation, music technology I, II & II, and music history/appreciation. In addition to these classes, there are also extra-curricular ensembles that meet outside the school day. There are two jazz bands, a chamber orchestra, a Men’s A Capella Group the PAC-Men and jazz combo. Seasonal groups include the Pep Band, Brass Ensemble, and Pit Orchestra. The music department presents a musical every year as well.
Duxbury High School has a population of about 1000 students, 40% participate in a performing ensemble and 25% elect the non-performance courses listed above. The high school has three bands that total over 220 members. There is a Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. The two later groups, with the Chamber Singers and String Ensemble, are determined by competitive auditions. All Wind Ensemble, Chamber Singers and String Ensemble members study privately with a professional teacher and 75% percent of these group members teach private lessons to younger students in the After School Private Lesson Program. The Wind Ensemble String Ensemble, and Chamber Singers have beed selected to perform at Carnegie Hall, The MENC Eastern Division Conference in and Massachusetts Music Educators Conference Concert Hours.