MARCHING BAND
The marching band is one of the most visible ensembles at West Salem
High School. The Marching season starts with camps in August and finishes
with the NWAPA championships in early November. Performances in the
stands only may continue after championships if the football team makes
the play-off's. During the competitive season, this ensemble performs
at local and regional competitions.
WIND ENSEMBLE
The wind ensemble is the top performing ensemble within the band department.
Students explore and perform the highest quality of wind band literature.
This ensemble is auditioned in the spring and most students who are
selected take private lessons. This ensemble performs at various wind
ensemble competitions around the state as well as the OSAA state band
championships in the spring. Wind Ensemble is a year-long course.
Symphonic band
The Symphonic Band is another outstanding ensemble comprised of mainly
upper classmen. Students explore and perform a wide variety of intermediate
to advanced wind band literature. All Concert Band students automatically
advance to this ensemble their sophomore year unless they have already
auditioned into another ensemble. This ensemble performs at local concerts
and 1-2 intermediate band festivals in the spring. Symphonic Band is
a year-long course.
CONCERT BAND
The Concert Band is the entry level ensemble mainly comprised of incoming
freshman. Students explore a wide variety of intermediate wind band
literature as well as fine tune skill sets through the development of
fundamentals and overall individual technique. All incoming freshman
woodwinds and brass enroll for this course unless they audition into
one of the other ensembles in the spring. This ensemble performs at
local concerts and 1-2 intermediate band festivals in the spring. Concert
Band is a year-long course.
Percussion ensemble
All percussionists grades 9-12 enroll in this course. Students explore
and perform a wide variety of wind band literature and percussion ensemble
music. Students develop intermediate to advanced percussion techniques
on all of the percussion instruments through a comprehensive curriculum.
Percussionists who are selected to perform with the Wind Ensemble also
enroll for one period of Wind Ensemble. Percussion Ensemble is a year-long
course.
jazz ensemble
The Jazz Ensemble is an advanced group of students who explore and
perform advanced jazz band literature. This group is by audition or
director permission only. This ensemble performs at various local and
regional jazz band competitions. Jazz Ensemble is a year-long course.
high school winter percussion
Starting in December, students can elect to participate in the Winter
Percussion ensemble. This is a competitive performing ensemble that
meets after school two days a week and performs at local and regional
events. See the calendar for meetings and registration nights.
high school winter guard
Starting in December, students can elect to participate in the Winter
Guard ensemble. This is a competitive performing ensemble that meets
after school two days a week and performs at local and regional events.
See the calendar for meetings and registration nights.
middle school winter percussion
Starting in December, students can elect to participate in the Middle
School Winter Percussion ensemble. This is a competitive performing
ensemble that meets after school two days a week and performs at local
and regional events. See the calendar for meetings and registration
nights.
middle school winter guard
Starting in December, students can elect to participate in the Middle
School Winter Guard ensemble. This is a competitive performing ensemble
that meets after school two days a week and performs at local and regional
events. See the calendar for meetings and registration nights.