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Concert Band Concert Band is an ensemble with emphasis on building technique and developing musical skills. Quality of sound, rhythmic precision, scale facility, and musicality will be studies. Throughout the year, the group performs various concerts featuring traditional band literature such as marches, overtures, suites, contest selections, novelty selections and other assorted concert music. |
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Audition required - Symphonic Band
Symphonic Band students will be engaged in learning a variety of intermediate and advanced music literature. Students are responsible for practicing music at home, being prepared to perform the music to the best of their ability in class, and maintaining a properly working quality instrument. The Symphonic Band plays a variety of musical styles and performs several times throughout the year, including 3 home concerts, and the District Large Group Band Contest. Members will perform with Marching Band and Pep Band during the year. |
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Wind Ensemble - Audition Required This is the premier wind band at Mount Vernon High School. Sensitivity to outstanding musicianship, historical styles, and appropriate performance practices is required. In addition to the highest expectations as an instrumentalist, your ability to apply intellect and spirit in meaningful ways during rehearsals and concerts is also demanded. Membership in the Wind Ensemble is open to any student of any grade who qualifies through audition. Private instruction is highly recommended. Members will perform with the Marching Band and Pep Band during the year. |
Percussion Ensemble Class
Percussion Ensemble
The Mount Vernon High School Percussion Ensemble class is offered as a yearlong course. Students will perform a variety of styles on various instruments. Members of this ensemble will perform with the Marching Band, Pep Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble in addition to playing percussion ensemble pieces at concerts.
The Mount Vernon High School Percussion Ensemble class is offered as a yearlong course. Students will perform a variety of styles on various instruments. Members of this ensemble will perform with the Marching Band, Pep Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble in addition to playing percussion ensemble pieces at concerts.
MVHS Drumline and Summer Drumline Camp
Every year the Mount Vernon High School drumline hosts a camp for new and current drumline students to spend time learning the cadences and field show music that will be used by the high school drumline for the year. This camp will take place during the end of summer break in mid to late August and be 3 consecutive days (Monday through Wednesday). This camp is a great way for students new to the Percussion Ensemble course to meet fellow band mates, learn what percussion instrument(s) they will be playing during the year and prepare for playing at football and basketball games.
Click here to download the: Drumline Audition Music
Click here to download the: Drumline Audition Music
MVHS Percussion Instrument Rules and Regulations
The reasoning behind the following statements is to ensure the quality and functionality of instruments that we have here at Mount Vernon High School School. If we all do our part in taking care of the instruments that we have, then they will continue to sound their best and work properly for the time that we use them and for the students that will use them after you graduate. I want to make sure that everyone understands that these are common use and maintenance procedures and every single person that uses these instruments will be held accountable for upholding them while using this equipment. No exceptions in discipline will be made for any student misusing our equipment in any fashion and appropriate measures will be taken for intentional abuse of any piece of equipment owned by Mount Vernon High School.
Keyboards
Our keyboard instruments (i.e. Marimbas, Vibraphones, Glockenspiels, Chimes, Electronic Keyboards) are to be taken care of in the following manner:
Instrument covers or cases are to be used on the instruments at any time that the instruments are not in use.
The appropriate implement (mallet or stick) will be used on these instruments at all times. Unless otherwise indicated by the instructor in exceptional situations for an unusual effect, most keyboard mallets are acceptable. BEWARE! Using mallets that are too hard can damage the bars on every instrument. In the lowest octave of these instruments, a hard mallet can damage the bars, which are thin and extremely expensive to replace.
NO DRUMSTICKS ARE PERMITTED TO TOUCH ANY KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT AT ANY TIME, INCLUDING THE FRAME!!
At no time will any student rest any item on any keyboard instrument except the following: mallets, and sheet music. These instruments are not expensive tables and will not be treated as such. The bars of these instruments are expensive to replace and are to be treated in a manner that respects their value. Do not lean against any keyboard instrument or use it in any other fashion than for playing. The string that binds the bars must be replaced occasionally, especially under a great amount of playing time. In order to prolong the life of these strings, you may rotate them enough so that the worn part of the string is in-between the grommets (metal u-shaped prongs that the strings rest in) of the keyboard. If you notice that the cord is fraying at these grommet points and you are unsure of how to rotate them, please consult the percussion instructor in order to proceed.
In the case of wood bars on an instrument, avoid touching the bars with your hands at all costs. Wood is extremely sensitive to oils that exist on our bodies. If we touch the bars with our hands, the oils from our body will proceed to deteriorate the natural fibers of the wood and its finish and put it out of tune. When adjusting the height of any keyboard instrument for your personal use, be sure that
it is level on both sides. The frames of these instruments are sturdy, but if abused, will cause bending of the frames, which are costly to replace. Vibraphone pedals must be raised when moving the instrument. Observe the wing nuts that hold the frame of any keyboard together. They should be firmly tightened, but not over tightened. When tightening any wing nut on a keyboard, make sure it is a snug fit, but do not turn it more than necessary. Usually, you can turn a wing nut until you feel adequate pressure and then stop. Check keyboards periodically to make sure the wing nuts are not lost.
Timpani
First of all, the major problem with timpani is that people use these extremely sensitive instruments as tables. THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN AT ANY POINT IN TIME!!!!!! Placing an unusual amount of weight upon the head at any time or using the wrong implement upon them can damage timpani heads. When not in use, the pedals of the timpani should be placed in the full tension position (the top of the pedal, where your toes would be located, pushed down as far as possible.) The reasoning behind this is that the collar of the timpani is the distance between the rim of the timpani and the edge of the head is imperative to maintaining a clear tone of the drum and if this is disturbed, the overall sound of the drum is compromised. When moving the drums, this is a practice that will be strongly enforced in order to maintain great sounding drums. DO NOT AT ANY TIME ATTEMPT TO TUNE ANY LUGS OF THE TIMPANI!! If you are curious, consult the instructor on how these drums are tuned. The basic tuning of these instruments are from the largest drum up are 32’-D, 29-F, 26-Bflat, 23- D, and 20- F. If the pedals of any drum are not working properly, the most likely culprit is the tuning of the fundamental pitch of each drum, and if not maintained properly, the drum will not sound it’s best and the pedals will not work properly. When playing timpani, be sure to have some sort of cloth to wipe the playing surfaces of the drum with. Timpani mallets can run up to $100 + dollars a pair and the oils from our hands touching the drums can simultaneously damage the heads and our mallets over time, so wipe off the timpani heads with a micro fiber cloth (recommended) after every playing session.
Snare Drums/ Toms
Snare drums are one of the sturdiest instruments that percussionists use, but there are guidelines that we must use to keep them in superb working order Drumheads- In the case that a drumhead breaks or does not sound good, please alert the percussion instructor ASAP.
Snare Wires- The snare wires of a drum are essential to its peak performance. If any wire is bent or broken, please alert the percussion instructor immediately, for this could lead to other
problems with the instrument.
Snare Strainer- This is the part of the instrument that folds upward to engage the snare wires to the bottom head of the drum. If this is hard to operate or is otherwise inoperable, the snare adjustment knob is most likely wound too tight. If this is the case, or some other problem occurs, alert the percussion instructor immediately to receive assistance.
Lugs- In the case that a drum is out of tune and any attempt to adjust the drum’s tuning (under guidance from the instructor) is met with a squeaky noise or extreme resistance from a lug screw, let the instructor know and lubrication will be applied to the lug casing. Any snare drum should be in its proper place when not in use. Concert snares should be in a case or stored properly on a shelf after every use in order to prolong its life.
Use only concert sticks on the snare drum.
Cymbals
Cymbals are one of the most under-appreciated instruments in our percussion section. Their care should be of the utmost importance, as should the rest of our equipment. No suspended cymbal should be mounted on a cymbal stand without the following: a cymbal sleeve- rubber or plastic tube that protects the cymbal from rubbing against the metal stand, cymbal felts, and a wing nut that prevents the cymbal from falling off of the cymbal stand. These items are easily lost and forgotten about, but without these simple and basic parts of a cymbal stand, these instruments are damaged quite easily and do not sound their best. Always replace these items back on a cymbal stand to make sure they don’t get lost. Cymbals should not be dropped, knocked over or otherwise damaged in any way, and as students, you need to be aware of how easily they can be rendered useless.
When not in use, cymbals will be placed in cymbal bags or another approved area to ensure their safety.
Accessory Instruments
Most accessory instruments can be taken care of quite easily, but can be destroyed just as such. Do not rest any accessory instrument on the floor or on another instrument. Use a trap
table or a music stand with a black towel covering it to set them on. As with any other instrument, do not use an implement that will damage accessories at any time. For example, a brass bell mallet would not be the best choice for use on temple blocks. I have seen similar things happen out of ignorance at other schools, and instruments are simply destroyed for no reason.
Hardware/Stands
Instrument stands should be regarded as highly as the instruments themselves. If taken care of properly, any well-made piece of hardware should last decades, not months. Do not over-tighten wing nuts on any piece of hardware, this leads to the stripping of their threads and malfunction. When doing this, gently turn the wing nut until there is enough pressure to hold the stand firmly.
DO NOT MIX AND MATCH STAND PARTS UNLESS TOLD TO DO SO!!!!!!!!
We must keep stands together as much as possible to ensure that they will function properly, and frequently stand parts will not work with another company’s product.
Sticks/Mallets
With personal mallets, as well as school-owned, these guidelines will ensure the longest life of any mallet. Mallets are to be used on their intended instrument only unless otherwise told. When not in use, all mallets are to be in a mallet bag or case and not on the floor or otherwise laying about. If this is not observed, then there is a temptation for us and our wind-playing friends to pick up these mallets and whack away on a chair, table or floor, and therefore damage a $50.00 pair of mallets for no reason. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION. THIS HAS TO HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY. NO EXCEPTIONS. If a mallet unravels, bring the mallet to the instructor. We may be able to get mallets re-wrapped and we will do so in order to prolong the lives of our mallets. If a mallet shaft breaks or cracks, there is not much to be done to save it, but bring it to the instructor anyway, and there may be something he can do to help. Timpani mallets are to be used on timpani only, unless told otherwise. Yes this does include the timpani covers. Playing on these covers compacts the felt on the mallet and very easily renders them to a sub-par quality.
Drumsticks- if they are broken, throw them away. That’s about it. Again, these care and maintenance rules are in place to ensure that our instruments are in good working order for years to come. As a percussion section, we must work together to take care of these instruments and remind others to do so as well. If you do see other band members playing our instruments or playing around with mallets, kindly ask them to stop. We don’t mess around with their instruments, and they should do the same with ours.
Keyboards
Our keyboard instruments (i.e. Marimbas, Vibraphones, Glockenspiels, Chimes, Electronic Keyboards) are to be taken care of in the following manner:
Instrument covers or cases are to be used on the instruments at any time that the instruments are not in use.
The appropriate implement (mallet or stick) will be used on these instruments at all times. Unless otherwise indicated by the instructor in exceptional situations for an unusual effect, most keyboard mallets are acceptable. BEWARE! Using mallets that are too hard can damage the bars on every instrument. In the lowest octave of these instruments, a hard mallet can damage the bars, which are thin and extremely expensive to replace.
NO DRUMSTICKS ARE PERMITTED TO TOUCH ANY KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT AT ANY TIME, INCLUDING THE FRAME!!
At no time will any student rest any item on any keyboard instrument except the following: mallets, and sheet music. These instruments are not expensive tables and will not be treated as such. The bars of these instruments are expensive to replace and are to be treated in a manner that respects their value. Do not lean against any keyboard instrument or use it in any other fashion than for playing. The string that binds the bars must be replaced occasionally, especially under a great amount of playing time. In order to prolong the life of these strings, you may rotate them enough so that the worn part of the string is in-between the grommets (metal u-shaped prongs that the strings rest in) of the keyboard. If you notice that the cord is fraying at these grommet points and you are unsure of how to rotate them, please consult the percussion instructor in order to proceed.
In the case of wood bars on an instrument, avoid touching the bars with your hands at all costs. Wood is extremely sensitive to oils that exist on our bodies. If we touch the bars with our hands, the oils from our body will proceed to deteriorate the natural fibers of the wood and its finish and put it out of tune. When adjusting the height of any keyboard instrument for your personal use, be sure that
it is level on both sides. The frames of these instruments are sturdy, but if abused, will cause bending of the frames, which are costly to replace. Vibraphone pedals must be raised when moving the instrument. Observe the wing nuts that hold the frame of any keyboard together. They should be firmly tightened, but not over tightened. When tightening any wing nut on a keyboard, make sure it is a snug fit, but do not turn it more than necessary. Usually, you can turn a wing nut until you feel adequate pressure and then stop. Check keyboards periodically to make sure the wing nuts are not lost.
Timpani
First of all, the major problem with timpani is that people use these extremely sensitive instruments as tables. THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN AT ANY POINT IN TIME!!!!!! Placing an unusual amount of weight upon the head at any time or using the wrong implement upon them can damage timpani heads. When not in use, the pedals of the timpani should be placed in the full tension position (the top of the pedal, where your toes would be located, pushed down as far as possible.) The reasoning behind this is that the collar of the timpani is the distance between the rim of the timpani and the edge of the head is imperative to maintaining a clear tone of the drum and if this is disturbed, the overall sound of the drum is compromised. When moving the drums, this is a practice that will be strongly enforced in order to maintain great sounding drums. DO NOT AT ANY TIME ATTEMPT TO TUNE ANY LUGS OF THE TIMPANI!! If you are curious, consult the instructor on how these drums are tuned. The basic tuning of these instruments are from the largest drum up are 32’-D, 29-F, 26-Bflat, 23- D, and 20- F. If the pedals of any drum are not working properly, the most likely culprit is the tuning of the fundamental pitch of each drum, and if not maintained properly, the drum will not sound it’s best and the pedals will not work properly. When playing timpani, be sure to have some sort of cloth to wipe the playing surfaces of the drum with. Timpani mallets can run up to $100 + dollars a pair and the oils from our hands touching the drums can simultaneously damage the heads and our mallets over time, so wipe off the timpani heads with a micro fiber cloth (recommended) after every playing session.
Snare Drums/ Toms
Snare drums are one of the sturdiest instruments that percussionists use, but there are guidelines that we must use to keep them in superb working order Drumheads- In the case that a drumhead breaks or does not sound good, please alert the percussion instructor ASAP.
Snare Wires- The snare wires of a drum are essential to its peak performance. If any wire is bent or broken, please alert the percussion instructor immediately, for this could lead to other
problems with the instrument.
Snare Strainer- This is the part of the instrument that folds upward to engage the snare wires to the bottom head of the drum. If this is hard to operate or is otherwise inoperable, the snare adjustment knob is most likely wound too tight. If this is the case, or some other problem occurs, alert the percussion instructor immediately to receive assistance.
Lugs- In the case that a drum is out of tune and any attempt to adjust the drum’s tuning (under guidance from the instructor) is met with a squeaky noise or extreme resistance from a lug screw, let the instructor know and lubrication will be applied to the lug casing. Any snare drum should be in its proper place when not in use. Concert snares should be in a case or stored properly on a shelf after every use in order to prolong its life.
Use only concert sticks on the snare drum.
Cymbals
Cymbals are one of the most under-appreciated instruments in our percussion section. Their care should be of the utmost importance, as should the rest of our equipment. No suspended cymbal should be mounted on a cymbal stand without the following: a cymbal sleeve- rubber or plastic tube that protects the cymbal from rubbing against the metal stand, cymbal felts, and a wing nut that prevents the cymbal from falling off of the cymbal stand. These items are easily lost and forgotten about, but without these simple and basic parts of a cymbal stand, these instruments are damaged quite easily and do not sound their best. Always replace these items back on a cymbal stand to make sure they don’t get lost. Cymbals should not be dropped, knocked over or otherwise damaged in any way, and as students, you need to be aware of how easily they can be rendered useless.
When not in use, cymbals will be placed in cymbal bags or another approved area to ensure their safety.
Accessory Instruments
Most accessory instruments can be taken care of quite easily, but can be destroyed just as such. Do not rest any accessory instrument on the floor or on another instrument. Use a trap
table or a music stand with a black towel covering it to set them on. As with any other instrument, do not use an implement that will damage accessories at any time. For example, a brass bell mallet would not be the best choice for use on temple blocks. I have seen similar things happen out of ignorance at other schools, and instruments are simply destroyed for no reason.
Hardware/Stands
Instrument stands should be regarded as highly as the instruments themselves. If taken care of properly, any well-made piece of hardware should last decades, not months. Do not over-tighten wing nuts on any piece of hardware, this leads to the stripping of their threads and malfunction. When doing this, gently turn the wing nut until there is enough pressure to hold the stand firmly.
DO NOT MIX AND MATCH STAND PARTS UNLESS TOLD TO DO SO!!!!!!!!
We must keep stands together as much as possible to ensure that they will function properly, and frequently stand parts will not work with another company’s product.
Sticks/Mallets
With personal mallets, as well as school-owned, these guidelines will ensure the longest life of any mallet. Mallets are to be used on their intended instrument only unless otherwise told. When not in use, all mallets are to be in a mallet bag or case and not on the floor or otherwise laying about. If this is not observed, then there is a temptation for us and our wind-playing friends to pick up these mallets and whack away on a chair, table or floor, and therefore damage a $50.00 pair of mallets for no reason. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION. THIS HAS TO HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY. NO EXCEPTIONS. If a mallet unravels, bring the mallet to the instructor. We may be able to get mallets re-wrapped and we will do so in order to prolong the lives of our mallets. If a mallet shaft breaks or cracks, there is not much to be done to save it, but bring it to the instructor anyway, and there may be something he can do to help. Timpani mallets are to be used on timpani only, unless told otherwise. Yes this does include the timpani covers. Playing on these covers compacts the felt on the mallet and very easily renders them to a sub-par quality.
Drumsticks- if they are broken, throw them away. That’s about it. Again, these care and maintenance rules are in place to ensure that our instruments are in good working order for years to come. As a percussion section, we must work together to take care of these instruments and remind others to do so as well. If you do see other band members playing our instruments or playing around with mallets, kindly ask them to stop. We don’t mess around with their instruments, and they should do the same with ours.
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Jazz I - Audition Required
This jazz band is designed for the most advanced jazz instrumental musicians. The jazz band performs intermediate to advanced levels of literature from various selected eras of musical history. In addition to the techniques of rehearsal and performance, the students develop theory, improvisational skills and historical knowledge of the music performed. Membership in Jazz I is open to students of any grade who qualifies through audition. Membership is required in one of the concert-ensembles. Jazz II This band provides an opportunity for students interested in performing music in the jazz idiom. Emphasis is placed on development of swing, Latin, rock, and contemporary styles of repertoire as well as performance and improvisation in all mediums. Membership in Jazz II is open to students of any grade who qualifies through audition. Membership is required in one of the concert ensembles. Jazz III This Jazz Band is designed for beginner musicians who are just starting in the world of jazz. Jazz Combos The most common ensemble in jazz is the small group or combo. These groups are often named according to the number of members - two is a duo, three a trio, four a quartet, five a quintet, six a sextet, seven a septet, eight an octet, nine a nonet. The usual instrumentation for a combo has changed over time but has generally included one to three horn players and a rhythm section consisting of a chordal instrument, a bass instrument, and percussion. This type of instrumentation offers the members considerable flexibility in that the players can improvise much of their own parts without the chaos that would ensue if a larger ensemble offered its members as much freedom. Yet because all the major categories or roles of instruments are covered - melody, chordal, bass, and percussion - a well-balanced sound can be achieved. |
Notable Achievements of Jazz Program
2016-2017 - Outstanding Trombone Soloists, SJMEA Jazz Festival Quinn Estep - Outstanding Saxophone Soloists, SJMEA Jazz Festival Teal Chilcote - Outstanding Piano Soloists, SJMEA Jazz Festival Nic Moshier 2015-2016 - 2nd Place, Bellevue High School Jazz Festival (4A Catagory) 2014- 2015 - KPLU School Of Jazz CD, Featuring: Vince Fejeran 2012-2013 - Combo Trip to New Orleans 2011-2012 - KPLU School Of Jazz CD Featuring: Greta Matassa - Outstanding Trombone Soloists, Bellevue College Jazz Festival Emma Eliason - Outstanding Trombone Soloists, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Emma Eliason - Outstanding Vibraphone Soloists, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Greg Pollock 2010 - 2011 - KPLU School Of Jazz CD, Featuring: Josh Cook - Outstanding Alto Sax Soloist, Columbia Basin Jazz Festival Jacob Yansen 2009 - 2010 - 1st place gold Award, Vancouver BC Heritage Festival - Outstanding Band Award, Vancouver BC Heritage Festival - Adjudicator Award, Vancouver BC Heritage Festival |
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The Mount Vernon High School Bulldog Marching Band is proud to be Washington States oldest continuously running high school marching band. Throughout its existence the bands tradition of excellence have resulted in many awards. The Bulldog Band uniform represents the American Colonial attire that would have been often seen in Mount Vernon, Virginia the home of our 1st president, George Washington.
The Marching/Pep Band is made up of all of the members in the three band classes, and percussion ensemble. This group performs at all home varsity football games, Christmas parade, spring parades along with most pep assemblies and selected boys and girls home basketball games during the winter. Weekly evening field show rehearsals will be scheduled during the football season. Marching Band Rehearsals Wear comfortable shoes, closed toe, no flip flops. A light colored t-shirt, and shorts are appropriate. Students may want an extra t-shirt in case of a sudden rain shower. A towel to do warm ups in the parking lot is great. |
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Football Games
Band Uniform parts consist of:
• Black marching shoes – These are special marching band shoes that clean up well with shoe polish.
• Band Uniform top
• Band Uniform pants
• T-shirt / shorts to be worn under uniform for group changes. Students will change into and out of uniform in the Band Room.
• Gloves (these can be purchased when the shoes are purchased). We suggest having several pairs. They cost about $3 per pair.
• Black socks (these can also be purchased when the shoes are purchased). We suggest having several pairs exactly alike (especially if your dryer loves to eat socks).
Color Guard uniforms change from year to year.
Tips to remember while in uniform:
• No visible jewelry - One small hoop is permitted in each ear
• No make up (Guard is the exception, it is part of the uniform)
• No Colored drinks, condiments, or other messy/greasy food while in uniform. Clear liquids only.
Basketball Games
Band Uniform parts consist of:
• Black marching shoes – These are special marching band shoes that clean up well with shoe polish.
• Band Uniform top
• Band Uniform pants
• T-shirt / shorts to be worn under uniform for group changes. Students will change into and out of uniform in the Band Room.
• Gloves (these can be purchased when the shoes are purchased). We suggest having several pairs. They cost about $3 per pair.
• Black socks (these can also be purchased when the shoes are purchased). We suggest having several pairs exactly alike (especially if your dryer loves to eat socks).
Color Guard uniforms change from year to year.
Tips to remember while in uniform:
• No visible jewelry - One small hoop is permitted in each ear
• No make up (Guard is the exception, it is part of the uniform)
• No Colored drinks, condiments, or other messy/greasy food while in uniform. Clear liquids only.
Basketball Games
- All students must wear that current years band t-shirt, points will be deducted for incorrect uniform
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Beginning Mariachi
MV Mariachi (Advanced) |