The Performing Groups of Davenport Central
Symphonic Band provide students with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the concert band, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills (6) analyzing music and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature.
Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting, playing by ear and sight-reading. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer’s intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students are required to participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
Symphonic Band
The Wind Symphony has performed at the Iowa Bandmaster Association Conference and The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic multiple times. The Davenport Central Band Program was named to the John Phillip Sousa Foundation's Historic Roll of Honor of High School Concert Bands that "Recognizes Historic High School Concert Bands of Very Particular Musical Excellence." Currently, the 137th Wind Symphony is made up of students in grades 10 through 12 that went through a rigorous audition process in the spring of 2022. Students in this ensemble are encouraged to audition for both All-State and SEIBA Honor Bands. This March the Wind Symphony will perform in the world famous Orchestra Hall at Chicago Symphony Center as a part of the Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival. The Wind Symphony rehearses every day for 40 minutes.
Wind Symphony
Marching Band is a performance-based class which is co-curricular in nature. This is a volunteer organization. Students must be enrolled in concert band or orchestra in order to participate in the woodwind, brass, or percussion sections. Out-of-class rehearsals and performances are required and are included in the students final grade. The Marching Blue Devils is an ensemble that functions as a competitive marching band and competes at the regional, state, and national level, as well as at all home varsity football games, community events and concerts. While all students will perform in some capacity, it should be noted that not all students will be full time performers and performance time will vary.
Important notice to parents: All rehearsals are mandatory unless a student is excused by a director. Please make every effort to plan vacations, summer camps, doctor appointments, etc. during times that the band is not rehearsing.
The Marching Blue Devils
This course is open to freshman wind players and percussionists only. Students taking this course are provided with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the concert band, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Instruction is designed to enable students to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature. Experience includes, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting, playing by ear, and sight-reading. Students are given opportunities to develop the ability to understand and convey the composer’s intent in order to connect the performer with the audience.
Students also have the opportunity to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsal and performance. A limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals. Students are required to participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend learning in the classroom.
9th Grade Concert Band
Students taking this course develop musicianship and specific performance skills through group and individual settings for the study and performance of the varied styles of instrumental jazz. The instruction includes the study of the history, formative, and stylistic elements of jazz. Students develop their creative skills through: improvisation, composition, arranging, performing, listening, and analyzing. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas.
Students are provided with opportunities to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Some time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. In addition, some public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend the learning in the classroom. Student participants must also be receiving instruction in another band or orchestra class offering, at the discretion of the director.
Jazz II
Students taking this course develop musicianship and specific performance skills through group and individual settings for the study and performance of the varied styles of instrumental jazz. The instruction includes the study of the history, formative, and stylistic elements of jazz. Students develop their creative skills through: improvisation, composition, arranging, performing, listening, and analyzing. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas.
Students are provided with opportunities to experience live performances by professionals during and outside of the school day. Some time outside of the school day may be scheduled for dress rehearsals and performances. In addition, some public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and music goals. Students must participate in performance opportunities, outside of the school day, that support and extend the learning in the classroom. Student participants must also be receiving instruction in another band or orchestra class offering, at the discretion of the director.
Jazz I
The Davenport Central Winter Guard perform throughout the Midwest from January through April. They compete in Winter Guard International Regionals and the Midwest Color Guard Circuit. The Winter Guard is a three time Midwest Color Guard Circuit Finalist. The Winter Guard is under the direction of Ms. Kelzi Mather.
