Guitar
Non-auditioned ensemble, open to those with little to no guitar experience. Currently at 29 enrolled, emphasis on basics/fundamentals of guitar including reading sheet music + tablature, strumming chords, scales, learning about guitar history, along with performance tests/quizzes. Currently no performance schedule.
Choir
Non-auditioned ensemble, open to those with little to no singing experience. Currently at 31 members – emphasis on 2 part singing, along with sight reading, warm-ups, beginning vocal technique, beginner repertoire.
Band 1
Band 1 at OJHS is offered to students in the 7th grade, and is the next step from elementary music. Students are either continuing their musical study from the elementary level, beginning musical study on a new instrument, or are playing an instrument for the first time. Students can choose to learn flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, euphonium, trombone, and tuba. In this class, students meet everyday to develop their musical abilities in reading music notation, tone production, rhythm, and performing. The Band 1 program consists of two separate
classes focused on woodwind sections and brass sections in order to provide an enriched musical learning environment with a smaller teacher-to-student-ratio.
Band 2
Band 2 at OJHS is offered to students in 8th grade and combines both woodwinds and brass sections from Band 1. Students meet everyday to continue building skills from Band 1 with concentration in developing musical proficiency in music theory, ensemble balance, intonation, phrasing, and more. Students work on more challenging music repertoire for regular concert performances. In addition, this course prepares student musicians for performing ensembles at the high school level.
Drumline 1
Drumline 1 is an elective offered to students in the 7th grade, and is the next step from Elementary Percussion. Even though no prior knowledge is required for this class, students will expand on their previous knowledge of percussion and learn how to play on a variety of instruments. Students meet everyday for 50 minutes and practice music they will perform in a concert. These students have three concerts a year; one in December, one in March, and one in May.
Drumline 2
Drumline 2 is an elective offered to students in the 8th grade, and is the next step from Drumline 1. Students meet everyday for 50 minutes and continue to build their skills from Drumline 1. In addition to performing in 3 concerts (one in December, one in March, and one in May), these students will also have some school performances for the rallys on campus. Towards the end of the year, they may even begin to play music they may see the next year in high school.