• The YMS 7th grade choir is directed by Mrs. Roseberg. Choir is a curricular class and meets every day during the school day. Our online classroom is available through canvas. In 7th grade choir, we spend time working on musicianship skills such as matching pitch, creating harmony, singing with expression, and reading music. In addition, we learn to sing in different languages and experience music from many different cultures. Students will spend time analyzing their own performances and the performances of others in order to learn how to improve their own ensemble skills and performing techniques. As the year progresses, the 7th grade concert literature will increase in difficulty, and will include a focus on achieving part independence. 

  Choirs at YMS perform in Foxes Choir polos and black pants/skirts/shoes/etc. Each grade level wears a different color polo (black, white, or red) and their polo can be worn in performances from 5-8th grade. 

  Our performances this year include:

  • Fall Choir Concert
  • Holiday Choir Concert 
  • Fine Arts Festival 
  • Performance and Clinic at Vander Cook College of Music 
  • Spring Concert

• The YMS 8th grade choir is directed by Mrs. Roseberg. Choir is a curricular class and meets every day during the school day. Our online classroom is available through canvas. In 8th grade choir, our goal is to build upon the musicianship skills the student’s began in their previous year(s) of choir. These musicianship skills include matching pitch, creating harmony, singing with expression, reading music, learning to sing in different languages, and experiencing music from many different cultures. Students spend time analyzing their own performances and the performances of others in order to learn how to improve their own ensemble skills and performing techniques. The 8th grade choir literature will surpass the difficulty level of the previous year and increase in complexity as the students gain more knowledge and experience.

  Choirs at YMS perform in Foxes Choir polos and black pants/skirts/shoes/etc. Each grade level wears a different color polo (black, white, or red) and their polo can be worn in performances from 5-8th grade. 

  Our performances this year include:

  • Fall Choir Concert
  • Holiday Choir Concert 
  • Fine Arts Festival 
  • Six Flags Performance Trip
  • Spring Concert

• Treble Choir is an extracurricular choir offered to all students with a treble voice range (female and unchanged male voices) and sings music of varying difficulty levels and genres. Treble Choir is directed by Mrs. Roseberg, and meets on Mondays after school from late October through March. Interested students prepare a short audition in order to show their individual ability to match pitch and sing with an accompaniment. Students in Treble Choir perform on the Holiday concert and at the Fine Arts Festival. Other performance opportunities are added when possible, as well.

• The YMS 7th grade band is directed by Mrs. Gallagher, and Ms. Fischer and Mr. Makropoulos provide technique class instruction (sectional lessons) during rehearsals. Like all bands at YMS, 7th grade band meets every school day as a curricular class. Our online classroom is available through canvas.

  In 7th grade band rehearsals we focus on furthering our young musician’s understanding how and why music works. Band members will improve their skills at reading music, playing with expression, identifying cultural characteristics of music, and playing as part of an ensemble. Daily attention is given to the ensemble skills of tone, balance, blend, intonation, and interpreting conducting.

  During technique classes focus on instrument specific performance techniques such as embouchure development, alternate fingerings, range building, and developing proper characteristic sound.  

  Our performances this year include:

  • Fall Band Concert
  • Winter Band Concert 
  • Fine Arts Festival 
  • Performance and Clinic at Vander Cook College of Music 
  • Memorial Day Ceremony
  • Spring Band and Orchestra Concert

  Bands at YMS perform in concert black attire, which is solid black, formal clothing. Please visit the YMS 7th Grade band website for more details, grading policies, monthly newsletters, and the latest information.

• The YMS 8th grade band is directed by Ms. Fischer. Mrs. Gallagher and Mr. Makropoulos provide technique class instruction (sectional lessons) during rehearsals. Like all bands at YMS, 8th grade band meets every school day as a curricular class. 

  In 8th grade band rehearsals we focus on furthering our young musician’s understanding of how and why music works. Band members will improve their skills at reading music, playing with expression, identifying cultural characteristics of music, and playing as part of an ensemble. Daily attention is given to the ensemble skills of tone, balance, blend, intonation, and interpreting conducting.

  Technique classes focus on instrument specific techniques such as embouchure development, alternate fingerings, range building, and developing proper characteristic sound.  

  Our performances include:

  • Homecoming Performance
  • Fall Band Concert 
  • Winter Band Concert
  • Solo & Ensemble Festival
  • Fine Arts Festival
  • Night of Percussion
  • Six Flags Performance Trip
  • Memorial Day Performance
  • Spring Band Concert

Jazz Band provides an extracurricular opportunity for students to participate in a big-band style ensemble and perform jazz, blues, rock, latin, be-bop, and swing styles of music!

There are two jazz bands at YMS:

1. YMS Jazz Ensembles- The YMS Jazz Ensembles are considered the “advanced” jazz bands at YMS and are directed by Ms. Fischer and Mrs. Gallagher. Because these groups move quickly and learn challenging music, all musicians must submit a video audition to be considered for placement in a jazz ensemble. All rhythm section members (drum set, piano, guitar, & mallet percussion) must audition for instrument assignment as well as placement in a Jazz Ensemble. Bass players do not need to audition, and will be placed in an ensemble based on director recommendation.

2. YMS Jazz Lab Band - The YMS Jazz Lab Band is an introductory level jazz group that focuses on getting comfortable with basic jazz concepts such as swing feel, blues scales, and improvisation. Mr. Makropoulos directs the Jazz Lab Band. Brass, woodwind, and bass players do not need to audition to join the Jazz Lab Band. However, due to a limited number of seats in a jazz rhythm section, all drum set, piano, guitar, and mallet percussion must audition for placement consideration. 

For more information and details, please visit our jazz band website here.

Percussion classes meet separately from the wind bands on a daily basis. This limits down time and allows us to focus on percussion specific skills and concepts, such as performing rudiments, learning a wide variety of auxiliary instruments, equipment management and maintenance, correct mallet technique and stick control, etc.

In order to enroll in percussion class students must have previous percussion experience in a school band program.

• The YMS 7th grade orchestra is directed by Mrs. Beyer and Mr. Foster. This class is open to all students who play violin, viola, cello, or string bass. Orchestra is a curricular class that meets every day during the school day. In 7th grade orchestra, we improve our musical skills such as tone quality, playing with expression, and music literacy. In addition, we learn various techniques such as new articulations, shifting, and vibrato. Daily attention is given to ensemble skills such as balance, blend, intonation, and interpreting conducting. Students will spend time analyzing their own performances and the performances of others in order to learn how to improve their own ensemble skills and performing techniques. In addition to full ensemble rehearsal, students will participate in weekly small group technique classes, where they will learn specific skills for their instrument. The orchestra performs in four concerts, with additional opportunities to play for Solo & Ensemble contests, audition for honors festivals, and perform in community events.

  Our performances this year include:

  • Fall Orchestra Concert
  • Winter Orchestra Concert 
  • Fine Arts Festival 
  • Performance and Clinic at Vander Cook College of Music 
  • Spring Band and Orchestra Concert

• The YMS 8th grade orchestra is directed by Mrs. Beyer, Mr. Foster, and Mrs. Gyssler. This class is open to all students who play violin, viola, cello, or string bass. Orchestra is a curricular class that meets every day during the school day. In 8th grade orchestra, we improve our musical skills at a more advanced level such as tone quality, playing with expression, and music literacy. In addition, we learn various techniques such as new articulations, shifting, and vibrato. Daily attention is given to ensemble skills such as balance, blend, intonation, and interpreting conducting. Students will spend time analyzing their own performances and the performances of others in order to learn how to improve their own ensemble skills and performing techniques. In addition to full ensemble rehearsal, students will participate in weekly small group technique classes, where they will learn specific skills for their instrument. The orchestra performs in four concerts, with additional opportunities to play for Solo & Ensemble contests, audition for honors festivals, and perform in community events.

  Our performances this year include:

  • Fall Orchestra Concert
  • Winter Orchestra Concert 
  • Fine Arts Festival 
  • Music in the Parks Festival
  • Spring Band and Orchestra Concert

• Alternative Strings is an extracurricular ensemble for both 7th and 8th grade orchestra students. We perform music outside of the classical genre, such as jazz, pop, rock, and movie scores. Alternative Strings meets after school on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and participates in additional performance opportunities. In the annual Spring Showcase, they perform with the YHS Chamber Strings and alongside professional guest artists.