The MRHS Jazz Band is one of the top-performing ensembles on the Mountain Ridge High School campus. The Jazz Band has performed at the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) State Conference and actively performs at various ABODA Area and State Festivals.
This ensemble meets daily and provides basic instruction in jazz-related rhythm, tone, style, concept, listening skills, woodwind doubling possibilities, and improvisation. The ultimate goal of this ensemble is to allow interested students to study and perform big-band literature from diverse styles and time periods. Concurrent enrollment in a concert band ensemble is not required, and students in the jazz band are not required to participate in the ‘Pride of the West’ Marching Band. Placement in this ensemble is determined through annual auditions or through director approval.
Additionally, this course is designed to advance students’ musicianship, musical knowledge, and performance skills through classroom instruction, instrumental pedagogy, group rehearsals, and performance opportunities. This course is aligned with Arizona College and Career Ready Standards and/or national content standards and supports school-wide efforts to increase student achievement.