The Kastner Instrumental Music Programs are focused on large performing ensembles including bands, orchestras, percussion, and colorguard.  These groups perform many times throughout the school year utilizing virtually every medium of ensemble performance possible. 

 

Band Director: Grace Sledd

Percussion: Mike Maletesta

 

Percussion class is for students who play, or wish to learn to play percussion instruments.  Some students will be eligible to participate in a concert band and/or a jazz band.  All percussion students may try-out to be in competitive Winter Percussion, “Kastner Thunder”, and the Concert Percussion Ensemble. Percussion is a year-long course and if selected for Winter Percussion there will be weekly after school, which are mandatory to attend.

Band is for students who play, or would like to learn how to play, a brass or woodwind instrument.  We have three concert bands at Kastner.  Symphonic Band is our advanced group and is mostly 8^th graders.  Cardinal Band is our intermediate group and is a combination of 7^th and 8^th graders.  Gold Band is our beginning to intermediate group and is mostly 7^th graders.  Each child will be placed into one or more of our bands determined by our Kastner Band Director. All band classes are year-long courses and do have concerts.  

Orchestra is for students who play, or would like to learn how to play, a string instrument:  Violin, viola, cello, or string bass.  Chamber Orchestra is our advanced group and is mostly 8^th graders.  String Orchestra is our intermediate group and consists of 7^th and 8^th graders.  There is an audition process which will take place at students’ elementary feeder schools to determine which strings class you will be placed in. This is a year-long course. Students are eligible to take more than one music class. 

Jazz Band I

Pre-Requisite:  Enrolled concurrently in another instrumental music class

Jazz Band is open to all students who play, or wish to play a traditional jazz instrument.  Students must be concurrently enrolled in another instrumental music class at Kastner in order to participate in Jazz Band at Kastner. Due to the requirement for participation in two bands at Kastner (Jazz plus one other) this course also will require students to enroll in Zero Period PE or Lunchtime PE.  All Jazz Band classes are year-long courses and do have concerts. 

Colorguard

Colorguard members participate in two dance recitals during the year and all colorguard members participate in the competitive winterguard during second semester.  The colorguard is also part of any parades in which the Kastner bands participate and they will also perform at the CUSD Band Night.   There will be a try-out day for students interested in joining colorguard, students will be notified following try-outs if they have been selected to be on the team.  There are after-school and weekend practices, as well as performances which are all mandatory to attend.  This is a year-long course.