Prairie Central Junior High

Concert Band

   Concert band at Prairie Central Junior High builds on the foundation of learning started in 5th and 6th grade. Students have weekly lessons with one of the band directors throughout the year, and can sign up for extra lessons at any time during the year. Extra lessons are often used when working on audition music for All-District auditions, and for solo and ensemble contest selections. Band students will miss PE one day a week for their weekly band lesson. In junior high, band meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during 5th hour.

   Band students are given the opportunity to audition for IMEA All-District Band in October. Auditions are on Columbus Day, but music is given out during the summer or at the start of the school year. Please talk to your director if you are interested in auditioning. If selected, this is a great experience! Selected students will spend a Saturday in November (usually the Saturday before Thanksgiving) at Bone Student Center at ISU in Bloomington-Normal, rehearsing and attending workshops, and will perform a concert in the afternoon. This concert is open to the public, so invite parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends!

   The concert band performs at the two junior high concerts - one held near the end of each semester, and at Pops concert in May. IHSA Solo and Ensemble contest is optional and is held on a Saturday in late March or early April; IHSA Organizational contest is required and is held on a Saturday in late April. In addition, the band (and choir) take a trip to Six Flags each May to compete at the "Music In The Parks" festival, and to enjoy a day at the park! To earn the opportunity to go on this trip, band members must be at all concerts, pass their playing exams and turn in the required, completed practice sheets.

Pep Band

   There are usually about 6-7 pep band performances and attendance is required for all band members. Practice for pep band takes place during normal band class during the school day. Report to the jr high at 6pm and finish up arounnd 7:45pm on pep band nights... FREE admission to the games!

Jazz Band

   Jazz band is optional, but the student must commit to the practices and performances. Practices usually start in December and are usually held once a week at 7am, with about 3-4 additional evening practices. The jazz band performs at the junior high spring concert, sometimes at IHSA Organizational and the Six Flags "Music in the Park" competition, and then again at the Pops concert in May. There is usually a "tour day" in the spring where the jazz band travels to various elementary schools and the upper elementary to perform for them, with a stop for lunch at a pizza place. Sometimes the jazz band will perform at community events, too. The junior high jazz band also hosts and performs at a jazz concert featuring a local jazz band, the Heartland Jazz Orchestra, usually in April.

   If there is enough interest, a second jazz band will be offered, and 6th graders may be eligible to join. This second jazz band will perform at Pops concert and on the elementary school tour. This band usually practices once a week at 7am.

Choir

   Concert choir at Prairie Central Junior High continues to build on the foundation of learning started in 5th and 6th grade. Students are scheduled for regular lessons with the choir director, and can sign up for extra lessons at any time during the year. Extra lessons are often used when working on audition music for All-District auditions, and for solo and ensemble contest selections.

   Choir members are given the opportunity to audition for IMEA All-District Choir in October. Auditions are on Columbus Day, but music is given out during the summer or at the start of the school year. Please talk to your director if you are interested in auditioning. If selected, this is a great experience! Selected students will spend a Saturday in November (usually the Saturday before Thanksgiving) at Bone Student Center at ISU in Bloomington-Normal, rehearsing and attending workshops, and will perform a concert in the afternoon. This concert is open to the public, so invite parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends!

   Choir meets every Tuesday and Thursday 5th hour throughout the year, and performs at the two junior high concerts - one held near the end of each semester, and at Pops concert in May. IHSA Solo and Ensemble contest is optional and is held on a Saturday in late March or early April; IHSA Organizational contest is required and is held on a Saturday in late April. In addition, the choir (and band) take a trip to Six Flags each May to compete at the "Music In The Parks" festival, and to enjoy a day at the park! To earn the opportunity to go on this trip, choir members must be at all concerts, lessons and practices.

Lessons

   While our directors are happy to offer lessons to all band and choir students, private study is always encouraged and helps to make our program even stronger. Please contact one of our directors if you would like to know the names of private teachers in the area!

Other Activities

   Extra trips may be arranged occasionally in which band and choir members are invited to participate. These are usually at an additional cost and are outside of school hours, and include seeing musicals such as Wicked, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and more! The Music Department is excited to offer musical opportunities such as these if there is sufficient student interest.