COMMACK SCHOOLS

Your child may choose to participate in both an instrumental music ensemble (band or orchestra) and a vocal music ensemble (chorus), which is explained to them in their third-grade general music classes, in preparation for the following school year. If interested in playing in an instrumental music ensemble, your child should select from a group of instruments they would be interested in studying. Detailed information about this process is available in May for the following school year.

To see a list of the instruments that we can offer you to rent, please click here.

Students that participate in an ensemble are expected to attend one before-school scheduled rehearsal each week within the school building. Students that participate in the chorus and either the band or orchestra are expected to attend two before-school rehearsals each week within the school building.

All students that participate in an ensemble (with the exception of Chorus) are scheduled for small group instructional lessons on a rotating class period basis throughout the school day, approximately once per week. These music lessons are an expectation of the music program throughout the district and are an extension of classroom instruction, providing students the ability to work on individualized music, specific instrumental or vocal techniques, and concepts with their music teacher.

Students who participate in the  Grade 4 and Grade 5 chorus, Grade 5 band, and Grade 5 orchestra will perform in our winter and spring concerts.  Students who participate in the Grade 4 band and Grade 4 orchestra will perform in our spring concert only.

There are extracurricular music ensemble opportunities for students in our Grade 5 ensembles as well.

In sixth grade, students have the opportunity to continue performing from their previous year's ensemble (band, chorus, orchestra) or participate in the chorus.  (Students who would like to join the band or orchestra in Grade 6 must speak with the Counseling Department and Director of Art and Music.)  Ensembles meet every other day and are separated by grade levels.

Additionally, orchestra/band students who wish to be in a second music class have the opportunity to join a Lunch Chorus which meets on alternate days during the lunch period. Students in Lunch Chorus go first to the music class for twenty (20) minutes, then are escorted by the music teacher to the cafeteria where they eat their lunch for the remaining twenty (20) minutes of the period.

All students that participate in an ensemble (with the exception of Lunch Chorus) are scheduled for small group instructional lessons on a rotating class period basis throughout the school day, approximately once per week. These music lessons are an expectation of the music program throughout the district and are an extension of classroom instruction, providing students the ability to work on individualized music, specific instrumental or vocal techniques, and concepts with their music teacher.

Students who participate in Lunch Chorus, Grades 6-8 band, Grades 6-8 and Grades 6-8 chorus will perform in our winter and spring concert.  

There are extracurricular music ensemble opportunities for students in our Grades 6-8 ensembles as well.

In ninth grade, students have the opportunity to continue performing from their previous year's ensemble  (band, chorus, orchestra).  (Students who would like to join the band, chorus, or orchestra in Grade 9 must speak with the Counseling Department and Director of Art and Music.)  Ensembles meet every day.

Additionally, orchestra/band students who wish to be in the chorus may choose to do so.  Ensembles run during the same period in high school, so students would alternate days they attend each rehearsal.

All students that participate in an ensemble (with the exception of Lunch Chorus) are scheduled for small group instructional lessons on a rotating class period basis throughout the school day, approximately once per week. These music lessons are an expectation of the music program throughout the district and are an extension of classroom instruction, providing students the ability to work on individualized music, specific instrumental or vocal techniques, and concepts with their music teacher.

Students who participate in our ensembles will perform in our winter and spring concert.

There are extracurricular music ensemble opportunities (ICA ensembles) for students in our Grades 9-12 ensembles as well.