Concert Band – No. 750 
This large ensemble is performance-oriented and open to any student who plays a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. Students will explore wind literature from a variety of compositional styles and eras. In addition to continued individual and ensemble improvement, students will also learn music history, music theory, and critical listening skills as they pertain to the literature being studied. Extra rehearsals and performances are required. Public performances will include the Winter Arts Festival, Spring Concert, Band Time, Senior Awards Night, and Agawam High School Graduation. All students are encouraged to audition for Western Districts. This ensemble meets as a class during the school day.
Level III
Full Year
1 Credit
Honors Band – No. 752 
Honors Band is a performance intensive course designed for advanced musical study at both the individual and ensemble levels. Students will be expected to spend extra time on their respective instrument in order to excel in this course. Students will also write a thesis paper on a selected topic, maintain practice logs, and prepare concert reports. Wind literature from a variety of compositional styles and eras will be a part of the Honors Band curriculum, as well as study in music history, music theory, and critical listening skills. All Honors Band students are highly encouraged to audition for Western Districts. Honors band students must be able to play all major and minor scales. These students will complete composition projects and transposition assignments. Participation in extra rehearsals and performances are required. Public performances will include the Winter Arts Festival, Spring Concert, Band Time, Senior Awards Night, and Agawam High School Graduation. This ensemble meets as a class during the school day.
Level II
Full Year
1 Credit
Honors Jazz Band – No. 754 
The jazz band is a select group; membership is by audition. Standard jazz band instrumentation is utilized; saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, guitar, bass, and drums. A variety of 20th century jazz repertoire will be studied and performed. The Jazz Band performs frequently at concerts and festivals and all performances are required. Students will be expected to perform all major and minor scales as well as selected blues and modal scales. A composition project and portfolio are part of this advanced course. Extra rehearsals and performances are required, and all students are encouraged to audition for Western Districts. This ensemble meets as a class during the school day.
Level II
Full Year
1 Credit
Beginning Percussion Ensemble – No. 771
This course will explore the fundamentals of playing various percussion instruments. This is a hands-on class in which students will get to play a variety of percussion instruments in a small ensemble setting.
Level III
Half Year
.5 Credit
Beginner Piano & Guitar – No. 770
Students will explore the fundamentals of music theory and performance by learning piano and guitar. The class will be presented in a lab-type setting with keyboard instruments, guitars, and computers
Level III
Half Year
.5 Credit
Piano & Guitar II – No. 776
Prerequisite: Completion of 770, Beginner Piano & Guitar
This course is a continuation of the exploration of fundamentals of music theory and performance by learning piano and guitar. The class will be presented in a lab-type setting with keyboard instruments, guitars, and computers
Level III
Half Year
.5 Credit
Music Composition – No. 775
Bill Hueglin, Director of Bands
Agawam High School