LEBANON CITY SCHOOLS BAND PROGRAM

Philosophy

Music is a core element of humankind. Because of this, music education becomes a necessary venture to ensure that the each child is being educated to the fullest. With this in mind, it is the philosophy of the Lebanon Band Program to give each student the very best that music has to offer. This includes the development of aptitude, thorough comprehension, and a deep recognition and appreciation for the many styles of music from all parts of the world.
The primary objective of the Lebanon Band Program is to develop the individual and collective skills of each student we meet. Students are expected to have a dedicated work ethic, continually evolve, and learn how to set new aims while achieving great success and having fun with the band and it's membership.

Private study in any field is vital to success. Music and Band specifically are no different. For a student to truly succeed they need individual help that cannot be provided in the ensemble classroom. They also need time spent on personal practice outside of both lessons and the ensemble rehearsal. With these three elements: Personal Practice, Private Study, and the Ensemble Rehearsal a student will be a confident member of the band program and the program as a whole will flourish. Also, with every student that studies privately the ensemble(s) they participate in will show clear growth because of the increased focus on their development.

Private Instructors

Josh Johnson - Woodwind Specialist

Joshua is a music educator around the Cincinnati and Dayton area. He finished his bachelor's degree in Music Education at Berea College in the spring of 2021. Joshua is an alumnus of Lebanon High School.

As an educator, Joshua has taught private lessons to several students, some of whom have decided to pursue music in college. Joshua teaches both classical and jazz genres in lessons, according to student interest. Joshua was a woodwind/saxophone tech for the Lebanon High School Marching Band for several seasons.

As a musician, Joshua has performed in many ensembles throughout his time in high school and college, including the District 13 Honor Band and Honor Jazz Band; the Kentucky Intercollegiate Band and the Kentucky Intercollegiate Jazz Ensemble; the Lebanon High School Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Band; and the Berea College Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Combo. Joshua has also performed in OMEA Solo and Ensemble, earning several superior solo ratings, and performed a recital at Berea College with a mix of classical and jazz repertoire. His teachers through his time in high school and college include Joe Polen, Bill Burns, and Dr. Doug Drewek.

joshua.johnsonjmj@gmail.com

The concert bands are the primary ensembles at Lebanon High School. In order for students to participate in programs like Jazz Band, Winter Drumline, and Marching Band students MUST be in a Concert Band.

Freshman Band is open to all students who have met the requirements of the freshman band and or approval of the band director(s). This band meets on a daily basis and works on concert band literature for the entire year. This band performs concerts and at adjudicated events which have mandatory attendance.

Symphonic Band is open to all students who have met the requirements of the freshman band and or approval of the band director(s). This band meets on a daily basis and works on concert band literature for the entire year. This band performs concerts and at adjudicated events which have mandatory attendance. Credit may be earned multiple years.

Wind Ensemble is the top ensemble at Lebanon High School. It is a year-long course open to students in the instrumental music program by audition, and students perform advanced high school to collegiate level répertoire. Students are only allowed to register for the course if they are going to be in it for the entire year. Personnel is limited to 1-2 members per part. This band will participate at concerts, select sporting and community events, and adjudicated events which have mandatory attendance. Credit may be earned multiple years.

Jazz Band is open to any instrumental student grades 9-l2 by permission of the director and/or audition only. The audition shall take place prior to registration. This group shall consist of the basic instrumentation of the idiom as follows: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, bass, and percussion.

This group performs music of the jazz idiom and learns basic skills of improvisation. Some students-Members in Training-may be selected as members of this class, but will not be involved in all performance. The band will participate at concerts, festivals, conferences, community events, and adjudicated events which have mandatory attendance. Credit can be earned multiple years.

Marching Band is open to all students who participate in a concert ensemble at Lebanon High School. Exceptions are made for students interested in Guard and those that attend classes at the WCCC. The Marching Band rehearses over the summer from mid-July through early August and throughout the Fall through the second week of November on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at LHS. The Marching Band performs at all varsity football games and at contest in the Mid-States Band Association and Bands of America circuits.

The Pep Band is a volunteer based ensemble that performs at 10 home basketball games. There is a minimum desired instrumentation, but there is no limit to the number of students that are allowed to join the fun. The ensemble performs standard, short stand tunes similar to those from the Fall at football games and other popular music.