Band Classes

Students sign up for high school band at Neenah High School simply by selecting the “Band” course for semester 1 and semester 2.  Once students names are received, they are placed into one of the 3 band classes based on ability, work ethic, and experience, with the goal of having three well-rounded ensembles with appropriate instrumentation in each.  Generally, the least experienced students will be placed in the Concert Band and the most experienced in the Advanced Wind Symphony. Those in between are placed in the Symphonic Band.

Marching Band is part of each of these ensembles for the first several weeks of the first semester.  Students in the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony march together for home football games in the fall and are joined by the Concert Band students for the homecoming parade and football game.  All three ensembles march together in the Neenah-Menasha Memorial Day Parade in May.

Neenah students can also participate in one of our jazz ensembles.  The Advanced Jazz Ensemble, which is for upperclassmen, meets as a class during the school day, and the Intermediate Jazz Ensemble, or "iJazz," is an extra-curricular activity and meets on Monday evenings.

Extra-curricular Ensembles

Pep Band: All band students are required to perform as part of the NHS Pep Band.  Of the 10 to 12 scheduled performances, the students are required to play at least 5.  They are encouraged to play more than 5, and many students do.

Intermediate Jazz Ensemble: Students in grades 9 – 10 who play traditional jazz instruments will have the opportunity to participate in this jazz ensemble. Rehearsals begin in October, and the final performance is in early April.

Jazz Combo:  Student interested in improvisation and performing in the community may participate in one of these smaller jazz groups.  

Show Choir:  Neenah High School has two choir choirs, both have an accompanying band.  Act II is for 9th and 10th graders, while Vintage is for upperclassmen.  Auditions are held in the spring of the previous school year.

Music Pit Orchestra:  In the fall of the school year, students may audition to be a part of the pit orchestra and the musical production.

Performance Attire

Uniforms: All band students in grades 9-12 will be fitted for a band uniform to be worn at all marching and concert performances.  This is done during Marching Band camp in August.  There is not extra cost to have a uniform.

Shoes: All band students are required to have black Vanguard II marching shoes, a.k.a "Dinkles." These shoes have a rubber sole, leather upper, and are designed specifically for bands. Many of the students wear their shoes for outside rehearsals as well as performances.  With care, they easily last throughout high school and beyond. Shoes will be ordered through Neenah High School and will be available well before the first performance.  New pairs of shoes cost around $35.  For those interested, we have a limited number (depending on the size required) of USED shoes available for purchase for $15.

Band T-Shirts: All 9-12 band students wear the same custom designed band t-shirt under their uniform and for pep band performances.  Students purchase this t-shirt for around $8. Orders are taken early in the school year.

Other Instrument Needs

Lyres & Flip Folders: There are two devices the students will need for marching and pep band:  A FLIP FOLDER (provided by NHS), which holds all of the music used for these ensembles, and a LYRE (provided by the student – with some exceptions), used to attach the flip folder to the instrument. Students who play clarinet, saxophone, baritone, and mellophone/horn must purchase lyres. Sousaphones/tubas and trumpets have the option of purchasing a lyre.  Percussion, trombone and flute lyres come with the flip folder attached and will be provided.  (The cost of the lyres ranges from $2 - $5 depending on the instrument.) This should be a one-time purchase, with care, the lyres will last throughout the four years of high school. Lyres can be purchased from one of the local music stores.

School Instrument Rentals: Students who play a school-owned wind instrument are charged a reasonable, yearly rental fee. This fee is only intended to help defray the cost of routine maintenance. Rental contracts will be sent home during the summer.

Percussionists:  All percussionists are assessed a yearly equipment user fee of $20 to help defray the replacement cost of sticks and mallets.