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Rosemount High
School Tradition of Excellence
The RHS band
program continues to be recognized as one of the
outstanding band programs in the Midwest. The
Wind Ensemble was a featured ensemble at the
1993 North Central Division Music Convention
(MENC) and has performed by invitation at
several Minnesota State Music Conventions
(MMEA). The RHS Jazz I has won awards at many
jazz festivals including first place honors at
the prestigious Eau Claire Jazz Festival. Many
students from the RHS Band program have been
selected to Minnesota All-State Band, Orchestra
and Jazz Ensemble. The marching band continues
to be in demand for performances at area field
competitions and professional sports events.
Past performance highlights for the marching
band include appearances at Minnesota's Prep
Bowl, NFL SuperBowl XXVI, 1991 Baseball World
Series, European Tour, DisneyWorld-Orlando,
Universal Studios-Orlando, and numerous NFL
Vikings & Green Bay Packers football games and
Minnesota Twins baseball games (including
performing at the 2002 Divisional Play-off's in
the Metrodome!). Our annual marching band
festival is the largest and most well attended
festival of its kind in Minnesota, attracting
over 4,500 spectators last Fall! The RHS
Marching Band performed in Hawaii during Spring
Break 2004 and Beijing & Shanghai, China during
2007!
Freshman Earn
A Varsity Letter in Band at RHS!
One of the
exciting opportunities for freshman Band members
is to earn a Rosemount High School Varsity
Letter in Band. Letters are awarded for students
in grades 9-12 who participate in Band Camp
(Summer) Marching Band (Fall) and Pep Band
(Winter).
Many freshman
Band members will be proudly wearing their
Varsity Letter jackets at Rosemount High School!
Why Take Band?
In today's
society there is much conversation about school
curriculum, and the use of academic time. With
an emphasis on "back to basics," it becomes
increasingly more important to focus on Band as
it relates to this ongoing educational
discussion.
Why should
a young person join the Band, or continue
participating in Band? What will it mean to
her/his life?
Several recent
research studies have shown that music education
instills students with responsibility,
discipline, maturing social skills,
communication and analytical skills. Music
students tend to possess the qualities that
employers consider essential. Simply put,
learning a musical instrument is a positive
preparation for life.
Music appeals to
the part of the mind that opens new horizons.
The study of music supports wonderment,
imagination, appreciation and sensitivity. This
creativity leads to an inventive thinking style
allowing the individual greater personal
choices.
Music is a
language unto itself. It allows the human to
experience and express feelings and personal
understandings generated from the soul,
unlike any other form of communication.
Music is one of
the few disciplines that requires the individual
to access both the cognitive and affective sides
of the mind. Critical assessment, the ability to
conceptualize and respond to any given
situation, is the foundation of intelligence as
it applies to living a full rich life, and music
is a pathway to this intellectual pattern.
One of the keys
to success is completion of the tasks at hand.
Positive, productive living is based on the
establishment of habits of tenacity and personal
persistence; commitment. In music, commitment is
fundamental. It becomes a part of the musician's
personality and transfers to every avenue of
life.
Participation at
the level of excellence is not a personal
preference in music, it is a requisite. The
musician quickly discovers that it is not the
destination, but the journey that counts. It is
not the product, but the process. The joy of
music generates further growth and understanding
of our very existence.
The Rosemount
High School Band program is a unique
organization whose purpose is to provide these
life-expanding educational opportunities to
students so they can further their skills and
nurture personal growth and self-appreciation
through an array of musical activities and
events embracing all aspects of instrumental
music education, (Concert Bands, Marching Band,
Jazz Bands, Summer Band Camp, Broadway music
theater Pit Band, On Stage, numerous solo &
ensemble opportunities, Color Guard, Percussion
Ensemble, travel opportunities and Pep Bands).
Interesting
Facts:
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Students
with coursework and/or experience in
music performance classes scored higher
on the SAT College Entrance Tests in
2004: 57 points higher on the verbal
and 40points higher on the math for
music performance students, compared to
students with no music participation. -
2004 Profile of SAT Program Test
Takers, The College Entrance Examination
Board, Princeton, New Jersey
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Students
with coursework and/or experience in
music performance classes scored higher
on the SAT College Entrance Tests in
2004: 57 points higher on the verbal
and 40points higher on the math for
music performance students, compared to
students with no music participation. -
2004 Profile of SAT Program Test
Takers, The College Entrance Examination
Board, Princeton, New Jersey
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Data from
the National Education Longitudinal
Study of 1998 showed that music
participants received more academic
honors and awards than non-music
students, and that the percentage of
music participants receiving A's,
A's/B's, and B's was higher than the
percentage of non-participants receiving
those grades. - National Center
for Education Statistics, Washington DC
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Physician
and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the
undergraduate majors of medical school
applicants. He found that 66% of music
majors who applied to medical school
were admitted, the highest percentage of
any group. 44% of biochemistry majors
were admitted. - Phi Delta Kappan
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Music
lessons can enhance spatial reasoning
performance, a critical higher-brain
function necessary to perform complex
tasks including mathematics. -
University of California
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The
Mozart Effect surfaced about four
years ago when research uncovered that
adults who listened to music of
complexity for ten minutes or so
experienced temporary increases in their
spatial IQ scores. (Source: Frances
Rauscher, Ph.D.,Gordon Shaw,Ph.D. -
University of California
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According to
a recent statewide survey, student
involvement in extracurricular makes
students resilient to current
chemical/tobacco substance use among
their peers. Secondary students who
participated in band, orchestra or choir
reported the lowest lifetime use of all
chemical/tobacco substances. - Texas
School Survey of Substance Abuse Among
Students: Grades 7-1 |
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All-State
music students consistently score over
200 points higher on the SAT than
non-music students, indicating that high
performing students have a strong
interest in pursuing serious music
interests while excelling in other
academic areas. - Texas Music
Educators Association Survey
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Quotes on
the value of Music Participation
"We must
encourage our youngsters in such pursuits as
music education. In addition to learning the
valuable lesson that it takes hard work to
achieve success, no matter what the arena, music
education can provide students with a strong
sense of determination, improved communication
skills, and a host of other qualities essential
for successful living." - Edward H. Rensi,
President & Chief Operating Officer - USA,
McDonald's Corporation
"We cannot forget
that music is an integral part of a student's
educational element. We must insure that the
present 'back to basics' mentality includes
access to arts and music education. As we push
to increase high school graduation and college
entrance requirements, we must not ignore the
cultural and artistic development of our
students." - U.S. Senator Paul Simon,
Illinois
"The things I
learned from my experience in music in school
are discipline, perseverance, dependability,
composure, courage and pride in results. . . Not
a bad preparation for the workforce!" -
Gregory Anrig, President - Educational Testing
Service
"Music Education
aids students in skills needed in the workplace:
flexibility, the ability to solve problems and
communicate; the ability to learn new skills, to
be creative and innovative, and to strive for
excellence." - Joseph M. Calahan, Director of
Corporate Communications, Xerox Corporation
"Music education
opens doors that help children pass from school
into the world around them - a world of work,
culture, intellectual activity, and human
involvement. The future of our nation depends on
providing our children with a complete education
that includes music." - Gerald Ford, former
President, USA
"Music is about
communication, creativity, and cooperation, and,
by studying music in school, students have the
opportunity to build on these skills, enrich
their lives, and experience the world from a new
perspective." - Bill Clinton, President of
the USA
Questions?? Call the
RHS Band Office: (651)423-7541
Or e-mail:
Steve Olsen - Band Director
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