The Band & Orchestra Department is one of the strongest and most active organizations on the campus of J.P. Taravella High School. It is widely acknowledged as one of the finest music programs in Florida, with Band, Orchestra, and Jazz ensembles consistently earning Superior ratings at District and State Music Performance Assessments. Individual honors are a yearly occurrence with members participating in All-State ensembles and State University-sponsored Honor Bands. The Music Department has grown to become a comprehensive and demanding curriculum that consistently brings quality music education into the lives of the school community. The JPT Band & Orchestra Department consists of several musical performing groups and a visual performance ensemble:
 

• Marching Band: Membership is open to all students and is mandatory for all newcomers to the JPT Program. It is required for membership in the Wind Orchestra, Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. Marching Band is only active in the fall with weekly varsity football games and a few local parades. Rehearsals are held once a week during the evening hours. The Marching Band performs at the required FBA Marching Band Assessment in early November and several competitions. The JPT Marching Band has a long successful history of awards, trophies, and championships, despite its limited rehearsal schedule.

• Wind Orchestra: Membership in this group is by audition, and participation in the marching band is a pre-requisite. Attitude, maturity, ability, and selflessness are key ingredients for participation in this ensemble. Private lessons are highly recommended. Members of this ensemble are required to participate in District and State (if qualified) Solo & Ensemble Assessment, and are encouraged to audition for All-State and All-County Honor Ensembles. The group consistently performs literature of the highest quality, which requires the utmost in concentration and musical dedication. This ensemble performs at all FBA Assessment events and performs several required concerts and community concerts throughout the school year.

• Wind Symphony: Membership in this group is by audition, and participation in the marching band is a pre-requisite. Attitude, maturity, ability, and selflessness are key ingredients for participation in this ensemble. Private lessons are highly recommended. Members of the JPT Wind Symphony are required to participate in District and State (if qualified) Solo & Ensemble Assessment, and are highly encouraged to audition for All-State and All-County Honor Ensembles. The group consistently performs literature of the highest quality, which requires the utmost in concentration and musical dedication. This ensemble performs at all FBA Assessment events and performs several required concerts throughout the school year.

• Symphonic Band: Membership in this group is by audition, and participation in the marching band is a pre-requisite. This group encourages and develops individual practice skills and large ensemble rehearsal techniques. Private lessons are also highly recommended. The ensemble generally plays Grade 3-5 literature from the FBA List. The Symphonic Band performs at all FBA Assessment events and performs several required concerts throughout the school year.

• Concert Band: Membership in this group is open to all students. This ensemble provides an opportunity for students wishing to play a secondary instrument or for those who do not wish to participate in Marching Band (provided one year of marching band has been fulfilled). Private lessons are highly recommended. The ensemble generally plays a wide variety of graded literature from the FBA List. The Concert Band performs at all FBA Assessment events and performs several required concerts throughout the school year.

• Chamber Orchestra: Membership in this group is by audition only. Chamber Orchestra is open to advanced string and wind players. Private lessons are highly recommended. Members of the JPT Chamber Orchestra are required to participate in the yearly school musical, as well as all FOA Assessments and other required concerts. This group performs literature of the highest quality.

• String Philharmonic: Membership in this group is open to all string players. This ensemble provides the opportunity to develop individual practice skills and large ensemble rehearsal techniques. It also provides an opportunity for students to learn a secondary instrument. This ensemble performs at all FOA Assessments and several required concerts throughout the school year.

• Lab Jazz Ensemble: Prerequisite: Previous band/orchestra experience and concurrent enrollment in band for wind players and orchestra for bass players. Exception: piano, guitar, drums. Departmental approval for admission.
  
  This course provides basic instruction in jazz-related rhythm, tone, style, concept, listening skills, woodwind doubling possibilities and improvisation. The ultimate goal of this ensemble is to give interested students an opportunity to study and perform jazz ensemble literature. Various text and workbooks, videotapes and audio recordings are used to create a formal study of jazz appreciation and listening skills. Students in this performing group are required to participate in after school rehearsals, District evaluation, and outside performance viewings.

• Concert Jazz Ensemble: Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in symphonic band level or higher for wind players and chamber orchestra level for bass players. Exception: piano, guitar, and drums. Departmental approval and audition required for admission.
  
  This ensemble is for the most advanced jazz performers. The ensemble performs "concert oriented" jazz literature, often recorded by college or professional bands, with emphasis on improvisation. This ensemble will perform in various festivals and concerts throughout the county and state. Various text and workbooks, videotapes and audio recordings are used to create a formal study and analysis of jazz style, improvisation, and history. Students in this performing group are required to participate in after school rehearsals, district and state evaluation, and outside performance viewings.
  
  SUGGESTED INSTRUMENTATION
  FOR CURRICULAR JAZZ ENSEMBLES
  
  2 alto saxophones
  2 tenor saxophones
  1 baritone saxophones
  
  4 or 5 trumpets
  4 or 5 trombones
  
  1 pianist
  1 guitarist
  2 bassists
  2 drummers

• Color Guard: Membership in this group is by audition. This ensemble is a visual and dance group that performs with the Marching Band as well as participating in the South Florida Winter Guard Association and Winter Guard International competitions from late Winter through early Spring, and District/State FBA Solo & Ensemble Assessments. Members are instructed by professional staff in the skills of dance, flag, sabre, and rifle technique. The color guard class meets daily during the day and extra rehearsals are held twice weekly in the evening hours during the Marching Band and Winter Guard seasons

• AP Music Theory: This class is designed with the future music major in mind, but can be taken by anyone who wants to learn more about the hows and whys in the construction of music. The A.P. portion of the class is decided later in the year, after several progress checks are made. One does NOT have to take it for AP Credit.