CLASSES
ROYAL REGIMENT BAND & COLOR GUARD
A student enrolled in the Band at North Hollywood High School is part of one of the finest performance organizations in LAUSD. The course fulfills the Physical Education graduation requirement, and Visual/Performing Arts graduation and college entrance requirement. In addition to providing students with essential musical skills, we believe superior effort, self-sacrifice, and group cooperation are essential to achieving success. This experience often results in a positive change in students’ self-image, interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities. During fall the Band and Guard perform together to produce a field show for football games and marching band competitions. During spring the two groups work separately with the Color Guard producing a Winter Guard show while the Band works on Symphonic Band repertoire.
ADVANCED STRING ORCHESTRA
The Advanced Orchestra is a string class opens to students with three or more years of experience playing violin, viola, cello, or string bass. Unfortunately due to a lack of student demand for this course the class has been discontinued.
JAZZ BAND
The jazz band is an advanced performance class for students with experience playing saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar or drum set. Auditions are during the first two weeks of school during zero period. As a zero period class students are able to avoid scheduling conflicts at the same time distinguish their transcripts and strengthening their college applications. The class meets daily at 6:45 a.m. and focuses on big band and jazz combo repertoire. Popular music theory and improvisational skill are an integral part of the curriculum. The group performs several times a year at school concerts, music festivals, community events and local jazz clubs.
AP MUSIC THEORY
Students who want to delve deeper into musical studies can take the Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory class and test through the College Board for college credit. This class provides fundamentals in notation, pitch, scales, keys, functional harmony and more. A strong musical background with sight-reading skills is strongly recommended as a prerequisite for this class.
GUITAR / COMMERCIAL MUSIC
The guitar program is new to NHHS but is quickly gaining much popularity. The course focuses on beginning guitar technique with an emphasis on popular music. In addition to learning how to play guitar, the course also covers basic music theory, songwriting, and music production.
In addition to learning how to play guitar, students will learn about commercial music, song writings and music production during the second semester of this course.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
INDOOR DRUMLINE
The Indoor Drumline provides NHHS students yet another opportunity for music comradery and competition. It is open to students concurrently enrolled in Band, Jazz Band or Orchestra. Whether you've been playing percussion your whole life, or have never touched a drumstick, you can attend this free afterschool program. The course will cover marching battery, such as snare drums, tenor drums, bass drums, and cymbals, as well as keyboard percussion such as marimba, vibraphone and bells. During the summer there is often a free 4-week class offered to new and returning NHHS music students. Incoming freshmen get the chance to meet some of the band students at NHHS before school even starts, and returning students get to keep up their chops and learn something new!
HERBIE HANCOCK INSTITUTE
JAZZ IN THE CLASSROOM ENSEMBLE
The NHHS Music Department is honored to participate in the Jazz In The Classroom Program directed by the world renown Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. Each year 5-7 students are hand picked by Mr. Sharp to join the NHHS Advanced Jazz Combo. Students in this ensemble work each week with members of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. To learn more about this program cLick here!