The class periods & rehearsal times listed below are based on the 2024-2025 school year.
Jazz Band
Zero Period & More
Jazz Band offers students an opportunity to perform a wide variety of musical styles, as well as develop their improvisation and soloing abilities. Students enrolled in Jazz Band are required to participate in a main performing ensemble that meets during the school day (Band or Orchestra).
Members of the Jazz Band are encouraged to perform on the same instrument that they play in their main performing ensemble. If students play an instrument in their main ensemble that does not traditionally perform in Jazz bands, they are encouraged to play an instrument in the same instrument family.
Wind Symphony
1st Period
The Wind Symphony is the most advanced performing ensemble for Woodwind and Brass musicians at Clovis West. Students must audition to be considered for placement in Wind Symphony, in addition to participating in the CW Marching Band (3rd OR 8th Period).
Symphonic Band
2nd Period
The Symphonic Band is a developmental ensemble for Woodwind and Brass musicians. The primary goal of the Symphonic Band is to prepare students for a future in the Wind Symphony through performance and fundamentals training. All Symphonic Band musicians also participate in the CW Marching Band during the fall semester (3rd OR 8th Period).
String Orchestra
4th Period
The Clovis West String Orchestra is open to all students regardless of grade and string playing ability level. This performance ensemble provides in depth technical and musical instruction to students who play the violin, viola, cello, or double bass, in an orchestra ensemble setting. Many students in this ensemble have been playing a string instrument for years, but this class is also accessible to students who have never played an instrument before. The Clovis West String Orchestra requires no audition to join and performs at concerts and festivals throughout the year.
Chamber Orchestra
6th Period
Chamber Orchestra is the premier string orchestra of Clovis West High School. This ensemble performs a wide variety of challenging and intense music written for string orchestra. The Chamber Orchestra is an audition-only ensemble that demonstrates some of the highest levels of musicianship Clovis West has to offer.
Color Guard & Winter Guard
7th Period & More
The Color Guard class meets year-round during 7th Period. In the Fall Semester, all students in the Color Guard participate in the CW Marching Band (8th Period). From November-April, the Color Guard prepares for and participates in “Winter Guard” competitions. During the Winter Guard season, this group rehearses on Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 5:30-9:00pm, in addition to the 7th Period Class.
You may see the 7th period Color Guard class listed as “ Advanced Band” on some forms and documents from the counseling office.
Winter Percussion
Percussion students participate in either 1st or 2nd period bands based on their audition (see above). From November-April, the percussionists prepare for and participate in “Winter Percussion” competitions.
During the Winter Percussion season, this group rehearses after school in addition to their 1st or 2nd period placement.
Marching Band
3rd period or 8th Period
All marching band students are either enrolled into 3rd period “PE Band” or 8th period “Band & Color Guard PE.”
3rd Period “PE Band” is a year-long PE course that allows for students’ PE requirement to be fully fulfilled by Marching Band. The 8th period course exists for students who are in the color guard OR students that have a conflict with 3rd period.
The Clovis West Marching Band (CWMB) has a dynamic after-school rehearsal schedule that varies depending on what section of the ensemble. Percussion rehearses after school on Mondays. The Color Guard, Woodwinds, and Brass rehearse after school on Tuesdays. All members of the band then come together to rehearse from 5-9PM on Thursdays.
