EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

MS Fine Arts

6th Grade Brass
The brass band will be made up from beginning brass musicians who play either the trumpet,
french horn, trombone, and or baritone/tuba. These students will meet during the school day
for class. Students will learn proper brass instrument technique, music literacy, and music
theory skills while working towards achieving high musical artistry. Members of this year-long
ensemble will perform in class, at school concerts, at festivals and should be prepared to spend
time outside of the school day practicing for these performances. All music courses reflect and
teach the belief that we are creative creatures of a Creator God.

6th Grade Woodwinds
The woodwind band will be made up from beginning woodwind musicians who play either the
flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, or saxophone. These students will meet during the school day for
class. Students will learn proper woodwind instrument technique, music literacy, and music
theory skills while working towards achieving high musical artistry. Members of this year-long
ensemble will perform in class, at school concerts, at festivals and should be prepared to spend
time outside of the school day practicing for these performances. All music courses reflect and
teach the belief that we are creative creatures of a Creator God.

6th-8th Grade Percussion
The percussion band is made up from beginning and intermediate percussion student musicians
who will meet during the school day for class. Students who wish to participate in this ensemble
are required to have at least 2 years of piano and/or take private percussion lessons. Students
will learn proper percussion technique on snare and mallet instruments as well as music reading
and theory skills. Students will work towards achieving high music artistry through practice and
performance. Students in this ensemble will be split up for concerts to provide the percussion
parts for the middle school concert band. Members of the percussion band will have the
opportunity to perform at additional small performances throughout the year. Opportunities
are available for students to audition for the South Dakota Middle School All-State Concert
Band, as well as the BHSU Northern Hills Honor Band. All music courses reflect and teach the
belief that we are creative creatures of a Creator God.

Middle School Band (7th/8th Grade)
This is the middle school advanced band for combined wind instruments which is composed of
students who have attained a high degree of proficiency on their continued instrument.
Members of this yearlong ensemble meet during school and will perform in class, at school and
district concerts, at festivals and should be prepared to spend time outside of the school day
practicing for these performances. Students will continue to work towards achieving high
musical artistry through practice and performance. Opportunities are available for students to
audition for the South Dakota Middle School All-State Concert Band, as well as the BHSU
Northern Hills Honor Band. All music courses reflect and teach the belief that we are creative
creatures of a Creator God.

HS Fine Arts

Concert Band/Pep Band
This is a multi-grade performing band ensemble of standard concert band instrumentation. If
the student was not in the RCCS band program the previous year, then there is a required
placement test with the band director, showing competency through the Method 2 book level,
to register for this course, which shows the student is prepared to read high school level band
music. Students work to learn excellence in the performance of concert band music and achieve
high music artistry through practice and performance. Students will perform in both the
December and Spring Concerts, the Graduation ceremony, as well as our Region Solo &
Ensemble Contest. We also serve as the school’s Pep Band and events will be scheduled for
football, volleyball, and basketball games, where students are expected to participate.
Opportunities are available for students to audition for the South Dakota All-State Band, as well
as SDSU Honor Band and BHSU Northern Hill’s Honor Band. The HS Band will participate in
Dordt College’s Christian High School Choir/Band Festival every other year according to their
rotating schedule. Students may take this course every year and receive credit. All music courses
reflect and teach the belief that we are creative creatures of a Creator God.

Percussion Ensemble/Drumline
The percussion ensemble is made up from intermediate to advanced percussion student
musicians who will meet during the school day for class. High school percussionists are required
to take this course. 7th-8th grade students are highly encouraged to discuss options with the
director if they are interested in taking this course. Students who wish to participate in this
ensemble are required to have at least 2 years of piano and/or take private percussion lessons.
Students will continue to advance their learning in proper percussion technique. Members in
this ensemble will continue to work towards achieving high music artistry through practice and
performance. In the fall, members of this ensemble will be part of the RCCS drumline to serve at
pep band and football events. Additionally, students will perform in a separate percussion
ensemble working on diverse percussion ensemble repertoire. Students in this ensemble will be
split up for concerts to provide the percussion parts for the middle school concert band.
Members of the percussion band will have the opportunity to perform at additional small
performances throughout the year. Opportunities are available for students to audition for the
South Dakota Middle School All-State Concert Band, as well as the BHSU Northern Hills Honor
Band. All music courses reflect and teach the belief that we are creative creatures of a Creator
God.

High School Strings
This ensemble is for students who have at least 3 years of experience on their instrument. This
ensemble is designed for students to apply musical skills as they continue to create and
experience music as an ensemble. Students will continue developing mastery of music notation,
major and minor scales, and bow strokes. Students work to learn proper string technique
utilizing finger exercises and achieve excellence in music literacy and performance from diverse
music repertoire. Students are expected to perform in both the December and Spring Concerts
and are highly encouraged to perform at our Region Solo & Ensemble Contest. Opportunities
are available for students to audition for the South Dakota All-State Orchestra. Students may
take this course every year and receive credit. All music courses teach that when we sing or play
our music for God’s glory, we are offering our gifts and talents as a dedication and offering to
Him.

Comet Chorale (Non-Auditioned)
There are no prerequisites for this course. Comet Chorale is designed for students to apply
musical skills as they continue to create and experience music as a musical ensemble. Students
will continue developing mastery of solfege, major and minor scales, and 4 part harmonies.
Students work to learn proper vocal technique utilizing vocal exercises and solfege, training in
education on their vocal instrument, and achieve excellence in music literacy and performance
from diverse music repertoire. Students are expected to perform in both the December and
Spring Concerts, and are highly encouraged to perform at our Region Solo & Ensemble Contest.
Opportunities are available for students to audition for the South Dakota All-State Choir and
Senior Honor Choir, and 9th graders are eligible to audition for the South Dakota Junior Honor
Choir. Comet Chorale participates in the Region Large Group Contest each year, Graduation, and
Dordt College’s Christian High School Choir/Band Festival every other year according to their
rotating schedule. Students may take this course every year and receive credit. All music
courses teach that when we sing or play our music for God’s glory, we are offering our gifts and
talents as a dedication and offering to Him.

Radiance (Auditioned)
This is an auditioned choir for students who already possess intermediate to advanced skills in
vocal production and music literacy (this is determined by audition). Students will continue
developing mastery of solfege, major and minor scales, and 4 or more part harmonies. Concert
repertoire includes selections of standard literature and vocal jazz. Students are expected to
perform in both the December and Spring Concerts, various Pep Band games, Holiday programs,
the Graduation ceremony, and our Region Solo & Ensemble Contest. Opportunities are
available for students to audition for the South Dakota All-State Choir and Senior Honor Choir,
and 9th graders are eligible to audition for the South Dakota Junior Honor Choir. Radiance
participates in the Region Large Group Contest each year, Graduation, and Dordt College’s
Christian High School Choir/Band Festival every other year according to their rotating schedule.
Students may take this course every year and receive credit. All music courses teach that when
we sing or play our music for God’s glory, we are offering our gifts and talents as a dedication
and offering to Him.

Praise Team

The Praise Band at RCCS leads the student body in worship at Chapel every Thursday. Consisting of members from both middle and high school, there are rotating instrument and vocal teams that play each week. The students are responsible for not only attending rehearsals before school, but also to set up and tear down their own equipment and instruments each week on the stage. We have an audio team of students that run our sound and computer slides as well.