We strongly recommend ALL Ironwood Ridge band students sign up for either: 

• Wind Ensemble (woodwinds & brass students)

• Percussion (percussion students)

These differentiated concert band classes are the musical “home base” for each instrument family, allowing the teacher to focus on individual technique and tone study unique to each instrument family. Splitting up winds from percussion is a frequent choice in most modern high school band programs throughout the USA because of the numerous benefits to students. All students will receive much more one-on-one instruction from the teacher, and more relevant musical feedback for each instrument family, helping them improve much faster. The separation will also allow for concert band repertoire to be perfected in smaller groups before eventually combining the winds and percussion together before performances, much like what is done at the university level.

All students will work on concert repertoire every day, in addition to building fundamental skills on their instrument via warmups, chorales, and small ensemble repertoire. These two classes combine throughout the school year to form the Ironwood Ridge Wind Ensemble, which travels and attends festivals throughout Arizona and opportunities for trips throughout the United States. 

*No prerequisite auditions are required for these courses. Students may join either of these classes regardless of current skill level, as each student will have an individualized scale and etude curriculum based on their experience level.

*Private lessons are strongly encouraged for all students.

For the most info on our entire 2023 fall season, please view our full 2023 Marching Band Info Presentation above (updated 5/21/2023)

Our marching band & color guard program, The Nighthawk Vanguard, is the biggest student group on campus, consisting of most musicians from our concert bands and jazz band. Our musicians also join our outstanding color guard members, who accentuate our show through modern dance, flag, rifle, and saber work. We are the PRIDE and SPIRIT of Ironwood Ridge, performing in front of our energetic football crowd at each home game and some away games. We perform dozens of fun & modern songs in the stands to help pump up the crowd and cheer on our team while also perfecting our cutting-edge halftime show. 

During after-school rehearsals, our education team of 12-15 contracted world-class marching band educators (brass, winds, percussion, guard, visual) will be in attendance to work with our students. Our staff has experience performing with some of the top marching ensembles, including The Bluecoats, Carolina Crown, The Cadets, Madison Scouts, The Academy, Pacific Crest, Seattle Cascades, Breakthrough Indoor Percussion, Pulse Percussion, Flux Indoor Percussion, Breakthrough Indoor Percussion, and The U of A Pride of Arizona. We have one of the most robust instructional staff offerings in Tucson, allowing for great teacher-to-student ratios. Our well-rounded instructional staff at after-school rehearsals is one of our secrets to success!

Marching Band may seem like a big time commitment at first, but we actually practice less than most sports teams on campus.

This ensemble travels to competitions throughout Arizona and the Southwest on a regular basis.

During the fall, all marching band members should sign up for the 8th-hour class Marching Band (MUS022). This class meets during 8th period every Tuesday & Thursday from 5:00 - 8:30 p.m. These later classes allow for our educational team of music, visual, and guard staff members to work with the students, enhancing their experience.

Typical Weekly After-School Schedule:

Tuesdays (Full Marching Band w/ Staff):

• 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Thursdays (Music Sectionals w/ Staff):

• 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Fridays (Home Football Games or Rehearsal):

• Game times vary but always occur after school.

• Rehearsals will typically be 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

The Nighthawk Vanguard is a consistently successful marching band in Arizona, most recently earning the Bronze Medal at the 2019 Arizona Marching Band Association (AZMBA) Division 1A/2A Grand Championships.

*No auditions are required to join the Nighthawk Vanguard, but we have placements held in late spring, determining eligibility and section placement within the ensemble.

**Marching Band (MUS022) may be taken in place of a P.E. class. Students who enroll in 4 years of marching band fulfill their required 1.0 credit of P.E. requirement! This open spot in a student schedule allows all band students to add their recommended concert band ensemble (Wind Ensemble or Percussion) during the school day in addition to their other classes.

Experienced performers may audition our award-winning jazz big band. This class supplements the student's musical growth learned in concert band by exploring the language of jazz improvisation, harmony, music theory, form, and style. In jazz band, students will explore repertoire from all eras of the genre, including:

• Jazz Standards

• Bebop 

• Latin (mambo, samba, bossa nova, cha-cha, afro-cuban, etc...)

• Blues

• Jazz Fusion

• Ragtime

• Funk

• Soul

• R&B. 

Students will learn about performing, analyzing, and critically listening to this historical musical art form. In addition, students will study the process of transcribing solos, interpreting chord changes, improvisation, comping, arranging music, and a daily dose of jazz music theory.

In addition to the full big band experience, all jazz students will consistently work in smaller jazz combos of 3-7 students. These smaller combos will consist of a rhythm section and soloist winds. Students will choose and arrange the music selection for their combos, heavily emphasizing jazz standards. These combos will perform regular "gigs" around the Oro Valley community outside class time.

*Jazz Band Auditions are held in late spring to determine eligibility and placement within the ensemble. Music will be available in late February for the auditions held in early May.

*Private lessons are strongly encouraged for all students in this high-level ensemble*

Fall (Marching Band):

During the fall season, color guard members should sign up for Marching Band (MUS022), where they will be part of the Nighthawk Vanguard. This 8th-hour class meets from 5:00 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where our colorguard education team will work with the members, refining and enhancing the show while teaching basic to advanced skills.

Typical Weekly After-School Rehearsal Schedule:

Tuesdays (Full Marching Band w/ Staff):

• 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Thursdays (Color Guard Sectionals w/ Staff):

• 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Members of the color guard add depth, sophistication, and visual intrigue to our half-time production through modern dance, flag, rifle, and saber work. Opportunities for solos may arise depending on the needs of the show concept.

*Four Fall semesters of Marching Band (MUS022) may be taken in place of a P.E. class. Students can use this opportunity to fulfill their required 1.0 credit of P.E. requirement easily!

Spring (Winter Guard):

During the spring season, color guard members should sign up for Band Auxiliary (MUS013), which meets during the 8th hour, much like the marching band did during the fall. The spring semester is where the IRHS Winter Guard competes and performs. Like during marching band season, all guard members will be trained in movement, modern dance, flag, rifle, and saber work. Opportunities for solos may arise depending on the needs of the show concept. 

Competitions and performances typically occur on Saturdays, with occasional Friday evening shows.

Typical winter guard season schedule at a glance:

Late November/Early December: Clinics & Auditions

December - Early April: After School Rehearsals 

February - Early April: Competition Season & State Championships

Weekly After-School Rehearsal Schedule:

Tuesdays (Rehearsal w/ Staff):

• 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Thursdays (Rehearsal w/ Staff):

• 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Fridays & Saturdays (Rehearsals and Shows):

• As Needed

*Color guard members are not required to have any prior experience, but having a background in music, dance, or ballet is a strong predictor of success.

The Ironwood Ridge Indoor Percussion Ensemble is one of our pageantry arts ensembles, which meets during the spring semester, performing and competing around Arizona at various competitions. This ensemble consists of any students who wish to perform on drumline (snare, bass, tenors, cymbals, toms) or front ensemble (marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, drumset, piano, electric guitar, electric bass, concert percussion, timpani).

The ensemble has earned many accolades in the past decade, including recent appearances in the Winter Guard International Virtual Semi-Finals for Percussion Scholastic A Class. They were one of the top-placing groups in the country for 2021. In 2020, the group was undefeated at all competitions, eventually earning the title of 2020 WGI Phoenix Regional Champions for Percussion Scholastic A Class.

Like marching band, this group has a world-class faculty consisting of the same music and visual instructors from the fall season. The technique program, approach, and music style are all the same, allowing for consistency between the two seasons.

Typical indoor percussion season schedule at a glance:

Late November/Early December: Clinics & Auditions

December - Early April: After School Rehearsals 

February - Early April: Competition Season & State Championships

Typical Weekly After-School Rehearsal Schedule:

Tuesdays (Rehearsal w/ Staff):

• 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Thursdays (Rehearsal w/ Staff):

• 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Fridays & Saturdays (Rehearsals and Shows):

• As Needed