The Marching Band, Concert Band and the Jazz Band are the main groups of the band program and receive full academic credit as co-curricular classes. Other extra-curricular ensembles in the program include the Pep Band, Jazz Combos, Drumline, and many chamber groups.
(Brass Quintet, Trumpet Choir, Low Brass Choir, Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, Saxophone Choir, Brass Choir and Woodwind Choir)

The Dubuque Senior High School Bands have a long tradition of excellence. Our main groups have consistently scored at the divisional I level at local, State, and National Contests. The band program boasts a multi-faceted, performance-based curriculum that addresses student needs across the board. Students of the band program may receive instruction in traditional based performance skills to contemporary improvisational techniques of the twentieth century.

The Jazz studio will be featured in concert on Saturday, May 19 at the Dubuquefest Celebration on the main stage at the town clock in downtown Dubuque from 12pm through 3pm.

Our last concert of the year will be on Thursday, May 17 - the Awards Concert. Admission is free. The concert will take place in the DSHS Auditorium at 7:00pm.

The band play at Graduation, the Drumline parading in with the graduating class.

Band/Music Appreciation:
Bill Rowley
wrowley@dbqschools.org
5603
(Director of Bands, Theory Instructor, Jazz Instructor, Lessons on Brass and Woodwinds)

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The primary goal of the DSHS Band program is to provide a well-rounded education for the students of the band program in typical instrumental pedagogy and band related activities in the State of Iowa.

Secondary goals include providing opportunities for students to learn many aspects of leadership, social, emotional, and spiritual skills through performance in music to facilitate success in life.

The Marching/Concert Band program rehearses every day 5th hour. During the Marching Band season, the Ram Marching Band and Color guard rehearse an additional night rehearsal (per week) to help combine all aspects of the competitive show in the fall. DSHS Band Syllabus

The Jazz Bands rehearse at 6:40am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during the school year, and the jazz combos meet as needed to address performance skills. Jazz Band Syllabus

The Chamber groups usually meet during the "C lunch Mod" on specially designated days throughout the year, to prepare for performances. All groups follow a carefully delineated plan per rehearsal to address upcoming performance demands.

Since the program is very diverse, we have a handbook for the DSHS Music Department that includes policies and rules for all music students.

We recognize the fact that students join our groups for a multitude of reasons and embrace student differences while maintaining an expectation for excellence, a good work ethic, and perpetuating a tradition of very successful performances.

We also offer a multi-level music theory class that is now available from beginning students through advanced students. Music Theory Syllabus

In the last ten years, the DSHS Band program has won 1st or 2nd place trophies in 5 national competitions for Concert Band, earned consistent Superior ratings at the State Music contests for Marching, Concert, and Jazz Bands, and started a jazz combo program that has earned national recognition (Winner of the 1st place trophy at the 30th Annual International Jazz Festival at Western, Illinois, 2003).

Out of the 47 4A high schools in Iowa, the DSHS Concert Band was the only 4A high school band selected to perform at the 85th Annual Iowa Bandmasters Association State Conference on Friday, May 11 at the Marriott in Des Moines. This is one of the highest honors a band program can receive in the State of Iowa! Their performance includes many tribute pieces to some of the icons of the DSHS Band program including Ferdinand DiTella - original founder of the music program at DSHS, alumni Jack Jenney - the most sought after trombone player in the world during the late 1940,s, Floyd Rundle the director of Bands at DSHS for over 30 plus years, business partners the Colt's Drum and Bugle Corps, Alumni Dr. Hunter Fuerste, a featured trombone soloist on our concert and director of the American Vintage Jazz Orchestra, alumni Adam O'Dell - a commissioned composer in three different states to date, and of course all of the members of the current DSHS Concert Band. Wow! An amazing experience indeed.

In addition, two band members Jon Fuller and Colin Niemer were selected for the State Honor Jazz Band. This is a very high honor as the competition for this is quite steep. Those 47 4A high schools students compete for the honor of being selected for an 18 member jazz band. Considering the average size of bands at 4A schools is around 100 that's potentially 4700 students competing for 18 spots in this group. Kudos to Jon and Colin!

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