Join the Oakton Band! 

**ALL BANDS ARE OPEN TO 9th GRADERS**

Marching Band ◊ Concert Band ◊ Color Guard ◊ Jazz Band ◊ Drumline ◊ Indoor Winter Guard

Band “Mythbusters”

1. It is possible to do athletics and band.
2. You can do clubs and honor societies and band.
3. You can do band all four years and still get the most advanced diploma.
4. You can still get into a great college without taking every AP class.

Important Dates

• 8th Grade Auditions: April 15 (woodwinds) and April 16 (brass/percussion)
  • You may audition on the other day if you have a scheduling conflict
• Marching Band online registration begins May 1^st
• Mandatory new marcher meeting May 13^th
• Marching Band camp: July 29-August 9, 2024

Questions?

Ask Dr. VanValkenburg (@email)

Mr. Godinez, Director // @email // @_mrgodinez_ // @oaktonchorus

Classes are differentiated by voice types & skill level:

Soprano Alto Chorus - Course #928516

• No audition necessary. An intermediate level course with 30~ members
• This class is good for all students
• Most 9th grade and first year 10-12th grade Sopranos & Altos (higher voice types) go here
• Commonly called “Treble Chorus”

Tenor Bass Chorus - Course #928517

• No audition necessary. An intermediate level course with 30~ members
• This class is good for all students
• Most 9th grade and first year 10-12th grade Tenors & Basses (lower voice types) go here
• Commonly called “TB Chorale”

Advanced Treble Chorus - Course #928916

• Audition required. A weighted (.5) advanced level course with 24~ members
• Mostly 10-12th grade Sopranos & Altos. 9th graders in this course almost always take private lessons and were in their advanced chorus in middle school.
• Commonly called “SA Chorale”

Advanced Mixed Chorus - Course #928915

• Audition required. A weighted (.5) mastery level course with 20~ members
• Mostly 11th-12th grade students with exceptional 10th graders. 9th graders in this course almost always take private lessons and were in their advanced chorus in middle school. All voice types
• Commonly called “Oakton Singers”

Why Should You Join Oakton Chorus?

By, current chorus students

• You don’t have to know how to sing to join! Mr. Godinez will teach you how.

• Sense of community.

• Leadership opportunities

• Relaxed, friendly, inviting classmates & teacher.

• Mr. Godinez is the best teacher. He is so friendly and encouraging and I always feel uplifted after classes.

• I get to try out to be in All District & All State chorus.

• Our concerts are soooo good.

• Lots of opportunities for me to hang out with friends and attend socials

• Mr. Godinez is really flexible. I play football and do chorus and I don’t have to choose.

• You can do a lot of stuff and be a big achiever, or just be a member. There is never pressure to do too much.

• I look forward to chorus every day. We work really hard, but it never feels stressful.

Oakton Chorus is growing, and we’d love to have you!

• 2021-2022: 67 singers     

• 2022-2023: 73 singers 

• 2023-2024: 90 singers    

•  2024-2025: 98 singers 

• 2025-2026 ?? 

If you are interested in SA Chorale or Oakton Singers:

Auditions will be held live at Oakton HS in our brand new Chorus Room!

Room 1901, near the back of the school (entrance door #8) in Mid-April. 

• Rising 9th graders that are in chorus: please prepare the piece you sang for District Chorus in middle school. Some students may also be asked to sight read to determine placement. 

• Rising 9th graders not in chorus: please contact Mr. Godinez to receive a 60 second long song to prepare. Some students may also be asked to sight read to determine placement. 

• Rising 10th-12th graders: please contact Mr. Godinez to receive a 60 second long song to prepare. Some students may also be asked to sight read to determine placement. 

Classes are differentiated by skill level:

Orchestra 1, Orchestra 2 and Orchestra 3 “Oakton String Ensemble”

• Orch 1: Course #923815 - no audition required
• Orch 2: Course #923816 - audition required
• Orch 3: Course #923915 - audition required 
• most rising freshmen will be placed in this ensemble and have a great time! 

Orchestra 4 “Junior Varsity”

• Course #923916 - Audition required
• Mix of all grade levels - freshmen who audition into this ensemble nearly always take private lessons, were section leaders in their middle school’s top performing ensemble and participate in events such as district orchestra and solo and ensemble 

Orchestra 5 “Varsity”

• Audition required
• Freshmen are most often not ready for this level yet
• Predominantly juniors and seniors taking several years of private lessons

My intention with ensemble/class placement is always the individual growth of the student and their success. All rehearsals are focused, fun and feature engaging, high quality music. 

Auditions

Auditions will be held live at Oakton HS in our brand new Orchestra Room! Room 1908, near the back of the school.

We’ll be holding walk-in auditions in Late March.

Monday March 24 from 3:30-5:30 and Tuesday March 25 from 3:30-5:30

If neither of those dates/times work for you, please reach out to Mr. Oppenheimer to explore an alternative audition procedure. The email address can be found at the bottom of this info sheet.

Please prepare 1 major scale and 1 melodic minor scale that demonstrate your range and technical ability - 2 or 3 octave scales are preferred. Also, prepare 60 seconds of a piece of your choice that you feel demonstrates your best playing. It can be either solo or orchestra music - your choice. :) Some students may also be asked to sight read to determine correct placement. 

Questions?

Email me at:   [email protected]

If you are in need of a fun, hard-working community, Oakton's Theatre Department is the place for you!

Why you should take theatre

• Builds teamwork, multitasking skills, confidence, and responsibility
• Amazing and welcoming community
• Encourages creativity
• Students in Theatre 3 and 4 and Tech Theatre 3 and 4 get a 0.5 GPA boost

Theatre Arts 1 Course Description

Students will work on projects that follow FCPS P.O.G. guidelines. Students will collaborate, be goal-directed and resilient, they will be creative and critical thinkers as well as global and ethical citizens.

These projects include but are not limited to:

• Improvisation games
• Studying Greek Theatre and mythology
• Learning and performing stage combat scenes
• Performing critique and review writing
• Solo performances focusing on vocal and physical characteristics
• Children's Theatre
• Silent movies
• Choreography
• Puppetry
• Script Writing 

Technical Theatre Course Description

Pre-requisite: Theatre Arts 1 or a recommendation from a middle school theatre teacher

• First Quarter
  • Safety manual
  • Genie Lift Certification
  • Dramaturgy
  • Set Design for 2 fall shows: Set, lights, costumes, makeup, sound effects, posters, programs
• Second Quarter
  • Fall productions
  • Strike sets
  • Store all costumes, lights, props
  • One Act festival
  • Assist with Drama 2 productions
• Third Quarter
  • Implement designs for One Act Night
  • Run Soap Opera Murder Mysteries
  • Tech VHSL
  • Begin to design and build Musical
• Fourth Quarter
  • Implement designs for Musical
  • Crew for Musical
  • Running Crew for Musical
  • Strike musical set

Questions?

Email Ms. J at [email protected]

Guitar

• Guitar 1: 924515
  • This course is an intro level course for students to learn how to read music and play in a classical style. Students learn the foundations of guitar technique here. 
  • Any grade level can take this course.
• Guitar Ensemble: 924518 (prereq: Guitar 1 or audition)
  • Students must audition into this class.
  • Students will play pieces collaboratively with their classmates in an ensemble setting.
  • This class performs at extracurricular concerts.
• Guitar Ensemble 2: 924519, Weighted +0.5 course (prereq, Guitar Ensemble 1 or equivalent audition)
  • This course is a continuation of Guitar Ensemble 1.
  • This class performs at extracurricular concerts.

Piano

• Piano Lab 1: 925515
  •  Students have the chance to learn at the level that they currently are, and work independently to improve their skills. 
  • Students who are self-motivated, diligent, and patient succeed in this class.
• Piano Lab 2: 925516  (prereq: Piano Lab 1)
  • Students who enroll in Piano 2 were successful in Piano Lab 1. It is a continuation of Piano Lab 1. 
    
     

AP Music Theory

• Course ID: 922604; weighted 1.0 course
• Open to grades 10-12
• The study of music theory is a tool for musicians to better understand the music in

which they are studying. From the College Board: “AP Music Theory is an introductory college-level music theory course. Students cultivate their understanding of music theory through analyzing performed and notated music as they explore concepts like pitch, rhythm, form, and musical design.”

• Students taking AP Music Theory should be able to read and write musical notation and have basic performance skills with voice or an instrument.

Musical Theatre

• Course ID: 143060
  • Open to grades 10-12
  • Students will grow their singing, acting, and dancing skills in a small group setting
  • Students will prepare auditions, perform scenes, and learn the history of musicals