A high quality music program with a great tradition of success.

Students from the Santa Susana Instrumental Music Program have gone on to attend many prestigious colleges, music conservatories, and professional industries including Berklee College of Music, CSUN, CalArts, UCLA, Pershing’s own Military Band, Broadway, Hollywood, and many more.At Santa Susana, we cultivate a culture of inclusion, family, and positive experiences for students.  Through our many collaborative performance opportunities, students and parent boosters along with many local stakeholders work together to put on fun, entertaining, engaging, and challenging performance opportunities.  We host the SCSBOA Music Ratings Festival here on campus.  This event is widely respected in Ventura County and allows for many Southern California Bands & Orchestra's to have a professionally adjudicated Festival Experience.As an entity, the program is growing in size, stature, and in it's ability to connect and serve its community.  As a home for students to individually grow, SSHS Instrumental Music is a wonderful place for students to call 'home' while developing into caring, qualified, and vibrant young humans.

Community involvement also gives the SSHS Instrumental Music the ability to perform at the Reagan Library, and various local events in Simi Valley. Working with expert professional performers and teachers also gives the students professional level experiences. With opportunities throughout the year to collaborate with theatre, film and stagecraft students, as well as professionals in the industry, instrumental music students will gain an understanding of all of the options within the music profession. Most importantly, students get to take part in three instrumental music concerts per year, each with its own theme, allowing band & orchestra students to develop their performance skills in front of a live audience.

Certificates are offered to students who complete the coursework for an academy emphasis in Instrumental Music. Students who complete the certification program will leave with a portfolio of works performed in ensemble and solo performances and a comprehensive understanding of different genres within instrumental music. Information on Certification can be found here, Instrumental Music Pathway

Academy Course List

(Total 60 Credits)

Production Orchestra (10 Credits)
As the capstone course, Production Orchestra performs World Class Musicals twice a year (Grade Levels 4,5,6 and beyond).  The Musical level is straight from the Professional Productions and require the most developed of skilled Instrumental Technique.  Instrumentation for this class is based on the selected shows on a yearly/semester basis.  Students in Production Orchestra are required to also participate with Orchestra II’s Festival Performances, and private lessons are encouraged along with Auditioning for additional Honor Groups.  This class has significant after school time commitments such as approximately 2 weeks of Tech/Show Call Times.  In addition to Tech, this group rehearses period 8 which meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-5pm.

Entertainment Ensemble (PE Credit/Marching Band on Aeries) (10 Credits)
This Ensemble is designed for 9-12 Instrumental Music Students to embellish their performance skills with movement, stage skills, and music/visual coordination aspects of live performance. This class is available for Instrumental Music students from ALL INSTRUMENT FAMILIES, and of ALL LEVELS OF TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT.

Students taking Entertainment Ensemble for PE credit but MUST ALSO BE ENROLLED in an approved/auditioned Core Instrumental Music Class at the same time.  (i.e. Orchestra I,II, Jazz).  Instead of fielding competitive Field Shows, this group will learn 2 stage performances that will be featured at high profile events throughout the community and Greater Los Angeles Region along with both Fall Concerts, Spring Concert, and School Rallies. Future Performances may include the Ronald Reagan Library, Halftime Entertainment at Large Sporting Events, Traveling and performing at Various Sightseeing Destinations (i.e. Hawaii, Europe, various U.S. etc.).

Orchestra I  (Wind Ensemble on Aeries) (10 Credits)
This ensemble is designed for our underclassmen and is considered a core music class focusing on the classic fundamentals of musicianship. It consists of woodwinds, brass, and percussion students with prior fundamental training. Literature will range from grade 2-4 throughout the year based on appropriate application. Emphasis will be placed on the fundamentals of individual and ensemble responsibilities. The Concert Band performs in the fall, winter, and spring concerts, the SCSBOA Santa Susana Festival in March, and graduation.

Orchestra II  (Orchestra on Aeries) (10 Credits)
This ensemble is designed for our upperclassmen and is considered a core music class focusing on the classic fundamentals of musicianship. It consists of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion students who are developing into more advanced skill sets and abilities. Literature will range from grade 3-5 throughout the year based on appropriate application. Emphasis will be placed on more challenging and simultaneous performer responsibilities.  Orchestra II performs in the fall, winter, and spring concerts, our Home & Road Shows, Music Ratings Festivals in the Second Semester, the Ventura County String Exchange (for string players), and graduation. Private lessons are encouraged.

Jazz Ensemble (10 Credits)
For Rhythm Section members (Piano, Jazz Guitar, Drum set, Standup Bass), Brass Section (Trumpet, Trombone) and Woodwind Section (Saxophone family).  This class is intended for moderate to advanced instrumental woodwind, brass, and rhythm section musicians to study the elements of jazz literature and improvisation.  Big Band and Jazz Combo components will be utilized for all students to maximize performance and learning opportunities. Depending upon Combo participation, some combos may be performing at a myriad of school and local community events. Many event invitations occur throughout the year and are chosen based on student availability and investment. The entire class will perform at both fall concerts and the spring concert, Swing Night in February, several Jazz Festivals in the Spring Semester and graduation in June.