Electives

• Cadet Band: For those who have been playing a band instrument for two years or less and is also open to beginning students who ant to learn to play.
• Cadet Band Percussion: Open to all percussionists; no prior experience is required for enrollment. Focuses on fundamental snare and mallet technique as well as building strong music reading skills. This class is known as "The Bucket Brigade," playing on 5 gallon paint buckets
• Symphonic Band: Focuses on a select group of 8th grade students who have reached a high degree of playing proficiency.
  • (prerequisite: teacher recommendation and audition)
• Jazz Band: Learn contemporary musical styles, improvisation, and practical jazz theory. Mandatory performances.
  • (prerequisite: teacher recommendation and audition)
• Percussion Ensemble: For any student who would like to further playing skills with percussion instruments.

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Intermediate Choir: For students who want to improve their singing ability. This will continue to develop the student's music reading skills and will teach two and three-part harmony.

Advanced Choir: Open to students who have previous chorale experience. Choral literature will be studied using 3 and 4 part harmony. Placement will be determined by audition. Attendance is mandatory at all scheduled performances.

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(updated 1/22/26)

• Beginning Guitar: This is for students who have no experience on the guitar. Students will learn basic chords, note reading skills, and contemporary music styles. Students may rent an acoustic guitar from the school, but it is preferred they provide their own.
  • (Acoustic and classical guitars only)
• Intermediate Guitar: This is for students who are beyond the beginner level. Chording and note reading will be emphasized. Students must provide their own acoustic guitars.

From Dr. Samara Humbert-Hughes 

Orchestra Descriptions: 
Santan's orchestra class is a ONE-YEAR Elective. Each orchestra meets 2-3 times per week for just over an hour each time. 

Chamber Orchestra: This orchestra is an audition-only orchestra with primarily 8th graders but also includes some serious 7th graders as well. It is recommended that students auditioning for Chamber Orchestra have taken or are currently taking private lessons and/or have participated in Honor Orchestra in 6th grade. If you would like to audition for chamber Orchestra, please send Dr. Samara Humbert-Hughes an email. 

In this orchestra, we work on advancing our skills on the bow and the left hand including working in various key signatures, learning how to play different bow strokes, and some basic shifting and vibrato concepts. The music we play in Chamber Orchestra is challenging and meant to work students to “the next level” both in reading music and playing skills.

Chamber Orchestra gets to take a few Field Trips a year including at least one or two Orchestra Festivals where we go and play with and for other schools in the district. Chamber Orchestra performs three concerts at Santan each school year (December, February/March, and May).

Concert Orchestra: Concert Orchestra is for students who have been playing their instrument already for 1-2 years. This orchestra does not require an audition.

In Concert Orchestra, we will work on advancing our posture on the instrument, note-reading skills, and learning about the different bow strokes. The music we play in Concert Orchestra includes both unison pieces as well as pieces which introduce independent parts (playing in harmony). 

Concert Orchestra gets to take a few Field Trips a year including an Orchestra Festival in May. Concert Orchestra performs three concert at Santan each school year (December, February/March, and May)

• PE 8 - Year long
• PE 7 - Semester long
• Weight Training - Semester long

*These classes are not grade specific. You can take either, no matter what grade you are in.

PE: These classes offer a basic foundation of physical education by exposing students to a variety of individual and team sports. An emphasis is placed on promoting lifetime sports and physical fitness.

Weight Training: Students learn muscle names, their locations, exercises to increase specific muscle strength, fitness zones, heart rates, and goal setting.

• Spanish 7: An introduction to the language and culture of the Hispanic world. The student learns the basic vocabulary and grammar. Emphasis is on listening, reading comprehension, and simple conversational skills through role-playing, skits, and other interactive methods. This class is NOT designed for native speakers.
• Spanish 8: (prerequisite Spanish 7) This is a continuation of Spanish 7. Students who complete Spanish 7 and 8 will meet the requirements for entrance in to Spanish 2 at the high school level.