Introduction
What are you looking to study? The SCC Music Department has a lot to offer! From Afro-Latin percussion to jazz big band to orchestra, we have an ensemble for any instrument. All our ensembles perform at least once per semester. The SCC Night Jazz Band performs at The Nash, in downtown Phoenix, and the Community Band performs at locations across Scottsdale.
Click the headings below to learn more about each ensemble.
Ensemble Names
The Scottsdale Concert Band, sponsored by Scottsdale Community College, is an adult community band established in 1977. The Scottsdale Concert Band is the longest standing ensemble at SCC. At the band’s inception, it was a small group, and today has over 60 members. Membership in the band is by audition only. The members of the band range from teenagers to retirees. The Scottsdale Concert Band's repertoire includes marches, overtures, show tunes, jazz, seasonal and holiday music, and much more!
We are honored to have attracted large and loyal audiences who have supported us over the years and look forward to performing again in 2022!
The SCC Flute Ensemble is a 6-10 member chamber ensemble open by audition to advanced high school, college and community flutists. Members possess advanced rhythmical, technical and reading abilities and perform with well-developed tone. Rehearsals are held on Monday nights from 7-9pm at Scottsdale Community College. The ensemble performs at least four times per academic year.
We hope the SCC Flute Ensemble will fit your musical needs and be a source of enjoyable music making for you!
The guitar ensemble focuses on group performance through jazz, classical, popular and world music repertoire. The group gives students an opportunity to explore structured improvisation and part reading. Both classical and jazz performance etiquette is covered and utilized. In addition to the official ensemble concert additional optional on and off campus performances are offered throughout the semester.
These are small jazz groups intended for instrumental music majors as well as some community members. The instrumentation for these groups are Guitar and/or Piano, Bass, Drum set, and one to three horns. All Jazz Performance Majors are required to participate in one of these groups. The Jazz Combos perform a broad variety of styles and genres of music from Early Jazz to Contemporary and Fusion Styles. Combos are consistently performing around campus, as well as off campus. They participate in festivals, record CDs and attend visiting artist’s clinics. Rehearsals are held one day a week. Rehearsal times are to be announced. Visitors are welcome at rehearsals!
This is a Jazz Ensemble intended for instrumental music majors as well as some community members. The instrumentation for this ensemble is 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Drum set, and an occasional vocalist. All Jazz Performance Majors are required to participate in this ensemble. The SCC Jazz Band performs a broad variety of styles and genres of music from Early Jazz to Contemporary and Fusion Styles. Members participate in a minimum of four concerts per year, participate in festivals, and attend visiting artist’s clinics.
Rehearsals are held two days a week; Monday and Wednesday from 3:30pm to 4:50pm in MB-119. Visitors are welcome at rehearsals!
This is a Jazz Ensemble intended for community members with vast amounts of performance experience. The instrumentation for this ensemble is 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 5 trumpets, Guitar, Piano, Bass and Drum set. The SCC Jazz Band performs a broad variety of styles and genres of music from Early Jazz to Contemporary and Fusion Styles. This ensemble has completed five European tours: twice appearing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. Members participate in a minimum of four concerts per year, participate in festivals, and attend visiting artist’s clinics.
Rehearsals are held one day a week; Mondays from 7:30pm to 9:30pm in MB-119. Visitors are welcome at rehearsals!
The SCC Community Orchestra is an adult community organization sponsored by Scottsdale Community College in Scottsdale, Arizona. The orchestra rehearses from 7:15pm to 9:30pm Thursday evenings, beginning in August and continuing through the academic year into May. Members include advanced high school students as well as adults. Free-to-the-public performances are held on the college campus each semester. In addition, off-campus rehearsals/performances may occur in Scottsdale and surrounding communities.
The quality of music performed by the orchestra dictates a minimum level of instrument mastery and general musicianship. Additionally, a high level of commitment in terms of preparation and attendance is expected. The purpose of the interview/audition is to determine if the prospective member can meet these requirements. At the same time, the prospect can determine if the orchestra will meet his/her expectations. Membership should be mutually rewarding.
The orchestra is now accepting members in all sections. Music scholarships are available. For more information, please contact the Music Department at (480) 423-6333.
The SCC West African Drum Ensemble (WADE) is a learning as well as a performing ensemble. Recent semesters have focused on Sabar from Senegal, but the style and region of musical focus may vary from one semester to another. Appropriate drums are provided and prior experience, either in reading music or playing an instrument, is not required for this course; the only prerequisite is a desire to understand the music and recreate it as faithfully as possible.
Emphasis is on developing memory, observational, and aural skills to learn the music, as well as on acquiring coordination and correct technique for playing the instruments. The music is taught as it would in the culture, that is, through oral tradition: students learn by watching, listening, following, and repeating. Students are strongly encouraged to use memory to retain the rhythms, songs, spoken word, folklore, historical development, and origins of material as it is presented.
The SCC Wind Quintet is a chamber ensemble open by audition to advanced high school, college, and community musicians. Members possess advanced rhythmical, technical, and reading abilities and perform with a well-developed tone. Rehearsals are held in person on Saturday afternoons from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Scottsdale Community College.