The South Bay School of Music Arts is the "only" private music facility in the Bay Area that has these unique performance programs. Students with performance potential can play in their own bands and perform shows throughout the year all over the Bay Area. South Bay is the only music school that has band programs that teach contemporary music. At South Bay you can be in a rock band, sing in our Variety Show and learn how to play jazz in one of our jazz ensembles. Tuition is extra for participation in any of these groups.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A PRIVATE STUDENT AT SBSMA IN ORDER TO BE IN THE PERFORMANCE GROUPS

Studio Band Project and Farm Team

The Studio Band Project is SBSMA’s first and oldest performance project.
The South Bay School of Music Arts is the only music facility in Northern California that has this unique program in which students are placed in a band that plays contemporary music. All Studio Bands are part of the South Bay Kids performing troupe.

Students are grouped by age, ability and musical tastes. Newer younger students are placed in a “Farm Team” project. This class runs for 4 to 6 weeks. It usually begins in late October or November. Farm Team is designed to teach students how to play with other musicians in an “ensemble” situation.

Once Farm Team is over, students may be eligible to be in one of the bands or be part of a new band. The bands rehearse once a week for 2 hours. They learn a set of tunes and then rehearse a show. Bands play the show during our show season, which runs from May through October. The shows are usually “family oriented” events such as County Fairs, City and Church Festivals and corporate events.

Studio Bands are open to vocalists, guitarists, bass guitarists, keyboardists, drummers and horn players (for some bands.) Currently there are 8 bands in the Project.

Students are recommended by their teachers or you can contact Joe Santoro for audition information.

Ages accepted are 9 to 18.

There is a separate quarterly tuition of $100 for Studio Band participation.

Instructor for Studio Bands is Joe Santoro. JoeSantoro@sbsma.com

Variety Show Singers and VS2

The Variety Show Singers is a troupe of vocalists (male or female) who sing music of different styles. You do not need to be a student at South Bay to be in Variety Show. Variety Show Singers are SBSMA’s goodwill ambassadors of song and perform more shows than any other performance group. The Troupe prepares songs for several “theme” shows each season. In 2000, there will be 5 “themes” for the singers. Those styles will include: Current Pop, Country, Oldies, Broadway/Show tune/Standards and a Children’s oriented show (a la Disney). The Variety Show Singers are also involved in the Holiday Show which performs from Thanksgiving weekend up to Christmas.

The singers work on vocal technique, musicianship and stage presence. We use minus tracks for instrumental back up. Members will have separate “privates” in order to work on their songs before and during show season. Show season for Variety Show is almost year round.

Singers who are studying at SBSMA but not taking voice will have to audition for a spot.
All new singers will need to prepare a song to sing in front of the troupe (your first performance!) Vocal students are recommended by their teacher or you can contact Joe Santoro for audition information.

Ages accepted are 9 to 18.

There is a quarterly tuition fee of $100 for participation in Variety Show.
In addition, there is a $75 per year fee to help cover the cost of background tracks, blank CDs, sheet music and other necessities.

VS2 is a vocal troupe for the new singers who want to perform. This is a non performing group. When the singers are ready they will perform or be moved to the main perfoming troupe. Singers will work on stage vocal techinque and stage presentation of their songs.

Variety Show and VS2 Instructor is Joe Santoro. JoeSantoro@sbsma.com

Jazz Ensembles

The Jazz Ensembles are very similar to the Studio Bands, except that these groups play jazz, standards, fusion and Latin music.

There are currently two jazz ensembles, one adult combo and a Big Band which is a combination of the two groups with the addition of some other players.

Entrance to these groups is limited and is by teacher recommendation or audition.

The ensembles perform at many of the same venues as the Studion Bands and Variety Show Singers. The Ensembles also perform separate “jazz oriented” concerts in town and around the community.

There is a separate tuition fee for participation in Jazz Bands.

Instructor for all the Jazz Ensembles is Morry Goldstein.

Wind Ensemble

The SBSMA Wind Ensemble is similar to a “school band” and is open by invitation or by audition only. The ensemble includes winds, brass and percussion players. The band plays a variety of ensemble literature.

The band performs a minimum of 2 concerts per year, usually June and December.
The Concerts are held in the Milpitas area.

There is a quarterly tuition of $60 for participation in Wind Ensemble.

The instructor for Wind Ensemble is Morry Goldstein.

A Look at our Performance Groups:

Jazz Ensembles

Wind Ensemble