Band programs in Round Rock ISD are widely recognized for excellence! Band is a fully curricular academic enrichment course, and the curriculum is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills as required by SB 815 and the Texas Education Agency. Instruction in brass, woodwinds, and percussion typically begins in Grade 6 in our district, and we strongly encourage students to enjoy a continuous and sequential band experience through high school and beyond. Beginners are typically taught in homogeneous instrument classes, although they combine as a full band for at least two performances during the year. The focus in the first year is on developing correct playing fundamentals, ear training, and music literacy. When students reach seventh grade, they are placed in a full band setting.

Middle School Band performances may include fall, winter, and spring concerts, along with the Round Rock ISD Festival of Bands, University Interscholastic League contests, and occasional performances around the community. Students are also encouraged to perform solos and in ensembles at the Round Rock ISD Solo and Ensemble Festival in the spring. On occasion, middle school bands do travel to perform at various festivals across the state. Some of the middle schools also have jazz ensembles available either as an available class or as an extracurricular opportunity.

Round Rock ISD High School Bands are a vibrant component in the life of the school and the community. In the fall, students participate in marching band, which is an extracurricular component of the “curricular” band experience. Marching bands rehearse outside normal school hours, while the curricular TEKS-based musical instruction takes place during the band periods during the school day. Marching bands perform at all football games, and also participate in University Interscholastic League competition as well as other competitive festivals. The Round Rock ISD marching bands are highly competitive, and perform sophisticated music with complex visual drills enhanced by our color guards.

Concert Bands perform multiple concerts throughout the year, as well as UIL and other competitive festivals. The bands periodically take a major trip, but will travel in-state most years to festivals or special events. Jazz Ensemble is offered as an additional option at most campuses, either as a curricular course or as an extracurricular opportunity. Most students participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest in February. Some students also perform in full orchestra either for concerts or contests. The band and orchestra directors work collaboratively to provide this special enrichment opportunity.

Band students in grades six through twelve are highly encouraged to take private lessons as a part of the optional Individual Music Instruction Program. Financial aid is available to students for this specialized instruction, provided in large part by our very active band booster organizations.

Round Rock ISD is proud of its strong choir middle school and high school choir programs. Choir is a fully curricular academic enrichment course, and the curriculum is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills as required by SB 815 and the Texas Education Agency. Although students may join choir at any time during their secondary school career, we strongly encourage them to start in sixth grade and enjoy a continuous and sequential vocal music experience through high school and beyond. In sixth grade, or at any beginner level, the focus is on developing correct fundamentals, vocal safety, music literacy and ear training, and a love for singing alone and with others. We strongly encourage boys to join choir at an early age, and our directors guide them through their voice changes.

Middle School performances may include fall, winter, and spring concerts, along with district wide contests, Texas Music Educators Association auditions, University Interscholastic League contests and occasional performances around the community. Students are also encouraged to perform solos and in ensembles at the Round Rock ISD Solo and Ensemble Festival in the spring. On occasion, middle school choirs travel to perform at various festivals across the state.

Round Rock ISD high school choirs are highly involved in the life of the school and the community, and perform multiple concerts and special variety shows throughout the year, as well as University Interscholastic League contests and other competitive festivals. There are numerous vocal ensembles, including mixed choirs, men’s choirs, women’s choirs, and show choirs, and sometimes madrigals, as well as numerous small ensembles. Many choir students also participate in musical theatre productions, which on most campuses happen every other year. Our choirs periodically take a major trip, but travel in-state most years to festivals or special events. Most students participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest in February and have the opportunity to compete in the Texas Music Educators Association district auditions and possibly move on to All Region, Pre-Area, Area and State.

Choir students in grades six through twelve are highly encouraged to take private lessons as a part of the optional Individual Music Instruction Program. Financial aid is available to students for this specialized instruction.

Our choirs are widely recognized across Texas and beyond and typically receive numerous honors and accolades for excellence in performance.

The dance programs in Round Rock ISD are known statewide as the innovators for dance in public education. Many times our dance programs set the standard for the state of Texas and provide outstanding examples of instruction of the art of dance. Our programs are fully curricular academic enrichment courses, and the curriculum is aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.

Round Rock ISD dance programs begin at the middle school level where each of our 10 middle schools offer dance classes. Dance meets the physical education requirement for middle school students. The curriculum in Round Rock ISD combines the art of dance with other disciplines to provide opportunities for students to dance and study healthy living. In the fall, each middle school participates in the district dance event, INTERSECTION and in the spring, a campus show.

Round Rock ISD high school dance programs are full of opportunities for a dancer. Vibrant and highly competitive dance teams are on each campus and provide a team approach to the study of dance. Dance teams participate in activities each year including football season performances, contests, and spring shows. Each campus offers Dance I-IV and our Visual and Performing Arts Academies offer a specialized opportunity to study ballet, jazz, and tap during the school day. Students receive a fine arts and/or physical education credit for dance. Our dance students are encouraged to study each discipline, choreograph, and audition for summer intensive programs to continue their knowledge of dance.

In our Arts Integration Academies at Berkman, Voigt, and Wells Branch elementary schools, students have the opportunity to think creatively, make connections and gain cultural understanding through dance. While exploring movement, students will learn everyday skills such as problem solving, collaboration, exploration and wellness. Working in a dance studio environment, each child is given the opportunity to explore disciplines such as jazz, ballet, tap and creative movement. Our goal is to use the arts to meet each student’s social and emotion needs, as well as creating future artists and patrons of the arts.

Students in the Round Rock ISD Elementary Music program learn essential skills through the Aligned Round Rock Curriculum (ARRC) that focus on timeless and broad concepts employing the elements of music literacy, singing, moving, and the playing of instruments.

Students experience rich instruction in music that teaches the foundations of music reading and writing through the use of singing songs and games as well as the playing of instruments and movement to music.  Additionally, students experience essential music knowledge through the elements of music, its history, cultures from various countries, while developing critical thinking and problem solving skills. They become familiar with a wide range of music and will relate their work to topical and historical events.

Students also learn how to talk about musical experiences and share their interpretation, thoughts and appreciation about various works of music. The Round Rock ISD Elementary Music program provides sequential music content and unique learning experiences at each grade level that helps students become continue their mastery of music at middle school or become learned consumers of music and the arts.

In our Arts Integration Academies; Berkman, Voigt, and Wells Branch elementary schools, students have the opportunity to learn and perform with the violin using elements of the internationally renowned Suzuki instructional approach.

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki created this method of teaching students to play string instruments.  Dr. Suzuki believed that all children have the talent to learn if taught by loving and encouraging teachers and parents. Research shows that playing a string instrument can positively affect students’ abilities in core subjects, such as math, science and reading.

The Suzuki Method develops the whole child and provides lifelong skills, such as listening, observation, memorization, and concentration. Students learn discipline and focus, and they gain self-confidence, all of which can be applied throughout life.

Students in our Elementary Strings program take one small group lesson each week during school and attend one group session each week after school. A parent is encouraged to accompany the student at the private lesson as well as to attend group sessions after school. When students practice at home each day after school, the adult serves as the student’s home teacher.

There are many opportunities for performances, including recitals, Chalk Walk, and the new Elementary Strings Festival that takes place in the Spring. The K-5 Elementary Strings program provides the foundation for the district’s secondary orchestra programs.  

In our Arts Integration Academies at Berkman, Voigt, and Wells Branch elementary schools, students in elementary theatre have the opportunity to employ creative movement in order to think creatively, make connections and gain cultural understanding. Creative Movement is a joyful way for children to explore movement through music, develop physical skills, channel energy, stimulate imagination and promote creativity.  Creative movement uses body actions to: communicate an image (the wind), communicate an idea (a journey) or communicate a feeling (strength).  While exploring creative movement, students will learn everyday skills such as problem solving, collaboration, exploration and wellness. Working in the theatre studio environment, each child is given the opportunity to explore voice, body, self-awareness, story, realationships, narrative, parts of a play, play production, performance and much more. Our goal is to use the arts to meet each student’s social and emotion needs, as well as creating future artists and patrons of the arts.

Harp:  In conjunction and complementary to the district’s orchestra program, harp instruction is offered at many of our middle and high school campuses.

Piano: Based at Cedar Ridge and Westwood High Schools, our high school piano program instructs students from the basic skills in playing and reading music through advanced performance.  Piano is a specialized course offered through the Visual and Performing Arts Academies.

Mariachi: Based in the Stony Point Learning Community, traditional mariachi is taught as a specialized offering at the middle school and high school levels.  Our mariachi students perform at many local and civic events.

Round Rock ISD is known across the state for its outstanding Orchestra program! Orchestra is a fully curricular academic enrichment course, and the curriculum is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills as required by SB 815 and the Texas Education Agency. Instruction in violin, viola, cello, and string bass typically begins in Grade 6 in our district, and we strongly encourage students to enjoy a continuous and sequential orchestra experience through high school and beyond. In sixth grade, the focus is on developing correct fundamentals, music literacy, and a love for the instrument. Beginners typically perform at least two concerts during the year.

Middle School orchestra performances may include fall, winter, and spring concerts, along with University Interscholastic League contests and occasional performances around the community. Students are also encouraged to perform solos and in ensembles at the Round Rock ISD Solo and Ensemble Festival in the spring. On occasion, middle school orchestras do travel to perform at various festivals across the state. Some of the middle schools also have mariachi ensembles available either as an available class or as an extracurricular opportunity. On some campuses, students combine with wind and percussion students for “full orchestra” performances.

Our Harp program is managed through the Orchestra departments on each campus. Students taking private lessons on harp also participate in the orchestra, and in many cases have the opportunity to use school-owned harps.

Round Rock ISD high school orchestras are a vibrant component in the life of the school and the community, and perform multiple concerts throughout the year, as well as University Interscholastic League contests and other competitive festivals. Our orchestras periodically take a major trip, but travel in-state most years to festivals or special events. Most students participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest in February. Most of the students have the opportunity to also perform in “full orchestra” when winds and percussion join with them for concerts or competitive performances. The band and orchestra directors work collaboratively to provide this special enrichment opportunity.

Orchestra students in grades six through twelve are highly encouraged to take private lessons as a part of the optional Individual Music Instruction Program. Financial aid is available to students for this specialized instruction.

Round Rock ISD is proud of its strong theatre programs. Theatre is a fully curricular academic enrichment course, and the curriculum is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills as required by SB 815 and the Texas Education Agency. Although students may join theatre at any time during their secondary school career, we strongly encourage them to start in sixth grade and enjoy a continuous and sequential theatrical experience through high school and beyond.  The award-winning Theatre Arts program of Round Rock ISD provides opportunities for students to develop their creative talents.

Classroom training and campus theatrical productions allow students to explore and create through the development of acting skills, physical movement, use of make-up, costuming, lighting, sound, set design and construction.

Middle School performances may include fall, winter, and spring productions, along with district wide contests, festivals and occasional performances around the community.

Round Rock ISD high school theatre students and faculty are highly involved in the life of the school and the community, and craft a full season of shows as well as University Interscholastic League (UIL) contests and other competitive festivals.

Our theatre programs are widely recognized across Texas and beyond and typically receive numerous honors and accolades for excellence in performance.

All five high schools in Round Rock ISD (Cedar Ridge, McNeil, Round Rock, Stony Point, and Westwood) offer fine arts programs of study. The State of Texas House Bill 5 has put in place an endorsement for Arts and Humanities. Pathways include: Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Art. Our coherent sequence for the Arts and Humanities endorsement is based on the following:

* Visual Art – Four credits of Visual Art: Art I plus any combination of the offerings in Art II, III, and IV (painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, photography, 2D/3D AP design, etc.), as long as at least one Level III or IV course is included)

* Performing Arts – Four credits of sequential classes in up to two of the following strands: Music, Theatre or Dance, as long as at least one Level III or IV course is included. (For example, a student might take courses in both Theatre and Dance, or courses in both Music and Theatre.)

In addition to the pathways of study in visual and performing arts that are offered at all five of our high schools, there are unique courses offered for students at Cedar Ridge High School and Westwood High School. These programs increase course choices and allow students to study some subjects in greater depth. Areas of specialized courses are in visual art, music, theatre, and dance. These unique courses include, but are not limited to, instruction in Ballet, Tap Dance, Jazz Dance, and Piano Performance.

To learn more about the academies, please choose the pathway of study for the campus with which you are interested:

The Visual & Performing Arts Academy at Cedar Ridge High School

The Visual & Performing Arts Academy at McNeil High School

The Visual & Performing Arts Academy at Round Rock High School

The Visual & Performing Arts Academy at Stony Point High School

The Visual & Performing Arts Academy at Westwood High School