A Note About Band

Dear Parents,

Grade 6/7 parents have been asking, "Will there be band this year?"

Short answer, "No, there will not be band this year."  

...which leads to the question of "Why not???"

The main reason we are not having band is because our school has grown so much over the last 6 years, adding 4 divisions, that the music program has been cut back time wise for all students. There is one music room and one music teacher. I was full-time 6 years ago when we had 4 less divisions! So my music time is much less with all students. The bright side of this is that students are now receiving more library time with the fabulous Mme. Sullivan.

When I was able to teach band successfully around 6 years ago, we did not have split classes and I could teach just the grade 6's in one class and just the grade 7's in another. So it was possible to have a beginner band year, and then grow on that in the second year of the program and actually have the kids play high school level music in grade 7. But those were the Good Old Days when I had the grade 6 and  7's for one hour and 20 minutes, twice a week. 

Now I have split 6/7 and 5/6 classes of 30 students each, for either two 30 minute music classes a week, or one 30 minute and one 45 minute class. I'm a very fine music teacher. I am highly trained. I have taught band successfully before, but I am not a miracle worker. I cannot teach 30 kids, 8 different instruments, in one hour  a week. Nobody can. The kids  would be frustrated, and so would I.

So here is the good news: Mr. Becker is the amazing, kind hearted, talented band teacher at NDSS. When the students choose their electives for grade 8, they can choose band and have band classes for one hour and a  half a day for an entire semester! They progress soooo quickly!

Here is more good news...to  be a good musician, you need to have a deep, lived experience with music, as well as extensive knowledge about the elements of music: form, melody, harmony, dynamics, tempo, rhythm and meter. These elements can be taught using any instrument: recorder, ukulele, xylophones, drums, rhythm instruments and, especially, voice. The students are keen to try all of the instruments. So your grade 5, 6, 7 children will be receiving, as usual, a rich musical experience in the music room. 

We will be singing choral music, as well as doing rhythm and movement games to help internalize beat and develop the ability to sing, move and clap at the same time. They will know how to use music vocabulary and they will  be more than ready to learn an instrument in high school. And if they don't take music in high school, they will know what it is like to sing in a choir, play an instrument in an ensemble, and they will have a few songs to share around a campfire.

I am passionate about my music program. I have put my heart and soul into this program for 18 years. Parents have seen the fruits of my labours in the many shows in which the children have performed. I hear stories of kids singing at home.  Band is a wonderful thing, and music is much bigger than band. 

Regretfully, I am unable to be at this week's Open House because of a scheduling conflict. Please feel free to visit me in the music room Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays after school to take a look around or to talk with me.

Please email me if you have further questions: elorenz@sd68.bc.ca

Musically yours,
Elizabeth Lorenz