Tuesday, Sept. 21st:  Grade 7 WOODWIND rehearsal (flutes and clarinets only) in the band room *Grade 7 Brass (trombones, tubas, baritones, French horns and trumpets) will rehearse next Tuesday (Sept. 28th) in the band room  

Wednesday, Sept. 22nd:  Grade 8 early am band  

Thursday, Sept. 23rd:  Grade 9 early am band  

The school doors will be open by 7:30 am on early morning band days and students are asked to be in the band room no later than 7:45 am.

Grade 8 and grade 9 early morning band practices are canceled for Wednesday and Thursday.

We are able to have extra-curricular rehearsals in the band room this week in smaller groups spaced 6 feet apart!

There will be an early morning band class this Thursday, September 16th, for all beginning students who were not able to attend band camp. Students who have had private lessons or previous instruction at another school are not required to attend.

The doors will open at 7:30 and students are asked to be in the band room by 7:45.

Thank you!

In light of the school closures announced today in Charlottetown we have decided to cancel the grade 8 and grade 9 early morning band rehearsals which were scheduled for this week.

There will be a grade 9 early morning saxophone class on Tuesday.

Take care everyone!

I’ve received a few emails about this so I thought I’d send a quick note to let you know that grade 7 students do not need to bring their instruments to school on the first day. Grade 8 and 9 students are asked to bring their instruments back to school on Wednesday if possible. Thanks!

It was fantastic to meet so many East Wiltshire grade 7 students at band camp, and I am really looking forward to seeing all of the grade 8 and 9 band students next week!

Please find below some information to help us all get the year off to a great start.

Communication

My school email address is ampeters@edu.pe.ca. I do not check the Google Classroom address (ampeters@cloud.edu.pe.ca) on a daily basis, so please use the primary email address.

Please check the band page regularly for news: https://eastwiltshireschoolband.com/ .  I would recommend that you follow the blog by adding your e-mail address on the home page. This will allow you to receive e-mail notifications when new posts are added. There is also a link to the band blog on the main East Wiltshire School blog (Click on the Band News link at the top of the page).

Google classroom is another tool that students will be using again this year to support their learning in the band program.  Every band class will have their own Google Classroom and every student will be given a code to join their classroom during their first band class of the year.  Assignments, due dates, and learning resources will be posted regularly in Google Classroom. 

Band Rehearsals

Please find below the tentative weekly early morning  band rehearsal schedule for 2020-21. 

Tuesdays:  Grade 7 early morning band (Beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 21st)

Wednesdays: Grade 8 early morning band (Beginning on Wednesday, September 15th)

Thursdays:  Grade 9 early morning band (Beginning on Thursday, September 16th)

Jazz band: To be announced

Students are asked to be in the band room ready to play at 7:45 a.m. on early am band days. The main doors to the school will be open at 7:30 a.m. 

Should it be necessary to make any changes to the rehearsal schedule, students will be informed, and updates will be posted here on the band blog.

Thank you for your past and future support in providing transportation for your children to early morning band classes!

School Supplies for Band Classes

Students are asked to please bring the following supplies to band classes.

-a pencil

-a ½ inch or 1 inch binder (black if possible)

Optional, but useful:

-10 protective plastic sleeves (for 3 ring binders)

-a music stand to facilitate home practice

Band Fees

We will be collecting a $25 band fee from each student again this year to cover the cost of band supplies (reeds, valve oil, cork and slide grease, etc.). Please do not include this fee with the September school fees.  I know that September is an expensive month so the band fee will be collected in November at the end of the first reporting period. 

Instruments

Cleaning protocols for each instrument will be reviewed with students in September. Students will be asked to adhere to current safety guidelines by not touching other instruments in the band area and by following the current guidelines for cleaning their own instruments.

Students are responsible for the care and maintenance of their instruments throughout the year.

Early Morning Band Cancellation Policy

There may be times when I have to cancel or reschedule extracurricular practices. I will always give you as much notice as I can when this happens.

Should a rehearsal be canceled, an announcement will be made at school the day before if possible. If I have to cancel in the morning, an announcement will be posted on the band blog and in Google Classroom by 6:30 a.m. and a group e-mail will also be sent. Please ensure that there are no school cancellations or delays before leaving for band practice. School cancellations and delays which affect East Wiltshire will result in the automatic cancellation of early morning band rehearsals.  

Band Concerts

Participation in band concerts is a highlight of the band experience, and attendance at scheduled performances is a required element of the East Wiltshire band program; please note concert dates as they are provided, and mark them in your calendars. If conflicts arise, please contact me in advance and we will work it out together.

I am looking forward to a great year with the East Wiltshire band students!





I hope everyone is having a great summer! I just wanted to send out a reminder that this year’s beginners only band camp will be held next week (Monday, August 23rd to Friday, August 27th) from 9:00 am – 11:30 am at Colonel Gray Senior High.

Please visit the Band Camp website for up-to-date information:

https://sites.google.com/cloud.edu.pe.ca/bandcamp/home

Instrument assignments for band camp are listed below. Please note that everyone was accomodated this year with their first or second instrument choice. Changes to instrument selections cannot, unfortunately, be made for band camp. I encourage students to keep an open mind, be prepared for new challenges, make new friends, and to have fun learning to play a new instrument next week!

This year’s beginners only band camp will be held from Monday, August 23rd to Friday, August 27th from 9:00 am – 11:30 am at Colonel Gray Senior High.

Please visit the Band Camp website for up-to-date information:

https://sites.google.com/cloud.edu.pe.ca/bandcamp/home

Congratulations to all of the band students on their excellent performances at the concert on Tuesday evening.  I was very proud of each performing group, and it was a pleasure to share all of the music we have been working on with such an appreciative audience.

Thank you to Andrew MacAdam, Jaime Cole, Kara Smith, and Angela Griffiths for their support throughout the evening, and thank you to everyone who attended for your cooperation with all of the extra rules and guidelines.

A few housekeeping notes:

Students are reminded to please continue to bring instruments, books, and sheet music to band classes until the end of the school year so that we can continue to play, and so that we can complete the necessary instrument and book inventory updates for the summer.

Thank you!