We are missing 3 tuba mouthpieces from instrument cases. If your tuba player had a home instrument last year, could you please check to see if there is an extra mouthpiece lying around? They are surprisingly expensive to replace, and we would love to get them back! Thank you 😊

I am looking forward to meeting all of the new grade 7 band students this week and to welcoming back the grade 8 and 9 band students! 

*If you no longer have a student in the band program, you can unsubscribe to the band blog/automatic emails here: https://eastwiltshireschoolband.com/

I know there is a LOT of information being shared at this time of year, but here are a few notes to refer to as we begin to get the band program back in full swing:

Grade 7 students do not need to bring instruments to school on Thursday. Grade 7, 8 and 9 band students are asked to please bring instruments back to school on Friday if possible.

The school email address that I check on a regular basis is ampeters@edu.pe.ca

Band Website: Students are always informed and reminded about upcoming band rehearsals and events, and they are responsible for being aware of the band schedule.

In order to support students, parents are asked to please subscribe to the band website in order to receive emails about upcoming events, rehearsal schedule, updates, etc. (see pictures below). I like to keep all of the band information in one easy to find place, so I don’t usually send mass emails through PowerSchool after the first week or two. If you have any questions at all about receiving emails through the website, please let me know and I will be happy to help.

To subscribe on a laptop, chrome book, or desktop:

To subscribe on a Mobile Device (Phone/Tablet): Scroll way, way down to find this option

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.  Assignments, due dates, and learning resources will be posted regularly in Google Classroom. 

Early Morning Band Schedule (Fall 2024)

Extra-curricular early morning band rehearsals will begin after we have completed a full 6 day cycle.  Please note the dates below.

Tuesdays, 7:45 a.m. Grade 7 early morning band (we will start with sectional rehearsals)

Woodwinds Only (Clarinets and Flutes): Tuesday, September 24th

Brass Only (Trumpets, Baritones, Trombones, Tubas): Tuesday, October 1st

Wednesdays, 7:45 a.m. Grade 8 early morning band (First rehearsal: Wednesday, September 18th)

Thursdays, 7:45 a.m. Grade 9 early morning band (First Rehearsal: Thursday, September 19th)

Grade 8-9 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 doors to the school will be open at 7:30 a.m. Please send me an email if your child is unable to attend a rehearsal so that I can record the absence as excused.

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

Instruments

Students are responsible for the care and maintenance of their instruments throughout the year. Cleaning and maintenance protocols for each instrument will be reviewed with students in September. Students will be asked to adhere to safety guidelines by not touching or playing instruments other than their own, and by following the guidelines for cleaning their own instruments. 

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.

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.

A detailed outline of the early morning band cancellation policy can be found on the blog: https://eastwiltshireschoolband.com/cancellation-policy/

I am looking forward to another great year with the East Wiltshire band students and their families!

I hope everyone is having a great summer! Band Camp 2024 is just a few days away 🙂

Please visit the Band Camp website for camp dates, times, camper information, and all of the most up-to-date information:

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

Band camp instrument assignments for East Wiltshire beginners are listed below. All students have been assigned one of their top three choices. I encourage students to make new friends, embrace new challenges, and to have fun learning to play a new instrument next week!

See you soon!

I am wrapping up all of the band camp registrations today, and it would be really helpful to me if you could check the list below to make sure that I haven’t omitted anyone, or made any mistakes transferring the information from the paper and online forms to this alphabetical master list. Please check carefully to make sure your student is signed up for the correct instrument (especially if they have switched to sax or percussion) and level at camp.

*Grade 8’s who are moving to saxophone have been registered as beginners for now. This can be changed after the first morning of camp if the instructors feel that they are ready to play in the intermediate band.

If you see an error, please send me an email at ampeters@edu.pe.ca so that I can make sure that the registrations that I send to the band camp director tomorrow are correct. Thank you so much!

Summer Studios spots are still available for flute, brass, piano, or percussion. Registrations will be accepted registrations up until July 1. (Clarinet and sax studios are full.)

I am very happy to let you know that the carpet in the main part of the band area is being replaced this summer! It would be very helpful if grade 7 and 8 students would please take their instruments home for the summer on Monday. There is no expectation for students to practice during summer vacation, but the instruments will be safer at home while the work is being done.

Instruments may also be picked up during school hours on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thank you, and have a great weekend!

The grade 8 band students will be going a field trip tomorrow, Monday, June 17th in the morning. We will leave EWS at 10:00 am. Students will be bowling at Murphy’s Community Centre from 10:30-11:45 and then we will stop at Wendy’s for lunch before returning to school. Weather permitting, we may go outside for an activity during period 4. Students should be prepared to return to regular classes at 2:00 (5th period).

*Students should also bring money for lunch if they wish to eat at Wendy’s.

Thank you!

Randall Standridge is a very successful teacher and composer. We played two of his band pieces this year (Dark Beginnings and Bazaar) and his work is always popular with students and band directors.

He explains this post further:

Dear Music Students,

Take it from someone who knows.

In 8th grade, I almost quit band. I had gotten frustrated because I was being challenged past my natural talent, and things were suddenly “hard.” I did not quit, and I can’t imagine how different my life would be if I had.

Now, it would be very easy for you to say “Oh, SURE Randy Standy, you became a professional composer, so of COURSE, your life would be different, but that doesn’t affect ME!”

And you’d be wrong.

It wasn’t just my teaching and composition career I got from band.

It was self-discipline that has made me a successful adult.

It was work ethic which has been a key to my career.

It was being willing to stick with things, even when they get hard, something that had added longevity and strength to my marriage (26 years and counting!)

It was a sense of self worth and self pride, something I desperately needed in my middle and high school years as I figured out who this Randy Standy person was supposed to be.

It was friends that always had my back.

It was mentors that always believed in me.

Music class is so much more than learning to perform notes and rhythms.

It is learning to be successful at whatever task is set before you and learning to work with and trust those around you.

I hope you’ll stick with it.

I really do.

It will change your life…

…if you let it.

Peace Love and Music

Good morning! Welcome back to our grade 9 travellers. Please find below a few reminders as we move toward the end of the 2023-24 school year:

1. Grade 9 students were asked to pass in their band vests (labelled with their name) at the final concert. A list of students who still need to take care of this is posted on the grade 9 Google Classroom. It costs $45 to replace an embroidered EWS vest, so please return *Grade 7 and 8 students do not need to turn in their uniforms.

2. Saxophone and Percussion audition times for grade 7 students have been posted in Google Classroom. Auditions will be held from Tuesday-Thursday and I was able to give all students their preferred time (early morning, lunch time, or after school). Students should check the audition pages here on the band website in order to be prepared for their audition. Good luck to all!

3. Band camp forms are available in the band room and the online form is available here on the band website. We usually have a large group of EWS students at the camp and I hope that this year will be no different. *Financial assistance is available for those who may need it. Please contact Mrs. Peters for details.

4. Students who borrowed large instruments for home practice this year are asked to please return these to Mrs. Peters in the band area this week. We will be starting our June inventory next week.

5. All grade 9 band instruments will be kept at school to be used for band classes beginning next week.

Thank you!