Grade 5-8 Music Parent Information Evening Date Monday, September 19, 2022 Grade 5 Instrumental Music Program Information Parent Evening 5:00 pm (Learning Commons) Grade 6 Instrumental Music Program Information Parent Evening 6:30 pm (Learning Commons) Grade 7 & Grade 8 Instrumental Music Program Information Parent Evening 7:30 pm (Learning Commons)
Grade 9-12 Music Parent Information Evening Date Thursday, September 29, 2022 7:00 pm (Learning Commons)
WMPS Annual General Meeting Thursday, September 29, 2022 6:15 PM (Learning Commons)
Instrumental Music Program at both School and Home Throughout the school year, these students will be encouraged to record short clips of their at home practice. Our Music students will continue to rent their current instruments from Long and McQuade Music store, St. John’s Music store and/or WCS. The music stores and school will repair and sanitize instruments as needed. Teachers will only repair and sanitize WCS instruments, as needed before and after school.
Multifaceted Music Curriculum & Instruction For Grade 5 to Grade 12, our current in-class Music instruction, will include composition units, percussion techniques, recording techniques, rhythmic techniques, keyboard/ mallet techniques, handbells, music theory, music history, and interdisciplinary projects that involve Music and learning to play an instrument. The Grade 5 students will begin wind instruments on October 4 at our Gr. 5 HeadStart small-group learning evening. The Grade 6 students will begin wind instruments on September 29 at our Gr. 6 HeadStart small-group learning evening. The homework instruction for Grade 6 to Grade 12 students will involve practicing their wind instruments and submitting brief recordings of their at home practice sessions. This particular learning development can occur, as these students have the basic facility already in place from prior years of learning.
Sanitizing Practices For in-class work, the sanitizing practices for handbell handles and percussion sticks will occur before and after each user. We have purchased new percussion equipment to minimize sharing for all of our percussion students. Sanitizer will be provided and available for any student that wishes to sanitize their chair and stand at the beginning and/or ending of each class.
Name Tag Policy & Seating Plan Students will not be allowed to share music folders, books, or wind instruments of any kind. A strict name tag and labeling policy will help to ensure safety. All folders have been labelled by the teachers. All of the instruments must have a name tag with the child’s first name, last name and Grade level. Hand sanitizer will be provided at the door upon entry to class for students that wish to use it.
Support for Music from WMPS & WCS Our Westmount Charter Music Parents’ Society will continue to support the students’ learning of Instrumental Music at WCS. The WMPS Executive Board will continue to meet throughout the year in several meetings and we will host an AGM. Current Band Room Renovation The renovation of our new WCS Band Room is almost complete and we can't wait to show it to everyone. This gorgeous new learning space takes into account many important factors for our student musicians. Our beautiful new learning environment will be viable for our students for many years to come.
Fall Update Common Music Program Questions & Answers
Will Grade 5 and Grade 6 Parents have to rent an instrument from Long and McQuade Music this year for Band? Yes, we have included instrument rental instructions from Long and McQuade Music store, so that you can arrange an instrument for your child through an online booking process. Please select Ship to School and the Calgary Chinook location. The instructions are included below. Please complete this online booking process by Sunday, September 25, 2022. All of the students’ instruments will be delivered to school before our special Headstart evening and they will be placed in a Band locker for your child. Meeting this deadline is important, so that we can set-up your child’s Band locker before Headstart night. Also, we do not want them to start, until after they work with the professional symphony musicians and garner the beginner techniques.
How do I rent an instrument for Grade 5 Band? Both St. John's Music store and Long & McQuade Music store rent instruments to families. This year we have included the website link and a few instructions for families so that the instruments get shipped directly to WCS. Long and McQuade Music store will work with you to guide you through the instrument rental process if you have questions. Flutes, Clarinets and Trumpets are rented from Long & McQuade. Trombones and Baritones will be rented from the WCS school inventory for Grade 5. The invoicing for the WCS Trombones and Baritones will occur online when you pay your school fees near the end of October. A few families may already privately own an instrument and that can be used as well.
When are the HeadStart Clinic Masterclasses happening for the new Band students? The Grade 6 & new Grade 7 & Grade 8 student Masterclasses will be on Thursday, September 29 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Grade 5 student Masterclasses will be held on Tuesday, October 4 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
What does my child learn at HeadStart night? They learn how to set up and care for their instrument properly. They learn breathing techniques that will help them play the instrument. They learn the first five notes they will need to know for Band class and they learn helpful techniques that are specific to each instrument. They learn in small groups of 2 to 4 students with a symphony musician for 2 hours. HeadStart night goes from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. We have found that after HeadStart night, the students feel comfortable and prepared to learn a new instrument.
Should I purchase an instrument for my child? Not yet, we only recommend purchasing a woodwind or brass instrument for your child if they are continuing in Band in Grade 7. Most music stores have a rent to own program. We strongly discourage parents from purchasing an instrument over Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace. Over the first couple years, our WCS students often learn a couple different instruments before they pick their favourite.
What is the best way to keep informed regarding special news, rehearsals, fundraisers, band camps and general Music Program information?
Please check the WCS Music Program website to keep current on Program News, weekly rehearsal schedules, fundraisers and special news. https://westmountchartermusic.weebly.com/ The member login and password for the private gallery page will be sent to you soon. Monthly information emails will also be sent directly to families.
Instrument Rental Information Here is all the information required for the Long & McQuade flute, clarinet and trumpet ONLINE Rentals. Please use this link to access the online rentals and book an instrument for your child. Please note, Trombone and Baritones are rented from the Westmount inventory and that will be invoiced with the school fees. The WCS inventory for brass instruments is offered to keep the cost much lower for families.
https://rentals.long-mcquade.com/ When you are completing the ONLINE rental, when you get to the Contact Information Page at the bottom of that page, it is very important that in the drop down box Preferred Long & McQuade Location that you select "Calgary Chinook".
Then in the next drop down box please select Ship OR Pickup: Please select "Ship to School"
This way the online Westmount rentals will come directly to the same store and they will be processed and delivered to Westmount before the Headstart evening.
