Hello Martin Area Band Families,
As was announced earlier on March 9, the STF went into work-to-rule sanctions beginning Thursday, March 12. Regina Public Schools has also been taken steps to address the COVID-19 virus.
We know you and your students will also have many questions
about how this will affect our upcoming band events. As we learn more, we will continue to communicate to you as timely and clearly as possible. Here is what we currently know:
ALL BAND CLASSES CANCELLED (FULL BAND & SECTIONALS): we received notice of this decision the morning of March 16, 2020. This is effective as of 12:45pm March 16, 2020.
SCHOOL-OWNED INSTRUMENTS:
- Must stay at school for the time being.
- FEES: we will be giving families a refund for instrument rental based on the percentage of time used. More information on this will come as procedures are confirmed.
JAZZ BAND: starting Thursday, March 12, jazz band must
be discontinued/put on hold until STF sanctions come to an end.
SPRING TOURS/CONCERT: cancelled until further notice.
OPTIMIST FESTIVAL:
- CURRENT STATUS: POSTPONED: On Thursday, March 12 we received the following message from the Optimist Festival committee: “The Band Festival currently slated for March 23 – 27, 2020 is hereby postponed indefinitely. The STF sanctions, a challenge themselves, are almost unsurmountable but with Covid-19 concerns now in the Province of Saskatchewan, we feel it’s prudent to postpone at this time. Cancellation at a future date is a distinct possibility. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
- FEES: if you have already paid your optimist fee and/or picture order forms, we will be keeping them on hold until we hear if the Festival is postponed or cancelled.
- PICTURE FORMS/PAYMENTS: if you sent in a picture order form with a cheque/cash/credit card information you should have already received a personal email from Mrs. Swann addressing the return of cash/shredding of cheques/credit card information. If you have not, please email her at robin.swann@rbe.sk.ca
WHAT CAN MY CHILD DO TO WORK ON THEIR MUSIC AT HOME?
- Continue working through red/blue method books. There are free recordings of every single piece online that students can listen to if they get stuck!
- There is plenty of free music online! Look up your favourite pop songs, show tunes, video game themes!
- Some instruments are in the same key and register as another instrument, meaning they can read off each other's music. For example, a bass clarinet player can play a piece labelled for trumpet. This can be useful as it could be easier to find 'Star Wars' for trumpet than 'Star Wars' for bass clarinet, but the bass clarinet player can play off a trumpet page!
- Clarinet/bass clarinet/trumpet/tenor sax = have the same notes
- Trombone/euphonium/baritone = have the same notes
- Flute/bells = have the same notes
- Alto sax/bari sax = have the same notes
- French horn and tuba are in their own keys/registers and can't really share music with another instrument type unfortunately.
- Play free music games online! Example link.
- Find free music theory sheets online!
- Learn a song by ear!
- Research history about their instrument and how it came to be part of wind bands and orchestras.
- Research famous musicians who specialize on their instrument - watch/listen to their performances online!
- Videocall a friend or family member and perform a concert for them!
- Compose your own piece - and for extra work try to notate it proper on staff paper! Staff paper templates can be found for free online.
- Test your tempo skills - find a find metronome online and play a short piece with it. Try to work on getting it faster and faster - and for an extra challenge, try to play it really slow without rushing. Metronomes don't lie!
- If students want teacher feedback, feel free to send us videos of them playing and we will respond with tips and tricks for them where needed!
Thank you for your patience as understanding as we navigate through these next few weeks and months!
UPDATED AS OF MARCH 18, 2020 - 1:45PM
UPDATED AS OF MARCH 18, 2020 - 1:45PM
