THANK YOU

Many of you came in tonight to get your students an instrument rented.  You either were able to do so through Long & McQuade (flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone) at https://rentals.long-mcquade.com/ (Calgary Chinook store) or using their paper form, or you rented your large instrument (tuba, bari sax, bass clarinet, cello) from Notre Dame Collegiate.  Those involved in percussion/steel pans will have their fees automatically added to SchoolCashOnline for it.

Please also remember to get basic equipment for your instruments (care kits for your instrument, reeds for clarinets/saxes/oboes/bassoons, rosin for strings and end-pins for cellos).

It went REALLY fast!  We were done by 7:15 PM!  That's the fastest rental night I've ever had.  I hope you all know how much I value that you took time in your busy schedules to make that happen, so thank you again.

The downside is that with the evening being so successful and so fast, I had very little opportunity to say hello to you all.  Please know, despite the lack of direct interaction, I truly value you, and thank you for coming out tonight.

It's also okay if you were unable to make it.  You can still rent your instrument from Long & McQuade at https://rentals.long-mcquade.com/ (Calgary Chinook store).  I recommend you do it immediately, though, to ensure that your rental is included in the delivery they will be making on Thursday.

If you need to rent an instrument through Notre Dame Collegiate, including secondary instruments for Stage Band, and you couldn't make it, you will need to schedule a time to meet with me to make that happen.

Some new dates to consider;

• Senior Band first time with instruments is tomorrow
• Steel Pans start tomorrow, Wednesday, September 13.  Senior Panorama is right after school until 4:45 PM.  Junior Panorama is from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
• Grade 8 and 9 Bands first time with instruments is Thursday, September 14
• Senior Jazz starts Monday, September 18 after school.
• Grade 7 Band's first time with instruments is Friday, September 15
• Strings starts Tuesday, September 19 after school.
• Junior Jazz (Woodshedders) starts Thursday, September 21 after school.
• Our Startup Clinics date is TBA, as we are trying to choose a day that is as ammenable as possible for the other classes at the school

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR STUDENTS' MUSICKING AT HOME

• Students should practice.  Practice sessions should usually be around 15-20 minute sessions at regular intervals throughout the week.  I usually suggest students practice on days they don't have band.
• Practice tools are provided by the school, including BandLab where they can practice with recordings.  They would require a digital device with Internet connectivity to access BandLab.
• Students need a safe practice space.  Students won't be making beautiful sounds on day 1.  Even after 4 years, they may occasionally make some absolutely awful sounds.  They need to feel safe in the space they practice in to make those mistakes, because by having that safety, they will be able to grow their skills with the confidence of not being judged for the mistakes they make along the way.  If they have that safe space, the end result (which you will hear at our concerts) will be truly inspiring.
• All students have written and theory assignments they can complete.  Some students with Internet access on their phones can get much of that work completed on long car rides.

That's a good start for now.  Thank you once again for your support of your students' musicking, and for coming in to help them get the best equipment for their learning!

God bless,
Joel Windsor