The music program is responding in a unique way to the concerns surrounding the spread of infections.  The majority of us play wind instruments.  Wind instruments are not inherently dangerous when it comes to the spread of infections, but there is an increased possibility from other day-to-day activities simply due to the fact that we breathe hot moist air into our instruments.  Our instruments tend to act as a barrier to the spread of illness, but they also collect whatever we breathe into it.  So this blog will give you resources on how to clean your instrument.

Did you know: After you get sick with a respiratory illness like a cold or influenza, you should replace your toothbrush once you're healthy again?
The same is true for anything porous that goes into our mouths.  This includes clarinet or saxophone reeds.  Drumsticks should also be replaced, as they can carry whatever ended up on your hands.  Mouthpieces of all instruments should be washed daily anyway, so that is not likely to be an issue.

Your instrument should be washed in some way on a daily basis.  For brass, clarinet and saxophone players, you can simply rinse out your mouthpieces on a daily basis, and that is usually good enough.  For clarinets, saxophone and flute players, you should swab your instruments daily as well.  Here are a few YouTube videos that can walk you through those processes.

Full, proper cleanings don't need to happen on a weekly basis, but should be somewhat more frequent than an average teenager considers.  Considering the most recent events, now is as good of a time as any.
For flutes, clarinets, and saxophones, this process isn't too challenging.  You do not bathe the instruments, and rather simply use cloths, but the manner in which you do so is also important, so that while you are cleaning, you don't accidentally cause damage.  Here are some videos that can help out with this (the information in the flute video is good for clarinet and saxophone players, the bari sax players get their own video though).

For Brass players, the process is a little more involved.  It includes using a bathtub.  In my opinion, a reasonable time frame for this type of maintenance on brass instruments is everytime there is a longer school break, such as during Christmas, Teachers' Convention, Easter, and Summer Holidays.  I might recommend due to current events, however, that now is a really good time to do this too.  The trumpet video also applies well to tubas and baritones.

The easiest answer: Call Long & McQuade or order online at www.long-mcquade.com.  If you call Long & McQuade, you can ask for the Band Department and order your reeds, cleaning supplies, or anything else, and ask them to deliver it either directly to your house (shipping charges may apply) or directly to the school (shipping charges would not apply, but it may take up to 3 weeks).  Alternatively, you can order online and have them ship it directly to your house.  Either way, you don't have to go into the store, but if you'd rather, I've also provided the address here.

• Option 1: Go to www.long-mcquade.com and order your supplies for delivery.
• Option 2: Call (403) 244-5555, ask for the Band Department, and place your order by phone with your credit card, asking them either to deliver it to your house or to Notre Dame Collegiate (make sure you say specifically to Joel Windsor in High River at Notre Dame Collegiate, there are a lot of schools with similar names out there).
• Option 3: Go to Long & McQuade at 225 58 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2H 0N8 and make your purchase in person.

Cleaning your instrument actually improves your sound quality, and therefore you sense of success.  Properly maintaining your instrument will also help it last longer, and require costly repairs less often.  Whether you are concerned about illness or not, a clean instrument is always the best way forward.

Dear Parents of Students in the Notre Dame Collegiate Music Program,
I write to inform you of the cancellation of all planned music trips, including all excursions to Airdrie, Lethbridge, and the already cancelled Toronto trip.  This decision comes as a result of the Alberta Chief Medical Officer's instructions to adopt aggressive new public health measures to prevent continued spread of the coronavirus known as COVID-19.
These aggressive measures include the cancellation of all events involving 250 people or more.  Although none of the events we have registered with have cancelled as of yet, we are cancelling our participation with the full knowledge that there will in fact be more than 250 each of the festival venues we anticipated performing at. Even soloists, who would normally be performing in classes with lower attendance, will be doing so in facilities that may be attended by other events, and so we can see no guarantee of meeting this and other criteria as set by Alberta Health.
Therefore out of an abundance of caution, we are cancelling each and every off-site music education activity.  We are sorry for the disappointment you feel, as we feel similarly.  We are instead exploring other opportunities for similar music educational opportunities without the risk to health and safety, but cannot guarantee anything at this point.
Please understand that our office staff will be working on reimbursing families in due course.  Music activities are not the only activities that have been cancelled, and it may take some time for office staff to process refunds.  If you paid using SchoolCashOnline, your refund will be processed faster, and will be returned to your method of payment.  If you did not pay by SchoolCashOnline, please do not come into the school to collect your refund until you have been informed that your refund has been processed.  Students will not be given refund monies directly.
We apologize for this inconvenience.  Please adhere to the medical safety protocol as has been distributed to you through Alberta Health and the school, and stay safe.
Contrapuntally yours,
​​​​​​​Joel Windsor

Consent Forms for All Airdrie-Based Trips are Due March 6, 2020
Transportation provided by Good Company Travel (56-passenger Coach).
$80 Fee. Accommodations at Super 8 Airdrie.  Breakfast provided.  Evening activities provided.
Minimum of 4 female chaperones and one male chaperone required.
Trips and Performances are a part of musical life in Concert Band.  Grade 7s get their first experience this month by performing at the Airdrie Rotary Festival of the Performing Arts.  While on the trip we will also visit Studio Bell in Calgary, as well as have some downtime.
We need chaperones.  We are not permitted to do a trip without adequate supervision, and this is something Mr. Windsor takes seriously.  If you are able to chaperone, please contact him directly at jwindsor@redeemer.ab.ca.
Students should pack their uniform (white no-logo undershirt, black pants, black socks, black shoes), dress-code appropriate nightwear, and swimwear (should they choose to go swimming), and cash for a dinner and a lunch (options are Wendy's, Tim Horton's, Smitty's and similar).  They should also have their instrument, their sheet music, and a pencil or three.
March 24 Itinerary

• Students depart Notre Dame Collegiate immediately after school
• 5:00 PM - Arrive in Airdrie, check into hotel, walk to dinner.
• 7:00 PM - Walk to Genesis Place for access to the pool.
• 9:00 PM - All back at the hotel
• 10:00 PM - Liturgy and Lights Out

​March 25 Itinerary

• 7:30 AM - Wakeup call and check out
• 8:30 AM - Drive to Bert Church High School, listen to first groups.
• 9:30 AM - Warmup
• 10:05 AM - Performance
• 10:30 AM - Workshop with Adjudicator
• 11:00 AM - Listen to one other group
• 11:15 AM - Depart for Lunch in Airdrie
• 11:45 AM - Depart Airdrie for Studio Bell
• 12:15 PM - Arrive at Studio Bell, self-guided tour
• 2:15 PM - Arrive at the Polaris Centre for the Performing Arts, 261051 Wagon Wheel View #8, Rocky View County, AB.  Warmup and Listening to other groups.
• ​3:00 PM - Arrive at Notre Dame Collegiate, catch regular busses back home.

We are still awaiting final details.  Please check back regularly for those announcements when they come.

As discussed previously, no further details have been fully finalized at this point, awaiting information from the Festival organizers.  Please check the blog post dedicated to the Senior Trip for any further information.