More than fine, actually.  We had a wonderful year.  But as all good things must come to an end, here is what you need to know to wrap this year up for music for your student.

They will need their instruments throughout this coming week, but will not need it any further after June 19.  Grade 7s are playing through a few simple assignments, and older students need to complete their List A, B and C pieces if they haven't already.  If they have not submitted these playing tests, please help your student complete them this coming week.  It's their last chance.

If you've rented an instrument through Long & McQuade or St. John's Music, you have two options available to you.  If your student is continuing on in music, do not return the instrument.  It will affect the rent-to-own program you are likely on (exceptions may exist, but very few of them).  Instead, have the instrument maintained.  You can make those arrangements in their store or by calling them.  If your student is not continuing on in music, you must make arrangements with the store to get it returned.  Mr. Windsor will not be returning any instruments on your behalf this year.
If you've rented an instrument through Notre Dame Collegiate, your instrument needs to be returned to the school in the same condition it was in when you got it.  This return date will be during school hours on either June 18 or 19, depending on which is your student's last band day.  Please ensure your instrument is at the school that day.

If your student is passionate about their instrument and they are moving into Grade 9 or higher, the answer is an absolute "yes" if it can be managed by your family.  Open tone-hole flutes are the best thing to upgrade for flutes.  For clarinets and saxophones, a full instrument upgrade isn't always necessary, the mouthpiece is the recommended component to upgrade (the rest of the instrument is usually fine).  For brass instruments, upgrades tend to be less necessary when money could be better spent on maintenance supplies, but trombones with an F-attachment can be a very useful upgrade.  For percussionists, having a set of instruments at home is always ideal, but more importantly percussionists should have their own drumsticks, yarn mallets, hard plastic mallets and timpani mallets in their own mallet bags, especially in Grade 9 and higher.  For other instruments, please feel free to send me an email to discuss.

All sheet music lent to the students must be returned to Mr. Windsor.  If students want a copy, they can request it of Mr. Windsor.

If you noticed photos of your student at the Year-End Concert that you'd like a copy of, please send me a request at jwindsor@redeemer.ab.ca.

Ask your Grade 8-12 student how their progress is on each of the following items;

• List A, B and C pieces (some performed at Festival, and therefore have already completed some of these).
• Breezin' Thru Theory
• Breezin' Thru Composing
• The Proteus Saxophone Quartet responding assignment in Google Classroom
• Any bonus work they wanted to submit

Also, students will be completing a final written component of the class focussing on listening, theory and history.  This will take place on June 18 or 19 depending on which day they have band, and we are working towards those tasks now.  Please understand that even though the final concert is complete, the beat goes on!

Music is such an important part of our lives, and it is such a significant component of your children's identities.  Your support is invaluable, and I thank you for encouraging them to explore this part of their being, and allowing me to be a part of that learning and development.  You have wonderful kids, and I'm privileged to be a part of their lives!

Our Year-End Concert is on Wednesday, and it promises to be a really fun show!  We also introduce our Hall of Fame that evening, so bring your cameras!

Due to an unidentifiable communication problem, we have decided to delay our Instrument Rental Night for HSA families until June 19 at 6:30 PM.  We are sorry for the inconvenience, but we want every student to have the best opportunity to get the instrument they desire.

​If you have seen this message, the communication problem has been resolved.  To help us know that the communication problem has been solved, please fill out the Grade 6 Enrollment Survey below.

Dear Grade 6 Families,
   It is my pleasure to be a part of welcoming your family to Notre Dame Collegiate, and helping your students be prepared for the transition!  Transitioning to Grade 7 is relatively straightforward, and there are very few things that we need your input on to get your student completely ready for NDC.
   First, all students will need to decide their involvement in Band at NDC.  I encourage every student to study music, as there is plenty of research showing music as the only field of study that helps students systematically develop connections between every area of the brain, develop their own character and express their own personalities, and develop the 21st century skills of collaboration and creativity all within that same area of study.  That, and it is a huge amount of fun!