Welcome Grade 6 Families!

June 25, 2019 Update ...

We have cancelled our Rental Night for Instruments in June.  We will instead be renting instruments on Sept. 3, 2019.

If you want to rent your student's instrument early, please check your email for a message from Mr. Windsor regarding how to do that rental.  If you haven't received one, please email him for details.

---

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!

---

On different days in February and April, your students tried out four instrument-types; Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet and Trombone.  These are not the only instruments available, but they gave students an idea of what those types of instruments feel like.  Other instruments that are encouraged in Grade 7 Concert Band (a class offered inside the schedule) include Oboe, French Horn, Baritone and Tuba.  Saxophone is not included in this list of recommended instruments (frankly because Saxophone in Concert Band is boring), however students keen on the saxophone are encouraged to play Clarinet in Concert Band to develop skills in an interesting and fun way, and to play Saxophone in the after-school Stage Band where the Saxophone parts are more fun.

---

The alternative to the Band music class is known as "Academic Enrichment", a course that focusses on foundational skills including typing, learning how to hand write, specific study skills, organization, review of core course concepts, and then they do have the opportunity to complete homework as well.  It is designed specifically for those students who need to focus on those types of skills and activities.

Stage Band is one of three extracurricular music courses offered at Notre Dame Collegiate.  It is known as "The Woodshedders", and features saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and the rhythm section consisting of piano, guitar, bass and drumset.  The "Panorama" Steel Pan Ensemble is unique to Notre Dame Collegiate and features Caribbean Pan Drums, and also provides opportunities for bass guitar players and drumset players.  The brand new St. Cecilia String Ensemble is a beginning level string group with opportunities for those with some more experience as well.  It features violins, violas, cellos and string basses.  Students can choose to join any of these after-school groups.

With this information you have a better idea what music will be like at Notre Dame Collegiate.  For those of you who were anticipating an Instrument Rental Night in June we cancelled in favour of a Fall option.  We will instead be renting instruments on September 3, 2019.  If you want to rent your student's instrument early, please check your email for a message from Mr. Windsor regarding how to do that rental.  If you haven't received one, please email him for details.

---

I really am looking forward to next year of beginning band with your students!  It promises to be an exciting adventure together!

Email Mr. Windsor

Contrapuntally yours,
Joel Windsor, MME, RMT
Notre Dame Collegiate Music Education Specialist