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Concert Bands at Notre Dame Collegiate are our main instrumental program. We host four concert bands; Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, and Senior (Grades 10 through 12). Each of our Concert Bands meet during the school day, but their programs increase in challenge and depth of musicking. These programs are instructed by the lead instructor in the Fine Arts, Joel Windsor.
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The Grade 7 Concert Band class includes a unit of instruction in Marching Band, which happens in the Spring of every year. Additionally, The Senior Concert Band tends to go on long-distance trips, and historically has visited Disneyland once every three years.
Jazz Bands, sometimes referred to as Stage Bands, are known as the Woodshedders. At the junior high grade levels, these students participate in a Big Band format similar in instrumentation made popular by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra. They will often play some rock, pop, swing and even latin tunes arranged for their group. Senior high students will elect to play either in a Big Band, or rather in small jazz combos characteristic of coffee shops or blues club venues. While both age levels have a strong focus on improvisation, the senior students in jazz combos are constantly improvising by reading from the Real Books of jazz standards, as well as transcribing their own musical selections. These students are also instructed by Joel Windsor.
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Notre Dame Collegiate is one of only a handful of educational institutions, high school or post-secondary, that have an active Steel Pan program. Junior Panorama is our student ensemble with students from Grades 7 through Grade 9, and Senior Panorama is for students in Grades 10 through 12. This ensemble is an award-winning ensemble, and is in high demand in our community and area for live performances.
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Steel Pan musicians will be assigned one instrument they will interact with, and will need to have their own mallets that are not to be shared with anyone else. One set of each of these mallets will be made available to each student.
Notre Dame Collegiate is also one of only a handful of secondary schools that have an active Strings program in Alberta. The St. Cecilia String Ensemble was made possible through a Band-Aid Grant from MusiCounts, and Notre Dame Collegiate is very grateful for this contribution. The St. Cecilia String Ensemble consists of individuals in Grades 7 through 12 playing violin, viola, cello or double bass.
Students can now earn High School credit for this course and junior high students earn marks on their report card as well. Violins and violas are rented through Long & McQuade. There is a limited number of cellos available rented through Notre Dame Collegiate, but they are also available for rental through Long & McQuade.
Students can now earn High School credit for this course and junior high students earn marks on their report card as well. Violins and violas are rented through Long & McQuade. There is a limited number of cellos available rented through Notre Dame Collegiate, but they are also available for rental through Long & McQuade.
Tools All Music Students Will Need
Provided By The School
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Provided By The Student
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Band UniformOne aspect of effective performance is presentation. To ensure each band’s presentation is of the highest caliber, students are required to wear a uniform during performances and field trips. The jacket shown is our uniform. Students are required to wear any type of white shirt (without logos) underneath, black pants (not grey or washed out) and black closed-toe footwear.
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For Marching Band units, it is highly recommended to have walking or cross-training shoes for the appropriate support. If at all possible, please make these shoes as completely black as possible.
(Tentative) Band Trips and Festivals
Grade 7 Airdrie Festival and Studio Bell Trip - Max $100 - Sometime in March or April 2023
Grade 8-9 Pioneer Ranch Band Camp - Max $200 - Sometime in March or April 2023
Grade 10-12 Disneyland Trip - Targeting $1500 - May 11-14, 2023
Stage Band/Steel Pans Lethbridge Trip - Max $150 - Sometime in March or April 2023
Strings Mount Royal Workshop - Max $100 - Sometime in February 2023
Grade 8-9 Pioneer Ranch Band Camp - Max $200 - Sometime in March or April 2023
Grade 10-12 Disneyland Trip - Targeting $1500 - May 11-14, 2023
Stage Band/Steel Pans Lethbridge Trip - Max $150 - Sometime in March or April 2023
Strings Mount Royal Workshop - Max $100 - Sometime in February 2023
Students and families will be sent full details of each trip once they have all been confirmed.