Winter Concert 2022 Update

Good News!

We did not expect the Winter Concert to pack out so fast!!! Families and friends are so excited to hear our students play that we had more people than chairs. So, we decided to switch the location from the Rick Hansen Theatre to the Rick Hansen Gymnasium in order to accommodate as many people as possible. Everyone is now invited! (with or without a ticket) we have room for your entire extended family and friends to come and watch! Thursday December 15th in the GYM at Rick Hansen. The concert will begin at 7pm. Students must be at Hansen by 6:30pm to warm up! Students will need:

• Instrument

• Sheet music

• Band uniform shirt

• Black pants, black socks, black shoes

Please plan to stay for the entire concert as students have been working very hard and it is important for the beginners to hear what they could sound like in a few years!

--- We have a quote for the Grade 7/8 Victoria Band trip from the tour company and deposits and permission forms will be sent out early next week! If your student would like to be sponsored or receive a bursary, please fill out this form completely. Want to chaperone? Send me an email, we love having parents join! Upcoming Dates:

• Winter Performance - All Grades - Thursday Dec. 15th @Hansen students arrive at the theatre at 6:30pm to warm up.

• Band trip to Victoria (Grade 7/8 Only) $400 each - April 28-30th

• Grade 6 Trip to the VSO (Vancouver) - May 5th during the day

Year End Concert!

Grade 6, 7, 8 Band Students Thursday June 16th at 6:30pm in the Reimer Gymnasium. After our last concert, the Grade 6 students wanted another shot at performing, so, we decided to put on one final big event!!! We are inviting all of you, our families and friends, and all our grade 5's to come and to our Year End Concert! Students will perform for the school during the last two blocks of the day. They will need instruments, music, and band uniform. Reminder that Students who wish to take band next year in Grade 7 and 8 must re-register before the end of June! Register for Band 2022/23!

Our music video for Flowing Streams is complete and has made its YouTube debue! Please enjoy :) REMINDER: Repairs NOTICE: If you notice any water damage to instruments or cases from our trip to Loon Lake, please let us know before the end of June and we will look into repairing it for you. Lastly, don't forget about the two free outdoor concerts from the VSO! July 2nd and July 16th @ 7:00pm.

Welcome to September

It was so glorious to meet a few of you in person last Thursday and wanted to make sure that if there is anyone who wasn't able to come, please reach out to Miss Buhler at any point to say 'Hi!', and ask ANY questions you might have about band; eg: the fieldtrips we will be going on this year, uniforms, instrument rentals etc. Contact info: heidi.buhler@abbyschools.ca. Things to note:

Please make sure your student is equipped with the following:

• An Instrument :) [whether from the school or a local music store]

• A band uniform that fits! This year's shirts are $18.00 and will be posted on School Cash Online. If there are any financial concerns, Miss Buhler has a few rental shirts in storage available to borrow.

• For Clarinet/Saxophones: A box of 10 (2.5) reeds

• For Bass Guitars: A tuner, headphones

• For Trumpet/Trombone/Baritone/Euphonium: Slide/Valve Oil

• For Percussion: Their own sticks and practice pad!

• For all shiny instruments: a polishing cloth

GRADE 6 Click here for a letter of introduction for you! They are working through a series of video lessons that are available online at www.basicband.info that I encourage you to watch with your student over the weekend. If you notice your student struggling at home when they practice, please let me know as soon as possible so that we are able to support them in this crucial time!

Extra COVID-19 Protocols: We are still following the guidelines as laid out by the BCMEA and other researchers here. We have also had a fancy air filtration system installed in the band room over the summer!

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The Grade 7/8 Reimer band program is planning on going to Whistler on April 22-24th for the Cantando music festival, COVID protocols permitting. The UBC Symphonic Wind Ensemble with guest soloist Jens Lindemann will be one of the performers on the trip! If you are interested in being a part of the fundraising process, please let me know, and start put your student to work to earn it! The cost of the trip is $350 per student with scholarships available for families that are not able to afford their student to go otherwise. The initial $100 deposit will be due October 29 to hold your spot. There are 50 spots available on the bus and will be based on playing abilities and how hard the student is working. The trip will include:

• Adjudicated Competitive Performance and workshop with a clinician

• Instrumental workshops & master classes for each instrument

• Evening festival concerts with featured guest artists

• 2 nights accommodation in Whistler

• Round-trip private coach transfer and more!