Hello Vernon River students and/or families! If you haven’t been to this blog before, welcome! For many students, welcome back!
I hope you are keeping well and that you’re getting outside to enjoy the sunshine, reading great books, listening to awesome music, and enjoying this time staying home safe with your families.

If you’re anything like my family, you’ve been watching a little more TV/Netflix/Disney+ than usual. And if you’re like me, you sometimes have a hard time choosing something to watch! I made a list of some of my favourite musicals that you can find on various streaming services:

On Netflix (last time I checked! They can change) —
Mary Poppins Returns
Annie
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

And on Disney+ —
Treasures like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins
Classics like Lion King, Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast (animated and live action)
Animated ones with excellent music (and Ms. Ling recommended): Hercules, Princess and the Frog
Popular because they’re amazing: Tangled, Moana, Coco, Frozen (1&2)
For something totally different: Into the Woods
Don’t count it out, because the music and choreography are so good: Descendants (1, 2, 3)

Welcome to the busiest, most fun part of the school year!

We have a lot of new things starting (recorders, ukuleles!), and some special enrichment activities coming up (Honors Band, Junior Honours Choir!).

Follow the links at the top of the page for information for these groups, including repertoire recordings and schedules.

 

Welcome!  I am excited to start this year with these keen budding musicians

This week, we have mini-lessons each day for specific instrument groups in the grade six class:

Monday — flutes

Tuesday — clarinets

Thursday — trombones

Friday — trumpets, baritones, tuba

We are learning how to assemble the instruments, proper care and maintenance, and holding/playing position.

I hope you had a wonderful summer! Please check back here often for assignments, useful websites, neat videos, and other information.  Newly added: under “Grade 7-8-9 Skills”, a scale challenge to try!

Five skills were added under the “7-8-9 Skills” page.  Please make a note of which ones you are responsible for!  They will be due BEFORE JUNE 5th.

There will be a sign-up sheet posted on the band room door for time slots for before/after school and 11:40-12:00 times.  The closer it gets to concert time, the less likely I am to give up precious class time to hear skills — so either get them done early (I’ll hear you during class or in my office right before class starts) or you’ll have to find a time besides our band class to play for me.

If you sign up for a time, please show up for that time — I get less and less likely to give multiple chances the more often I am left waiting.

Happy practicing!

 

Read about Music Monday and find the recording of the anthem here.  Use the “Full Studio mix w/ vocals” to hear Connor Ross singing his anthem.

Find the lyrics (in many different languages!) on this page.

Sometimes, it’s nice to have a recording of what we’re working on to help you when you’re practicing at home.  Hear our newest piece here (you can either click on the “play” icon to hear it, or the video camera icon to watch the score go by as you listen)

Game of Thrones listening link

Find the Honours Band blog here.

Hello and thanks for stopping by!  It seems like everybody and their dog has a blog now, so I thought I’d join in on the fun.

I wanted a place to share information, links, and activities that pertain to the musical life here at VRCS.  Aside from adding you all as friends on social media, this seemed like the safest way to go.  Please bookmark this page and check back often!