SOFA

I don’t supose that this email will change anyone’s mind to the proposed changes in the music program if they are intent on changing it, but I do wish to acknowledge the dedication and the success of the many hours the music students, teachers and parents have put into the high school program over the years.

We have had two of our three children take part in the music program at Ernest Manning over the years. They truly enjoyed the classes, their teachers and their success in accomplishing something that was different from a regular classroom course not to mention the friendships developed from a common interest in music. These students get up early for band practices, attend choir during lunch, practice Friday afternoons when classes were done and spend many hours setting up for concerts, tearing down after concerts, hosting festivals, sharing the stage with junior high feeder schools etc.,

They have learned a lot about commitment. It was a pleasure to attend the concerts, to listen to them in festivals, to hear their solos, to enjoy the combined concerts with other high schools and to watch their faces after learning that they won a gold medal at the festival. This was truly a journey from watching them play their first piece in grade seven to doing solos in grade 12. These students have developed a mature appreciation for music both instrumental and vocal that carries with them after highschool. They are confident to join choirs and participate in music in university.

To produce this level of musicanship requires a program where music counts, where teachers and students are dedicated to their craft. Please do not dumb down the program. Do not take this opportunity away from future music students.  It develops an education not only for the teenagers but for their friends and family. Not all families are able to afford music lessons for their children and some would never experience music without their children to guide them through the process. 

Many hours of fund raising already goes into these programs to make them what they are today. I would wish that instead of thinking about ways to soften the program, you would be thinking of ways to support it. You have a valuable and successful program, don’t lose it.

Suddaby Family

Sorry I was unable to attend Monday’s meeting, much as I wanted to. Here are some ideas to throw around:

1. Music has intrinsic value and needs no external justification. (Leonhard and House, 1972)

2. Music merits full rights in the curriculum. It should be taught for its own sake. (Leonhard and House, 1972)

3. Music is not an educational luxury. (John Dewey, 1916).

4. The objective of a high quality and expressive music education is to allow the student to use music in out-of-school life. Such a program should include a variety of musical activities involving individual and small- and large-group participation.

5. The programs that exist now, such as the Central Memorial PVA Program, need an infusion of funds not a cut-back. As it is, the program is a wonderful venue for like-minded musically trained students to grow together under remarkable leadership.

6. The proposed curriculum changes are a step backwards for all musically trained, and in-training students who have sacrificed time, money, and effort to specialize in music performance. Likewise the hardworking teachers who have devoted their lives to this end.

7. The curriculum change should be amended for those who may want to dabble in the fine arts, 25 hours of instruction is inadequate and barely scratches the surface of what is a life-long musical pursuit. Anyone who has studied an instrument will tell you it takes years to be truly accomplished at it.

Current school music instruction is already inadequate and needs out-of-school augmentation in private lessons.

There are probably more arguments, but I have to get back to work.

Sincerely,
Ivea Mark
B.A. Psychology, B.A. Music

First of all, I am from the states, TX. I grew up with music classes in school and then started playing percussion when I entered the 6th grade for school credit and kept doing so all through high school (Whitehouse High School, TX). There were percussion solos and ensembles that I performed in or on my own in front of judges for 6 years at district and regional levels. There were also concert and marching band contests where discipline and pride were engrained to me. Those experiences of making myself practice/study to be good at something (percussion) and to showcase my abilities on different levels have ’til this day influenced my daily work habits and greatly aided in my professional successes as a geologist/petrophysicist outside of the “arts”. Even after High School finished I kept playing in both concert and marching bands my first two years of university (Stephen F. Austin State University, TX) to earn some scholarship money and to make unforgettable memories. The “arts” go well beyond the arts if you ask me, or anyone who taught me. I could get you the name of my High School band director from TX who probably has stats on the amount of kids that graduate out of his program and go on to university, get full-rides, have above average class ranks, etc.

My full name is Nikolaos-Jack Tsiras. But just Niko for short. I am 15 years old and I have been playing Music since I was in Grade 5. I know just as good as anyone who has ever played a musical instrument that you sure as heck can’t learn to play it in 25 hours even if you wanted to. It is literally impossible and I will tell you why. The reason why is because anyone that is good at anything is only good at it because they have practiced it throughout the better part of their life. Now I play 5 instruments, the Clairinet, the Alto Saxophone, the Bass Guitar, the Acoustic Guitar and the Piano and I am good at all of them. But the only reason that I am good at all of them is because I practice at the very least 3 times a week. I practice them not because I have to but because I love Music and I want to practice them and get better so that I can play them the best that I can! And the only way to accomplish this is not by having 25 hour periods and then coming back in a year to do it again.

Sincerely Nikolaos-Jack Tsiras.
Alberta, Canada.

Make sure this gets out to more than just high school students/teachers/parents. It was said at the Nov 9 meeting that we should be targeting parents at the elementary level and I think that’s a good idea. I also think that the media attention that SOFA is trying to bring this is a good idea because any “voices” will be much more effective if members of the community that aren’t necessarily associated with schools now add to the voicing of the concerns. It might also be a good idea to get some people involved from programs such as the Mount Royal Conservatory of Music and any post-secondary arts programs.

Peaceful Protest where all artists from all across Alberta, including current students and Alumni, can showcase their talents. People like Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Tara Jean, Theo Tams, and all other talents that lie within our province.

This whole thing is preposterous and we all know it. Let’s show them that we don’t agree with any of this!

Other than the fact that I cannot fathom the reasoning behind such changes. Although I guess the $44 Million for senior administrators bonuses has to come from somewhere.

I can’t imagine how my Central Alumni music student would have ever learned her craft, had she not had the opportunity to participate in excellent music programs at the Junior and Senior High School levels. She went to Elboya, where the band was a huge draw for students during her time there…she was encouraged to play several instruments as part of a large band, and developed an even deeper love of music as a result. One could say that she found her ‘voice’. At Central, she was part of all 3 choirs, and gained confidence and skills she never thought she’d be capable of. Her experience was gained over years of building on experiences and knowledge. The students she sang with had the same level of experience – and interest. Nobody was in music because they thought it might be ‘easy’, or a ‘fun and frivolous’ 1 credit option. Being in a large group over 3 years built a sense of team and commitment to that team. She had to learn to ‘listen’ and to ‘create harmony’ – and her skills as a musician would not have been what they are today without it.

Save money by cutting out provincials for grade 3 and 6. Let the teachers do their job evaluating- they know them best!. Generalizing fine arts k-9 is fine. High school needs to be left alone. Why would my child, who loves music, be made to do drama or art when she dislikes them? Watering down the curriculum at the high school is ridiculous! I personally know of students who graduated who went on in the Music Department/or arts/OR drama and dancing. You will lose so many potential students at the university level! Please- ask the people- teachers, students, parents!