Music Myth Busters
MYTH: Students must know how to play an instrument and read music before joining band.
FACT: The Beginning Band class teaches students everything they need to know to be successful in this music. The course is designed for the students who has never read music or played an instrument before in their life. Most students come to band with no experience on any instruments and have remembered only some of their music reading skills from elementary school. All you need is a positive, cooperative attitude, and willingness to learn. If you already know how to read music, that’s a bonus!
MYTH: Band conflicts with sports, dance, and other activities and there are a lot of after school commitments.
FACT: Many of the band students are also highly involved dancers, gymnasts, and athletes in the school and community. Beginning Band students only have four required after school/evening commitments throughout the school year. These dates are known at the beginning of the year to allow for families to plan their schedules accordingly.
MYTH: Band is expensive…
FACT: We will never allow finances to keep you from joining the band program. Though there are a few costs associated with band such as purchasing uniform shirts and instrument rental/accessories, we will do everything we can to keep costs low. There are many school instruments available to rent for only $10/month. Students also have many fundraising opportunities throughout the year to help pay for optional band trips, if they choose to participate. Travelling with the band is not mandatory, but it certainly is a lot of fun!
MYTH: I’ll never use band in real life.
FACT: The skills that you learn in music are not just how to play an instrument, but how to be organized, set goals that yield results, prepare for a presentation, work as a team, think creatively, keep a schedule, etc. The majority of employers look more favourably on applicants who have band experience because of these skills learned in music class that go beyond reading music and playing an instrument. In addition, can you imagine a world without music/musicians? All musicians had to start somewhere, why not here?
Myth: All instruments are owned and maintained by the school.
FACT: Georges P. Vanier does have a large inventory of instruments, but the condition and quality of those instruments is varied. All available instruments can be rented for $10/month ($100 for the school year) which supports yearly maintenance fees. Families may choose to rent from a music store or the school, depending upon instrument selection and availability. Instruments rented through a music store often come with a rental repair program. This can be a very valuable resource for young students to have as they learn to care for their instrument. Larger instruments (tuba, baritone sax, trombone, euphonium, French horn) are most commonly rented from the school.
MYTH: I have to stay on ONE instrument FOREVER! What if I HATE the instrument?!
FACT: We all have an instrument that we are best suited for and sometimes the first instrument we choose isn't the best one for us - even though we have gone through a very detailed instruction selection process with your teacher. After the first term or semester, in consultation with your teacher, we will find another option for you so that you can continue to enjoy the band experience. This is a rare occurrence and usually, with regular practice, you will be successful on your first assigned instrument.
MYTH: I can't pick what instrument I play.
FACT: There is a process that you and your teacher and family will go through together to find the instrument options that are best suited to you and you alone. Not your friend necessarily, but for you individually. Not all instruments 'fit' you and so the process of instrument choices and selection is one of the ways to help narrow down the options to your top 3. You will be assigned one of those top three choices. H O W E V E R - we cannot have a band of ALL flutes and no trombones (for example) and we only have so many spaces for bass players. We also do NOT have piano or guitar in Band 8.
FACT: The Beginning Band class teaches students everything they need to know to be successful in this music. The course is designed for the students who has never read music or played an instrument before in their life. Most students come to band with no experience on any instruments and have remembered only some of their music reading skills from elementary school. All you need is a positive, cooperative attitude, and willingness to learn. If you already know how to read music, that’s a bonus!
MYTH: Band conflicts with sports, dance, and other activities and there are a lot of after school commitments.
FACT: Many of the band students are also highly involved dancers, gymnasts, and athletes in the school and community. Beginning Band students only have four required after school/evening commitments throughout the school year. These dates are known at the beginning of the year to allow for families to plan their schedules accordingly.
MYTH: Band is expensive…
FACT: We will never allow finances to keep you from joining the band program. Though there are a few costs associated with band such as purchasing uniform shirts and instrument rental/accessories, we will do everything we can to keep costs low. There are many school instruments available to rent for only $10/month. Students also have many fundraising opportunities throughout the year to help pay for optional band trips, if they choose to participate. Travelling with the band is not mandatory, but it certainly is a lot of fun!
MYTH: I’ll never use band in real life.
FACT: The skills that you learn in music are not just how to play an instrument, but how to be organized, set goals that yield results, prepare for a presentation, work as a team, think creatively, keep a schedule, etc. The majority of employers look more favourably on applicants who have band experience because of these skills learned in music class that go beyond reading music and playing an instrument. In addition, can you imagine a world without music/musicians? All musicians had to start somewhere, why not here?
Myth: All instruments are owned and maintained by the school.
FACT: Georges P. Vanier does have a large inventory of instruments, but the condition and quality of those instruments is varied. All available instruments can be rented for $10/month ($100 for the school year) which supports yearly maintenance fees. Families may choose to rent from a music store or the school, depending upon instrument selection and availability. Instruments rented through a music store often come with a rental repair program. This can be a very valuable resource for young students to have as they learn to care for their instrument. Larger instruments (tuba, baritone sax, trombone, euphonium, French horn) are most commonly rented from the school.
MYTH: I have to stay on ONE instrument FOREVER! What if I HATE the instrument?!
FACT: We all have an instrument that we are best suited for and sometimes the first instrument we choose isn't the best one for us - even though we have gone through a very detailed instruction selection process with your teacher. After the first term or semester, in consultation with your teacher, we will find another option for you so that you can continue to enjoy the band experience. This is a rare occurrence and usually, with regular practice, you will be successful on your first assigned instrument.
MYTH: I can't pick what instrument I play.
FACT: There is a process that you and your teacher and family will go through together to find the instrument options that are best suited to you and you alone. Not your friend necessarily, but for you individually. Not all instruments 'fit' you and so the process of instrument choices and selection is one of the ways to help narrow down the options to your top 3. You will be assigned one of those top three choices. H O W E V E R - we cannot have a band of ALL flutes and no trombones (for example) and we only have so many spaces for bass players. We also do NOT have piano or guitar in Band 8.
