Pirates of the Caribbean sailed into the Founders' Theatre on Friday afternoon with an exciting performance featuring Grade 2 - 12 students. Friday's concert, which featured additional performances by the MS and HS Band, and a jazzed up rock number featuring WAB Director Robert Landau with WAB's swinging Jazz Band, was a true community event aimed at celebrating music at WAB and encouraging participation among younger students.
"Next year we plan to further develop our band program," said HS Music teacher Judith Mann. "We want to encourage younger students to consider playing a band instrument. We'd like to see these junior ensembles develop and feed into high school groups who take part in festivals such as APAC band."
Aside from the amazing opportunity for ES students to play alongside their older peers, the performance "offers ES students the chance to see and hear instruments that they might like to play when they get to Middle School."
The ES encourages young musicians through a variety of ASA's, in addition to the IB curriculum and frequent performance opportunities during the school day. Through ASA's, the ES has also built up two choirs, a band and orchestra and a rock school, in addition to offering individual instrumental lessons. The Grade 4/5 Drama ASA also involves music.
The MS and HS offer a range of music programs through WABX, such as the following:
- The Senior Concert Band is for students of wind, brass and percussion with some band experience with reading music notation. It performs at various events during the year, playing a mixture of rock, pop and classical pieces. The rehearsals are initially for one hour with two-hour rehearsals taking place nearer performance dates. The band is a whole year commitment. From within the band there will be an opportunity for smaller ensemble groups to meet.
- Rock School enters its 6th year. This is an opportunity for all budding rock musicians to be a part of a band and join the legend that is “WAB Rocks.” The Thursday afternoon sessions are only available to beginners and developing musicians interested in forming bands and taking to the WAB stage. Rock School is a whole year commitment.
- Jazz Band is an extension ensemble for more experienced students. The band performs are various events during the school year. The group meets once a week for two hours are is made up of MS and HS students. Trumpet, trombone or saxophone players are welcome to enquire about joining this band.
- The String Orchestra is the opportunity for string players of various levels, with the exception of beginners. As with the other ensembles the Strings perform at various events throughout the year. The rehearsals are for two hour and this orchestra is a whole year commitment.
- The MS choir is open to all MS students interested in singing a range of fun songs for various performances during the year. The rehearsals are initially for one - hour with two hour rehearsals taking place nearer performance dates. The choir is a whole year commitment.
- The HS choir is open to all HS students interested in singing a range of music for various performances during the year. The rehearsals are for two hours in the HUB Music Dept. The choir is a whole year commitment.
For more information about the MS or HS music programs at WAB, contact Jane Hampson (jhampson@wab.edu), Judith Mann (jmann@wab.edu) or Mark Armstrong (marmstrong@wab.edu).
For more about music in the Elementary School, contact Goldie Ahadu (gahadu@wab.edu), Laura Long (laura_long@wab.edu) or Alice Probyn (aprobyn@wab.edu).