It’s never too late to learn to play an instrument.
Anglophone East School District is launching a program that offers ‘Second Chances’ concert bands.
“There are only certain instruments that are in the Concert Band. Those include bass guitar, trumpet, trombone, French horn, flute, clarinet, and saxophone,” says District Creative Arts lead Linda Touchie.
She is heading up the program to assist those students who may not have the opportunity to learn music in their school.
“They have done this in Saint John and Fredericton, and that is where I got my idea from,” Touchie says.
There will be two Second Chances concert bands. The first is for grades 5 to 8 students, who are beginners and want to learn how to play. They can come together once a week, after school at Queen Elizabeth School and perform in the band.
Students must have their own instrument and bring it with them. The commitment is one session each week at the school on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 pm, plus practice at home. The program will start on September 11.
The second program is for teens and adults.
“You could be 100 and want to do it,” Touchie says. “I’m sure that there are a lot of people out there who see their children playing these instruments, and think how lucky they are that they have that opportunity. And I thought, you know what, why not do it so any adult or teenager that didn’t get a chance to do an instrument that they’ve always wanted to can come and play in a band, and I will teach them right from the start.”
Touchie adds that for those who don’t have an instrument at home, there are rentals available at Long and McQuade for a reasonable price.
“Many of them are under $30 a month, and the student can use the instrument, and then if they decide they don’t like it, they can return it to Long and McQuade,” Touchie says.
For the teen and adult band, rehearsals will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8 pm, and participants will also need to practice on their own time. It will begin on September 10.
There’s also a one-day Anglophone East School District initiative through Sistema called Ready Set band. It is a morning session on August 29 that will offer instruction on things like how to put instruments together, how to take care of them, and playing the first few notes.
The concert bands will begin rehearsing in September with the end goal, being able to perform as a group in November.
Both programs are free of charge, and Touchie says they are not limited in the number of people who can join.
