Senior Band
This year the Senior Band sails as the Peculiar Pirates: a crew wound together like the strands of a rope. Each of us has a part to play, and the music only holds when we hold on to one another. A sailor who plays brilliantly but alone is a castaway, and a crew that has fun but never sets a heading is just a party boat drifting in the harbour. We aim to be neither.
How we sail. Our ship moves in two ways. We row: we count, drill, listen, and practise, together and in time. And we are carried by the wind of the Spirit, which takes us further than our own effort ever could. Along the way we will learn new things, unlearn old habits, and sometimes stumble. That is all part of the voyage.
Our treasure. Our treasure is not gold. It is relational, and it is found within: in a section that listens well, in harmony as notes held in relation to one another, and in rhythm as the shared space between the notes. Like the compass on our crest, it points four ways: toward God, toward ourselves, toward one another, and toward creation. Everyone needs to know and be known, and this crew is a place for that.
Our raids. We are peculiar because we do raid society. Much of what the world accepts as normal is broken and not what God intended, so we are willing to question it, challenge it, and choose a different way. We don’t land on a shore to carry off loot. We land to break chains, the way Jesus crossed the lake and set free a man no one else could help (Mark 5:1–20).
Our cargo. Like any good crew, we also deliver the goods, offering our music and our service to bless our school and our community. What we receive on the voyage is meant to be shared.
Rough water. Every voyage meets storms: a hard piece, a rough rehearsal, a heavy week. When they come, we hold on to our crew verse: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness… Therefore do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:33–34). The captain is not the only one aboard. The One who told the wind and the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” is in the boat with us (Mark 4:35–41).
Memento mori. Remember that you will die. This is not meant to frighten us. It keeps us honest about how short and precious our time together is, so we choose to live well today: to play, serve, and love with purpose.
My hope is that, through making music together, your imagination, character, and passions will be transformed, and that you will come to know your own peculiar place in the story.
Course Description
Enhancing Musicianship and Leadership in Concert Band
This elective course spans both terms and is tailored for students in grades 10 to 12. It is designed to amplify musical abilities, particularly for those who play band instruments, with a strong emphasis on improving sight-reading skills.
Students will have the chance to showcase their progress through participation in school concerts and/or music festivals, allowing them to demonstrate their musical prowess to a live audience.
Ear training, a critical component, will be incorporated using computer-based resources, with a focus on refining rhythm development. Regular home practice is an essential expectation to reinforce learning.
Building upon foundational knowledge, grade 11 students will dedicate their focus to cultivating a heightened sense of musical expression and seamless musical phrasing.
In the context of a concert band, grade 12 students will be called upon to take leadership roles. These accomplished students will further hone their ear-training, rhythm, and playing skills by leading sectionals, conducting the band, and guiding warm-up exercises. This role serves to empower them as leaders within the musical ensemble.
Units
What You will Learn
- How to read and count rhythms
- How to read and name notes
- How to play articulations
- Musical phrasing
- Vocabulary
Schedule
Block D
Room 130
Monday: 1:55 pm to 3:05 pm
Wednesday: 9:45 am to 10:55 am
Assessment
Marks Breakdown
- Tests - 20 %
- Performances and Musicianship - 20 %
- Ear training - 20 %
- Recording projects - 40 %
Homework
Homework and practicing should add up to 30 minutes per class as outlined in the Richmond Christian School Policy. Regular practicing is essential for developing skill.
Materials
What You Will Need
- Instrument
- Reeds for woodwinds
- Band shirt (to be provided)
- Music Scores
- EarMaster app
- Pencil and eraser
First Mates
Grade 12 Leaders
Our Grade 12 students sail as the First Mates. On a ship, the first mate is second in command. In our band, the First Mates lead warm-ups, mark rhythm quizzes, help classmates with EarMaster, and lead lunchtime sectionals. They set the heading by example and help keep everyone steady when the water gets rough.
Their last voyage. This is their final year with the crew, so our time together is short. When they leave port at the end of the year, what they hand on to the next crew becomes part of our story.
Their badge. The First Mates carry the anchor of hope: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). Anchora Animae means “anchor of the soul.” At its centre the crossbones form a cross, because death is defeated, and the hourglass reminds them to use their time with purpose.
