In this issue:
Musicom in Detail:
Music Conference Alberta
ABA, along with ACF and AMEF, is very excited to host a diverse selections of Band sessions for this upcoming Music Conference Alberta this month in Edmonton. Two of the numerous presenters that ABA is looking forward to hosting include:
STEVE SMITH
Hosted by the
Alberta Band Association |
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In 2012, Steve joined the team at Hal Leonard as an Instrumental Editor. At Hal Leonard, he works with the production of instrumental music and educational materials for band and strings. Steve brings his recent teaching experience to Hal Leonard and is using this in the development of the new Essential Elements Interactive website designed to assist teachers and students at the beginning instrumental level.
In 2010, Mr. Smith’s composition Capilano Fanfare was selected in the Dallas Wind Symphony’s Call for Fanfares and received a performance as the opening fanfare for the 2010-2011 concert season. In 2007 Mr. Smith was honored as a “Distinguished Music Educator” by the Yale University School of Music, in conjunction with an international symposium promoting music in the public schools.
Sessions are:
MARGUERITE WILDER
Hosted by the
Alberta Band Association |
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Mrs. Wilder is widely recognized as a conductor and clinician, having conducted All-State and Honour Bands throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.
Serving as a resource person for in-service sessions, she works with both local and regional school systems and universities. Her clinics on Motivational Techniques for the Beginning Band are often featured at state and national conventions.
Mrs. Wilder taught middle school band at the following schools during her 30-year teaching career: The Lovett School, Woodward Academy and Tapp Middle School. Mrs. Wilder is a contributing editor for the books Do It Band Method by James Froseth and Habits of a Successful Musician by Scott Rush. She is a contributing author for Teaching Music through Performance in Beginning Band, Vol. 1 & 2; and Teaching Music through Performance in Middle School Band; GIA Publications, Inc. Currently Mrs. Wilder serves as a consultant, clinician, author and editor for GIA Publications, Inc.
Sessions are:
Upcoming Alberta Junior Honour Bands
- Northern Alberta Junior Honour Band
February 25 – 27, 2015 | Edmonton, Alberta
Conductor: Brent Pierce
- Southern Alberta Junior Honour Band
February 11 – 13, 2015 | Calgary, Alberta
Conductor: David Grimstead
There are two Alberta Junior Honour Bands — north and south. Held in conjunction with respective teachers’ conventions in Edmonton and Calgary, the honour bands provide an advanced, auditioned performance experience for Alberta’s junior high school students. Top music educators in the province lead the students through three days of fun and intensive rehearsals.
The experience culminates in a performance of a number of pieces that the students have prepared in rehearsal.
Selection Procedures will be posted shortly on the ABA website with the 2015 audition forms.
ABA Head Start Clinic Recap
On September 10, 2014 former ABA board member Tara English ran a Head Start clinic for the Three Hills Schools and 8 participating Calgary schools at St. Helena and SJAM junior high schools. With several hundred students all starting instruments together, ABA is proud to continue this event in its 5th year of success.
Following the success of the first Head Start Clinic, ABA member Brian Thorlacius ran a second clinic on October 2nd for schools who were not able to participate in early September.
If you teach beginner band in the Calgary area, don’t hesitate to register your school at the start of September 2015. Keep a watch on the ABA website early in the school year to sign your students up.
Special thanks to all the teachers who sent students, all the clinicians who taught, St. Helena and SJAM schools for their facilities, and Tara English with support from Brian Thorlasius for organizing the event.
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