SD46 Band Camp

Band Camp 2012 @YMCA Camp Elphinstone

A tribute to the music teachers of School District No.46 (Sunshine Coast)… THANK YOU… for all of the work you do to make MUSIC HAPPEN for our students.  I had the pleasure of attending the annual BAND CAMP at Camp Elphinstone with Trustee Lori Pratt.  The Music Local Specialist Association (LSA) orchestrates a band camp for secondary band students from all schools to learn from and work with each other, other musicians, and other music teachers.  I appreciate this community oriented event in partnership with SD46.  Students stay overnight at the YMCA camp, work in specialized groups, learn new music, and socialize with a big dance.  Family, friends, and community members are invited to attend this final event where school groups and the entire camp perform to celebrate their accomplishments.  This photo is the entire band camp and community musicians playing together a piece the students just learned during the camp.  The musicians who joined the band camp finale at the last minute were sight reading the piece.  I was so impressed.  The performance was absolutely amazing.  What a wonderful metaphor for teamwork, expertise, mentoring, and celebration.  I was deeply moved. 

Music teachers make music programs happen in public schools.  The love and passion expressed by the SD46 music teachers remind me that our students will love and feel passionate about music as much as our teachers do.  I feel fortunate that my daughter is and can be a part of this rich learning experience.  Not only does SD46 have both secondary and elementary band programs, choir groups are making a revival at both levels.  Let’s take it further, one of the SD46 music teachers informed me with genuine enthusiasm and pride that there are K-7 MUSIC PROGRAMS for all of our elementary students in all of our elementary schools taught by music subject specialists.  These subject specialty teachers are few and far between.  To have our students in SD46 to be taught by a music subject specialist in all of our elementary schools as prep time teachers impresses me even more.  This is not an easy job assignment. 

Thank you SD46 music teachers, the Music LSA, and community members for making band camp possible for our students and keeping music programs alive in our school district.  This is not an easy feat.  There are no words that can best express my gratitude.  Great job SD46 Band Camp participants.  I look forward to next year’s event.