This year, music teachers at McRoberts had an inquiry:
How can we foster inter-school connections and collaborations between music teachers and students from the various schools in Richmond? How may cross-school connection and collaboration impact the learning and growth of music students in Richmond’s schools?
Because they noticed that their students;
- They are keen to play new and more challenging music.
- They are eager to learn about Jazz and to develop their knowledge of jazz harmony and scales/modes to enable them to improvise over the chord progressions they are faced with in their repertoire.
- They are confident and willing to take risks.
- They are thankful to have an opportunity to play music together with like-minded musicians.
- They are busy: after-school/off-timetable classes, lessons, sports, jobs…
How did the inquiry make a difference? How would you describe your experience of rehearsing and playing with music teachers and other student musicians from around the Richmond School District?
- “Playing with other musicians motivates me to improve my own playing. Watching experienced musicians play and solo is inspiring and invigorating for an aspiring student like myself.” (A.S. McRoberts student).
- “The only experience I have (playing in a band like this) is Elementary Honour Band. At the time band was too easy and quite boring. It was really nice to have an enriched challenge.” (A.C. McMath student)
Next steps for this project:
- Keep the band going next year and beyond in order to continue fostering relationships among keen young musicians in SD 38s secondary schools – the beat goes on!
- Continue learning about recording techniques so we can produce and share quality recordings by this band.
- We hope to connect members of the band with members of the Vancouver Jazz scene to inspire them to keep pursuing their musical potential.
