Aden Bowman has a strong history in music. It's important that we uphold the standards set before us and carry on the tradition.
Rehearsals
- Students are asked to arrive at the warning bell. This allows five minutes to take out your instrument, set it up and have your music prepared for the start of class.
- Assignments are turned in at the start of class. There is a stack of yellow baskets against the wall where all grade levels are labelled.
- Most rehearsals begin with students working quietly on theory packages, ear training and/or rhythm training exercises.
- When listening to recordings students should be following along with their part and doing the fingerings/slide positions. Students need to become active listeners instead of passive listeners.
- When the conductor is on the podium, 100 per cent of your attention and focus is required. Much rehearsal time may be lost waiting for unfocused students.
- A section leader is assigned to each instrument section. If a student in the section requires music to be copied, it is the responsibility of the section leader to take the request and approach the teacher at the end of class with the request. If it is urgent to have the piece immediately, the section leader may retrieve the requested music from the black filing cabinet.
- When new music is being handed out, the section leader for each section will approach the podium and retrieve the music for their section. Unless stated by the teacher, the section leader will distribute the music to the section (note: students should receive different parts [e.g., clarinet] for each new piece they receive).
- Music computers will be used for completing online theory tests, as well as other music software programs. After a student has completed their assignment, they will quietly go back to the rehearsal room and notify the next student in their section or the next person in row. This is to be done with minimal interruption to the rehearsal.
- SmartMusic tests are mostly completed at home. For students who need to complete the tests at school, the computers in the music practice room are available on a first-come-first-serve basis at 8:15 a.m., noon and most days after school until 4:30 p.m.
- At the end of rehearsal, students are given three to five minutes to properly clean and store their instruments. It is extremely important for woodwind players to clean the instrument after each playing session. Brass players need to rinse out their instrument at home in the bathtub every two weeks.
Instrument Cases
A pencil is required to be kept in the music folder. Students will have in-class assignments and will need to put markings in the music during rehearsals.
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Brass players require valve oil for all valve instruments and trombone players require slide cream and a spray bottle to keep the slide moist.
- Woodwind players who require reeds will need one good reed to play on and two extra reeds in their case as backups. All woodwind players require a cleaning swab to clean out their instruments at the end of each practice session.
Concerts
The evening concerts at Aden Bowman Collegiate begin at 7 p.m. Set up starts at 6:15 p.m., as there is a lot of work to be done and many volunteers are required. Students are asked to arrive at 6:40 p.m. to warm up.
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Concert dress: The concert uniform for Aden Bowman music groups is black dress pants/long skirt, black socks/black nylons, black dress shoes and the Aden bowman music shirt. It is necessary for students to look like a group during performances. Students who do not wear the concert uniform will not perform.
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Concert etiquette: Before and after the performance, students will be asked to sit in a designated area in the theatre. It is important for the group to sit together, so that when it is time to go on stage the group moves together. Every student will pick up a reflection sheet (exit slip) prior to the concert. This short assignment is to be submitted before leaving at the end of the concert.
As performers and listeners, it is important that we understand our job. On stage, we are the performers with the spotlight on us. As listeners in the audience, we must be quiet so as not to disturb the performance for others.
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End of the performance: It is imperative that as many students as possible help take down at the end of the performance. There are classes in the theatre and music room following each performance, so each room needs to be cleaned and prepared for the following day.
