Music Schools BC

The Langley School Music Project

2012-01-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

It was 1978. A first year music teacher in Langley BC was making his own way. An old story now in 2012 , but a story that deserves a retelling. We need more innovative music educators willing to take risks. "I knew virtually nothing about conventional music education, and didn't know how to teach singing. Above all, I knew nothing of what children's music was supposed to be. But the kids had

BC Gaming Grant Review

2012-01-11T23:51:00.000-08:00

This was published today on the Gaming Grant Review website. In July 2011, Premier Christy Clark asked Skip Triplett to conduct an independent review of the Province’s Community Gaming Grant system. More than 1,700 people participated in the review, sharing their views about how to improve the governance and funding formula of gaming grants through 14 community forums, written submissions, and

Is Sustainability Sustainable?

2012-01-08T14:51:00.000-08:00

By the principal consultants of WolfBrown with Joanna Woronkowicz Historically, sustaining an arts organization meant generating enough earned and contributed revenue to fund current operations. With so much continued change and turmoil in the arts industry, WolfBrown set out to reconsider what sustainability means in 2011. Why are some arts groups able to persevere – and even thrive – when

BC Arts and Culture Week, April 2012

2012-01-05T10:49:00.000-08:00

Coming up on its 13th year, Arts and Culture Week turns the spotlight on the vital contribution that arts and culture make in learning and in life. Music, films, media arts, dance, books, theatre and visual art are a part of daily life, and have a lasting impact. They inspire us, challenge us and broaden our horizons and help us to become informed, aware and contributing members of society.

What does a Conductor Do?

2012-01-03T14:42:00.000-08:00

I’m standing on a podium, with an enameled wand cocked between my fingers and sweat dampening the small of my back. Ranks of young musicians eye me skeptically. They know I don’t belong here, but they’re waiting for me to pretend I do. I raise my arm in the oppressive silence and let it drop. Miraculously, Mozart’s overture to Don Giovanniexplodes in front of me, ragged but recognizable,

B.C. government confirms it will not release gaming grant review before new year

2012-01-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

In response to inquiries from the Straight , the B.C. government has confirmed that it will not be releasing the Community Gaming Grant Review within its self-imposed 60-day deadline. The review, which was lead by Skip Triplett, was to have been made public by December 31. But after being contacted by the Straight today, Jeff Rud, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Community, Sport, and Cultural

Key year for music schools

2012-01-03T07:27:00.000-08:00

When the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's School of Music opened its doors in the downtown core this summer, many thought it would rattle the music education cage in the metropolitan area. And yes, the VSO School of Music's enrolment level has surpassed its expectations of having 300 students registered by June 2012, something it managed to do in less than six months. What it didn't know was who

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T08:24:00.000-08:00

The New Year is almost upon us. It has been quite a year for music education in BC with a few bright spots along the way. It has been great to see some new initiatives and new schools opening in Vancouver with some renewed energy with the Vancouver Academy of Music under its new direction with Joseph Elworthy at the helm. Also a brand new school has opened in the downtown core, the VSO School

Choral singing program hits all the right notes

2011-12-23T08:57:00.000-08:00

FIONA MORROW VANCOUVER— From Friday's Globe and Mail Published Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 6:56PM EST Not many people have the nerve to sing in public. But imagine being a teenage boy whose voice is behaving badly as it finds its new range – and then standing up and singing out in front of an audience. Daunting doesn’t even begin to describe it. Terrifying, more like. Two years ago,

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

2011-12-22T21:40:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from Canada's own Oscar Peterson Happy Holidays to everyone!

Auditions - Dennis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra

2011-12-18T07:16:00.000-08:00

The Dennis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra , presented by Denis Wick, London, is the premier honour concert band in Canada. The musical ensemble is comprised of 60+ members from across Canada who, after successful application, converge for a week of music education, history and celebration. During their week together, these students develop their musical talent, technique and skill while being

Tim Brown on creativity and play

2011-12-13T22:51:00.001-08:00

At the 2008 Serious Play conference, designer Tim Brown talks about the powerful relationship between creative thinking and play -- with many examples you can try at home (and one that maybe you shouldn't).

Did you Know?

2011-12-06T12:49:00.001-08:00

Did You Know?Young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are: 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance 4

B.C. finance committee not recommending increased arts funding

2011-11-27T06:37:00.001-08:00

For the first time since 2007, the B.C. government’s standing committee on finance has not recommended an increase in arts funding. Arts and culture receive just one short line in the committee’s report, released earlier this week: “Recognize the economic benefits of a vibrant arts and culture sector.” Last year, for the second year in a row, the committee had called on the province to

Non-profits worried new law will hurt smaller agencies

2011-11-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

Canada’s non-profit sector is grappling with the implications of a new federal law that gives members the equivalent of shareholder rights – creating avenues for more accountability and engagement but also concern over legal expenses and unintended consequences. . As the Conservative government examines new ways of funding charities and non-profits, the sector is looking to comply with a major

Top Tech Tools for Learning

2011-11-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

From the Center for Learning and Performance Technologies, an ongoing survey among educators to identify the top tech tools used by educators. Top 15 so far 1 - Twitter - microsharing tool 2 - YouTube - video-sharing tool 3 - Google Docs – collaboration suite 4- Skype - instant messaging/VoIP tool 5 - WordPress - blogging tool 6 - Prezi - presentation software 7 - Moodle - course

Sarah McLachlan School of Music to open permanent location

2011-10-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

The Sarah McLachlan School of Music will be moving into a new, permanent home. On October 27, the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach (SMMO) program, which has been operating out of a 7,500-square-foot church basement in collaboration with Arts Umbrella, will open the doors of the Sarah McLachlan School of Music (SoM) at 138 East 7th near Main Street. The school’s new home comes through the

VSO and its school share $2.22 million from B.C. government and arts council

2011-10-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and its school have received a combined $2.22 million in funding from the B.C. government and the B.C. Arts Council. The VSO School of Music has received $1-million from the B.C. government. The award, announced today (October 14) at a news conference at the school, marks the province’s first contribution to the $30-million facility, which opened this past

Music Training Enhances Children’s Verbal Intelligence

2011-10-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

A just-published study from Canada suggests early music education stimulates a child’s brain, leading to improved performance in an entirely different arena – verbal intelligence. “These results are dramatic not only because they clearly connect cognitive improvement to musical training, but also because the improvements in language and attention are found in completely different domains

Trusting the Ensemble

2011-10-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

Conductor Charles Hazlewood talks about the role of trust in musical leadership -- then shows how it works, as he conducts the Scottish Ensemble onstage. He also shares clips from two musical projects: the opera "U-Carmen eKhayelitsha" and the ParaOrchestra.

Inside Kabul's First Music School

2011-10-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

From Norman Lebrecht' blog "Slipped Disk", Rebuilding a nation's culture one child at a time: Cathy Graham, head of music at the British Council, was telling me the other day about her trip to Afghanistan to foster grass-roots efforts to restore music education, banned under the Taliban. When she described the first music school in Kabul, I had an irresistible urge to share her story. Cathy

Virtual Pop Star, the new Japanese holographic pop sensation.

2011-10-02T19:11:00.000-07:00

She's pretty, stylish and oozes star quality. But Japan's latest pop sensation is not quite what she seems - in fact, she doesn't actually exist. It turns out that Aimi Eguchi, the newest member of the Japanese band AKB48, is a virtual composite of six other band members. The fake pop star first appeared in an advert for Japanese sweets, but also has an online profile and has featured in a

International Songwriting Competition

2011-10-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Candace Avery International Songwriting Competition (ISC) 615.251.4441 cavery@songwritingcompetition.com www.songwritingcompetition.com INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) EXTENDS DEADLINE TO NOVEMBER 1, 2011 Tom Waits, Tori Amos, Ozzy Osbourne, Lucinda Williams, My Morning Jacket, Jeff Beck, McCoy Tyner, Duran Duran, And Kelly Clarkson Join Music

Culture Days at CMC

2011-09-27T12:16:00.000-07:00