YORKTON - Yorkdale Central School was filled with the sounds of young musicians learning the first tentative aspects of their recently chosen band instruments.
A camp for beginner band students – 110 from more than 10 local and area schools – were given what Colette Karapita band educator at Christ The Teacher schools in Yorkton, termed foundational education.
Karapita said in Yorkton band typically starts for students in Grade 5, which is actually a year earlier than in many Saskatchewan schools.
“We’re quite happy to have an extra year with them,” she said.
But regardless of what grade students start band they need to learn the basics, things that come before trying to achieve even a single note.
The four hours of instruction by 15 local and invited instructors, focused on the simplest of things, how to open an instrument case so things don’t fall out, how to properly put an instrument together, how to position fingers, and how to hold the mouth when starting to play.
Instruction was given in a number of instruments, with Karapita noting what instruments prove popular changes year-to-year. This year there were very few trumpets, but there were enough clarinets that three rooms were dedicated to those students.
