Welcome to our Music Program!

Ecole Laurier offers a compulsory instrumental music course to Grades 5 to 8 students. Grades 5 and 6 are combined in our first year Band, and Grade 7 and 8 are combined in our third year Band. We alternately offer (by year) first year Band and a Grade 4/5 recorder course.

The Grade 4/5 recorder course introduces students to reading and writing musical notation, taking part in singing and music games, learning about music history, and playing the recorder. Recorder students perform in two school concerts per year (always a hit!). The recorder course is a great introduction to the Band Program.

In First Year Band, students have the opportunity to learn one of the following instruments: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. Percussion is introduced as needed. Ecole Laurier has a supply of well-maintained wind instruments that students may use for a minimal yearly cautionary fee. First Year Band students participate in two concerts per year and attend a performance by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. We usually travel to Brandon or Winnipeg for this performance. We also provide an opportunity for students to rehearse and perform with other first year Bands in Turtle River School Division, usually for the Spring Concert.

In Second and Third year Band, students continue to develop their skills as musicians. In addition to our two yearly concerts and our Spring Band Trip, ambitious Third and Fourth year Band students have the opportunity to participate in the Parkland/NorMan Regional Honour Band, held in Dauphin every spring. Honour Band is extra-curricular and completely optional, and furnishes a fabulous opportunity for our young musicians to work with instrumental clinicians from Brandon University and guest conductors of talent and reknown. Students who elect to participate in Honour Band learn five challenging pieces of music (under the guidance of the Band Teacher during many lunch-hour rehearsals) in advance of the actual event.