One of the board’s first projects is a re-write of all committee and project policy to ensure that our manual reflects the actual needs and activities of the ABA. We began this update at our November retreat and will continue to work on it throughout the spring. A major project for the coming year will be to pursue the realization of a mutually beneficial partnership between the ABA and the ATA’s Fine Arts Specialist Council. This partnership was ratified by the membership last year and in more recent months stalled somewhat as the leadership of the Fine Arts Specialist Council changed substantially. We intend to work closely with the new leadership over the coming year to realize the potential benefits of our partnership. We will be keeping a close eye on Alberta Education’s second draft of a new Arts Curriculum Draft Framework, expected in March of 2011. The ABA, along with other agents and organizations supporting music education, has been active in following and influencing the proposed changes to arts education in Alberta. We also await the announcement of changes to the Education Act, expected this spring. Thank you to the many who registered and attended the annual Music Conference Alberta presented in Red Deer this past November. We noticed not only a substantial increase in the number of delegates, but also, from conference evaluations and personal observations, a renewed level of energy that permeated the conference and created a definite air of optimism. We were particularly pleased to note an increase in the number of registrations among young teachers. Lastly, I invite all to visit our recently revised website at http://albertabandassociation.com/. Click on the links to our many programs and services and note that registration is currently open to the Provincial Festival of Bands in Red Deer, May 16 – 27, 2011. As you finalize your spring repertoire, check out the links to the “recommended march list” and to past festival syllabi. These are great resources for concert and festival repertoire and ALL past syllabus titles are available for loan from the ABA! Best wishes on a great spring semester! |
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ABA Head Start ClinicThe ABA Head Start Clinic was held on September 30, 2010 in Calgary. There were 162 students from 12 different Calgary schools. These clinics were designed to assist directors with a low-cost way to start beginners. They were taught by professional musicians and other band directors, and focused on embouchure & tone, assembly and cleaning, and the first five notes of Bb concert. Students left the clinic excited with all the knowledge they needed to join their regular band classes the next day and two songs that they could play for their parents when they got home. A special thank you to St. Helena Jr. High and Sir John A. MacDonald for providing the venue, the clinicians, and to Long & McQuade for providing music folders. |
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