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Courses

Introduction to Percussion

Clinician: Celene Yohemas Ross
September 6, 2025 from 9:30am to 12:30pm (Saturday)
1315 - 7 Street SW

Have you ever wondered what happens at the back of the band in the percussion section? This fun, hands-on course is perfect for the percussion curious—no experience needed, just a willingness to explore and try something new.  

 

This course is for those generally unfamiliar with the percussion section but are ‘percussion curious’.  Since percussion sections aren’t typically easy to access, this is a rare chance to see if percussion is a good fit for you. While some basic music reading skills will be helpful, they are not required. Do note, however, that certain parts of the experience may be less engaging without those skills. 

This 3 hour session will be comprised of an intro to each of the following:

  • Snare and bass drum

  • Mallets/auxiliary percussion

  • Intro to timpani

  • Intro to drum set/four way coordination

  • Possible finish with a percussion ensemble presentation

Percussion Techniques I: The Fundamental Three

Clinician: Celene Yohemas Ross
September 14, 2025 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm (Sunday)
1315 - 7 Street SW

Already play percussion? Take your skills to the next level with hands-on workshops tailored to you.  Percussion: The Fundamental Three is Part 1 of 2

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Percussion: The Fundamental Three

  • Snare drum, bass drum, cymbals (crash/suspended), including rudiments and notation

  • Auxiliary instruments: triangle, tambourine, temple blocks, tam tam/gong

  • General knowledge: set up/workstation/how to stay organized

Percussion Techniques II

Clinician: Celene Yohemas Ross
September 14, 2025 from 2:15pm to 5:30pm (Sunday)
1315 - 7 Street SW

Focus on mallets and timpani, finishing with a percussion ensemble opportunity. Part 2 of 2

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2:15pm - 4:15pm

  • Timpani: sound production, rolls, tuning

  • Mallets instruments: 2 mallet technique, producing sound, tone, mallet choices, intro to 4 mallet technique

  • General knowledge: set up/workstation/how to stay organized

 

4:15pm - 5:30pm

The day finishes with a percussion ensemble to try all the new techniques and skills and to challenge yourself in a safe setting.  

  • Excerpts from concert band music with strong percussion will be supplied, from varying grade levels.  

  • Participants will be organized into groups (as needed) to practice parts and then perform together for each other.

Beginning Band Tips and Tricks for Music Teachers

Clinician: Kathie Van Lare
October 7, 2025 to November 18, 2025 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm (Tuesday)
Henry Wisewood High School

Is there an instrument that you’ve always wanted the opportunity to try out and learn more about? Have you always wanted to gain some skills and tips to better help your students? This six-week course is intended for music teachers that have always wanted the chance to learn to play another wind or percussion instrument. With a “hands-on” approach, participants will get a glimpse into the student experience of the early stages of starting a new instrument along with the opportunity to share ideas and learn some specific tips and tricks for building instrumental skills. 

The intention is that you are able to assemble, make a sound and can play a few notes on the instrument of choice for the first week. To have a relatively balanced band, participants will be asked to indicate their top three choices of instruments they would like to learn. Participants must supply their own instruments and supplies. If the instrument(s) you are interested in learning are not available at your school, we may be able to help! 

An exceptionally well regarded educator, Kathie Van Lare is a master teacher with 35 years of experience in the classroom. She continues her career as a guest conductor, trumpet clinician, adjudicator for both concert and jazz festivals, organizer/instigator of the ‘Girls in Jazz’ workshop, director of the Calgary Women’s Jazz Collective and in addition to directing a jazz band in Westwinds, she is also the concert band director for Foothills Music Society. Kathie continues to play as a regular sub in various local professional bands.

Rhythm and Counting 1

Clinician: Kevin Willms
October 1, 2025 to October 22, 2025 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm (Wednesday)
William Aberhart High School - portable 1

Have you ever wished your director could spend more time on some of the fundamentals (or perhaps you dread those moments!)? Perhaps you’re in rehearsal and you are hoping to “just hear how that goes one more time – then I’ll get it”? Or maybe you just realize that the reason your sight-reading isn’t great is because your focus is on the notes, but the rhythms are all over the map! If any of that sounds familiar, or if you just want to get ahead, this course is for you, regardless of what level ensemble you perform with (including beginners).

This course will focus on the essential components for successful rhythmic performance:

  • developing a system for consistent timekeeping (pulse)

  • understanding rhythmic values of sounds and silences (notes and rests) in musical notation

  • adopting a consistent and methodical approach to tracking rhythmic values

  • applying this knowledge and approach to everyday practice and performance

Please bring your instrument and a pencil (with an eraser). Other materials will be provided.

Practice Methods 1

Clinician: Kevin Willms
October 1, 2025 to October 22, 2025 from 8:00pm to 9:00pm (Wednesday)
William Aberhart High School - portable 1

To be or not to be ----- effective, efficient and, ultimately successful and satisfied. Do you practice? Do you practice effectively and with intent? Yes, there are methods to this madness.

This course is a hands-on interactive experience where Kevin will participate fully by modelling and demonstrating the concepts (not limited to the list below). The focus of the course will be on the elements of successful practicing:

  • how to structure a practice session regardless of available time

  • prioritizing – you might be surprised

  • tone and endurance

  • techniques for learning technically challenging passages

  • the differences in learning styles – how to know yourself and challenge yourself positively

  • how to familiarize yourself with the unfamiliar

Please bring:

  • your instrument

  • a pencil (with an eraser)

  • a piece of music you are working on – this can be solo music, an etude, band/orchestra music – really anything you want to work on

Introductory Jazz Improvisation Workshop

Have you been curious to try improvising a solo in your jazz band? Felt unsure of what to play when called upon to solo by a conductor? Or been daunted trying to understand the chord symbols and theory embedded within the music in these situations? Over the course of 3 weeks, saxophonist Nate Waters will help demystify the ins and outs of improvising in a jazz context. By tackling basic jazz theory in a way that is approachable and applicable to your instrument, you'll learn how to navigate soloing over some simple jazz standards, while learning strategies that you can apply to your music in combos, big bands and beyond!

Materials: your instrument, some staff paper, and a music stand
 
Dates:  Sundays – April 7, 14 and 28th – 2-4 PM
Location:  Living Spirit United Church – 629 49th Ave SW
Price: $45 members/$55 non members

West African Drumming Workshop - COMPLETED

Are you intrigued by rhythms?  Has drumming of any kind ever interested you?  Don’t miss this opportunity!  No experience or musical knowledge is required for this course.  Not even music reading!   

 

We will be using djembe drums and dunduns from the West African Drumming tradition, much of which stems from Guinea and nearby countries.  There are drums available to rent for a nominal fee, or you can bring your own djembe if you have one.  No experience needed, but the best part of this kind of music, is it’s easy to provide more of a challenge to those who come with some experience or keep it simple for whoever needs it.  

 

This opportunity is open to members and non-members; this is a great opportunity to drum with family members or friends provided they are 18 or older.  If you are a teacher and have djembes in your school but no real experience with drumming, this is a great opportunity to pick up some techniques and rhythms which you can apply immediately in your classroom.  

 

Jane has taught West African drumming since 2005 to hundreds of students and adults of all levels and abilities, participated in a performing group for 7 years and attended a variety of workshops put on by West African Master teachers, such as Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate and Nansady Keita. 

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Monday evenings, January 8th – February 12th (6 weeks) 

7:00-9:00 PM

$90, $80 for Westwinds members

$15 fee for djembe drum rental, if required

January 8th, 22nd, 29th, February 5th, 12th:

William Aberhart High School Band Room

3009 Morley Trail NW, Calgary, AB


January 15th:

Living Spirit United Church

629 - 49 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

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