CANADIAN MUSICIAN - Online News

February 2005

Music Monday '05 is taking place on May 2nd, 2005 and will be the very first annual event to celebrate the power of music in Canada. Designed by the Coalition for Music Education in Canada (CMEC), the event hopes to reveal that the power of music in Canada is rooted in our school music programs.

On Monday May 2nd, elementary schools right up through secondary schools, from all across Canada, will head outside onto their school grounds to perform the Music Monday song called " A Little Music", written by Canadian composer and musician Chris Tait. All of the concerts will take place at the exact same time during that day, 10 a.m. Pacific time, 11 a.m. Mountain time, 12 p.m. Central time, 1 p.m. Eastern time, 2 p.m. Atlantic time, and 2:30 p.m. in Newfoundland, to unite our voices.

The song "A Little Music" is available to all schools in a variety of formats and arrangements. There is music for primary choirs through to secondary school bands and orchestras. It is a piece of music that has the power to transcend all genres, and unite everyone in the music at the same time. Hopefully, everyone across Canada will be able to open his or her front door on May 2nd, 2005 at the appropriate time and hear music filling the sky.

A complete teacher toolkit is available on the CMEC Web site under the Music Monday section. There, teachers can find the music in all of its forms and receive instructions on how to download and burn the demos on CD.

This celebration of music organized by CMEC is in response to Canada's endangered music programs. In Canada, we have seen budget cutbacks, a decrease in the quality of instruments and resources and the retraction of music specialists. The goal of this event is to celebrate music, and to show its importance in our society. Moreover, the event hopes to demonstrate the importance of music education to all Canadians.

Music Monday will be a leader for music education in Canada. The various concerts throughout Canada will create a public interest, hopefully leading to the support of music education. It will show the unifying power of music and the need for music to be strongly rooted in our educational systems.

In a personal message from Ontario's premier, Dalton McGuinty, he congratulated the CMEC on their launch of Music Monday. He wrote, "I am confident that Music Monday, a celebratory coming together of school musical groups from across Canada, will do much to bring attention to the joys and benefits of music education."

Likewise, Pinchas Zukerman, Music Director for the National Arts Centre in his letter of support to the CMEC wrote, "Music has the power to unite us. It proves that by working together, we can create something truly beautiful. We must keep music programs in our schools. When our children learn how to make music, we nourish their self-confidence, creativity and compassion. There is no greater demonstration of our determination to keep music for our children, than by a country united by one voice."

The foundation of music in Canada is deeply rooted in our schools. Music Monday will celebrate music this spring. It will make music matter and make Monday magnificent.

For more information contact, The Coalition for Music Education in Canada, PO Box 556, Agincourt, ON M1S 3C5 (416) 298-2817, FAX (416) 298-5730, [email protected], www.weallneedmusic.ca

Toronto Hosts Heart Of The Horn Clinic Series

Long & McQuade’s Toronto location recently kicked off their 2005 Heart of the Horn clinic series, which started on Saturday, February 12 and will continue through until Friday, March 18, 2005. All clinics, free of cost, take place at 2 p.m. at Toronto’s Long & McQuade Seminar Room.

On Saturday, February 19, Paul Brodie, co-founder of the World Saxophone Congress, teacher of generations of Canadian saxophonists spoke to attendees ranging from novices to professionals and discussed equipment selection, embouchure, breathing techniques and tone production. James Box, a trombonist recently appointed Principal Trombonist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, was featured on Saturday, February 26 as he shared approaches to practicing, preparing and performing music.

Upcoming presentations include:

· Saturday, March 5 – Saxophone and woodwind player John Johnson, Alto/Tenor Saxophone

As one of Toronto's most demanding saxophone and woodwind players, Johnson is active in the studios, clubs, concert halls and theatres. Johnson has performed in concert with several great entertainers including Harry Connick Jr., Dionne Warwick, Diana Krall, and Randy Brecker. The focal point of this clinic will be on tone production and technical exercises to advance velocity of one's playing.

· Saturday, March 12 – Saxophonist Kelly Jefferson, Saxophone

Saxophonist Kelly Jefferson, originally from Regina, has a Bachelor of Music from McGill University and a Masters degree from Manhattan School of Music. Jefferson has performed with Maria Schneider, Ray Anderson, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, and others including major North American orchestras. His clinic will be an improvisation clinic focusing chord/scale choices and their usage.

· Friday, March 18 – Paul Edmund Davies, Flute/Sonaré/ Powell Artist

Paul Edmund-Davies made his Wigmore Hall debut in 1978, which led to many radio recitals and television appearances. He was asked to play with the English Chamber Orchestra in 1982 and in 1984 joined the LSO as Co-Principal Flute, being appointed to Principal Flute in 1987. Covering Mozart to Star Wars, Davies will offer over 25 years of performance experience to his clinic aimed at teaching flute fundamentals to advancing students.

Those interested in attending any of the upcoming seminars may send an e-mail to [email protected] – be sure to include your name and contact information (phone number and/or e-mail address). Please note that seating is on a first come first served basis.

For more information, visit www.long-mcquade.com.

Long & McQuade Announces Third Guitar Summit

After last year’s exciting response to the sold out Guitar Summit concert, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments is presenting yet another encore presentation featuring Canada’s pre-eminent guitar heroes. The third Guitar Summit will take place Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at Toronto’s Hard Rock Café at 279 Yonge St.

Attendees will be treated to the talents of Rik Emmett, “guitarcheologist” Danny Marks, 14-year-old phenom Jimmy Bowskill, Ian Thornley and Ken Tizzard of Thornley, Tony “Wild T” Springer (David Bowie, Rough Trade), Reg Schwager and Ted Quinlan of Jazz Monsters, Levon Ichkhanian, top-notch flamenco player Johannes Linstead, in addition to one of Canada’s premiere guitarists Bill Dillon (Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan, Robbie Robertson, Peter Gabriel, Gordon Lightfoot and Daniel Lanois).

Proceeds from this event will go to the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, the country’s primary non-profit advocacy organization for protecting music education in schools. Tickets for each event cost $12 and are only available at Toronto-area Long & McQuade locations.

For more information, visit www.long-mcquade.com.

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