Welcome to OLCS Music website! The purpose of this page is to give you an overview of our music program and some of the events that happen during the school year.

Kindergarten to Grade 5 General Music

We are thrilled to offer general classes to these grade levels. We sing, play singing games, and perform on a wide variety of instruments. The grade 4 and 5 classes learn to play the recorder as a pre-ensemble experience to Band in grade 6. We learn how to read rhythms and melody lines. We also study famous composers--about their lives and music. We annually perform at assemblies, our Remembrance Day Service, Christmas Concert, Virden Festival and Spring Concert.

Grade 6-8 Band

The Band course that is offered to these grade levels fulfils the requirements from the Department of Education for the teaching of the Fine Arts.  We are especially fortunate to provide Band, since educational research has proven that learning a musical instrument increases intelligence, cognitive skills, communication, self discipline and a sense of community as the student learns to work towards a shared goal--in this case, the performance of music.  Band is mandatory at OLCS.  This gives our students the advantage of choosing Band as a credit at the senior high level.  OLCS was very proud of the band and recorder program last year.  We look forward to an equally rewarding year,this year.

As much as possible, OLCS is making a great effort to provide a school-owned instrument to each child at the low rental rate of $5 per month.  Music stores charge anywhere from $18 to $30 a month in rent.  We feel that music is so important to your child's complete development that we want everyone to be able to afford it.  Unfortunately, instruments cannot be provided free of charge because of the high cost of repair, maintenance and replacement.  Approximately 3/4 of the music budget goes to maintaining our instruments to working order.  If you already own an instrument or have one you can borrow that your child would like to play, just let Mrs. Penner know.

Our classes will work toward performances at our Remembrance Day Service, Christmas Concert, Virden Music and Arts Festival, and Spring Concert, as well as assemblies throughout the year.  The Beginner Band (grade 6's) will perform at some of these events, as they are ready.  All these performances are an important part of our Band course.  Each person is very important because we need all the parts of the band to sound our best!

Over a decade ago, the Fort la Bosse School Division provided a budget for music and band programs.  Since then, severe cut backs in funding have made us responsible for raising moneys to support our program.  Because our community is so supportive of the value of music in our children's lives, we have been able to keep our program going.  Our fundraiser for the past few years has been Mom's Pantry Products.  We were very successful with this campaign.  Some donations from community members and local service clubs have substantially assisted us.

Newsletters to further explain details of the program will be sent home with the students.

Thank you for your continued support of your child's musical endeavours at OLCS--you are enabling them to acquire a skill that they will enjoy for their lifetime!

K. Morrw-Penner, B.Mus.Ed.