The sound of music at Verdun Elementary

Miss Jennifer, a native of a small New Brunswick town, came to the big city about 8 years ago to get her degree at McGill, and was first time lucky after graduating 4 years later.

“I got a job right away at Verdun E. to start the music program, because before I got to the school, there was no program in place, so I started that, and we’ve been building our music collection and the skills of the students,� states Miss Jennifer.

We had to ask this music teacher how many instruments she plays and we learnt that she’s the epitome of a one-person band. Miss Jennifer lists them off, “My first instrument was the piano, then the clarinet, and did saxophone and guitar in high school,� and she continues with a chuckle, “and now of course teaching band, I learnt to play them all, including drum kit, trombone, flute and trumpet.�

The roots of the program were on display at Beurling Academy during the school’s Christmas show in the 04-05 school year with a 4-student woodwind ensemble, and last year the school hit paydirt with the now famous Band-Aid grant. During the 04-05 year, the school and Miss Jennifer had petitions signed, and parents, students, administration, and fellow colleagues wrote letters of support and a huge application for the grant was submitted.

Then came the big news with the announcement that Verdun E. had become the first elementary school in Montreal to be awarded the $10,000 grant and the result was lots of shiny new instruments, and with that a lift to school spirit, according to Miss Jennifer.

“By writing the letters, the kids saw the fruits of their labour, when they saw the instruments arrive, the students realized by their action, that they can bring about a change in what they want, and for the kids who perform in the band, their self-esteem is phenomenal, and when they perform for the school, the kids who are watching, will ask me after, when can I be in the band,� stated Miss Jennifer proudly.

The CARAS grant has resulted in a waiting list of about 50 or so students literally knocking down the doors of the band room. The grant allowed the group to grow from a 4-piece group to a full-sound band consisting of: 5 each of flutes and clarinets, 3 each of trumpets, trombones and alto saxophones, and two drummers for a total of 21 band members.

The band, after learning the basic notes, has learnt some classic pop hits such as: We Will Rock you, the soulful classic, Stand by Me and one of my all-time party classics, Louie Louie, which we got to hear during our chat.

VE also now has a 60-student choir, which sang 4 holiday tunes outside City Hall last Tuesday, and Miss Jennifer will also be producing a Junior musical called “A Holiday Moosical� about a moose who wants to fly like reindeer, featuring students from pre-k to Grade 2, which will take place this coming Tuesday at 7 p.m.at Beurling Academy to allow as many people as possible to see this holiday show.

Thus, with all this activity going on, it clearly seems that VE’s music future is bright, with a talented music teacher at the helm. This writer, being a well-known music and movie aficionado, can truly say a great musician always attracts great musicians, and to everybody in the band, “Let the Music Play.�