Playing repertoire goes a lot deeper than just playing the notes on the page, and while that is important, realizing the character of the piece and that its character changes how the piece is meant to be played makes the music sound so much better.

Topher, Grade 10

It’s really rewarding being a part of a group that works together to create amazing music.

James, Grade 10

Music can be easy or it can be hard. What matters is dedication.

Lucas, Grade 6

I wish people understood how much work and time we put into it.

Tessa, Grade 6

Reading music is exactly like reading a book, once you learn the notes and what they look like you can read it forever. It’s not as hard as it seems.

Natalie, Grade 6

I wish more people understood that it needs practice and time to play well, and that if I’m in my room practicing for a long time, it doesn’t mean I’m struggling. It just means I’m trying to make it perfect.

Gargi, Grade 6

Being a musician gives you lots of opportunities and a great community to meet new people.

Bridget, Grade 8

It’s not just about playing notes.

Julia, Grade 12

How hard we all work and how much it means to us when more people come to concerts and hear us perform.

Sophia, Grade 11

Making music is not just about blowing into the instrument and hoping it will make the right sound. It comes with tons of practice, understanding the piece, and listening to everyone around you. Someone can be a great musician but it takes lots of hard work to be a great band.

Edeeleen, Grade 11

You need to know how to read notes if you want to play in middle school.

Kate, Grade 6

It is important to be resilient and treat yourself with kindness and grace when approaching a challenging piece.

Ruby, Grade 10

I wish more people understood that learning how to read music and play it correctly with others is a lot harder than it looks. Reading music itself is like reading another language and playing it is like translating that language, but you also have to do it correctly, sometimes everyone around you is “translating” the same thing and often times most of the band is reading something very different. The timing and precision of it all is very difficult. Band might not take as much physical effort as a sport does, but it requires consistent mental effort to get fruitful results.

Eloise, Grade 10

I wish more people understood that making music, especially with a group, can teach you a lot about how to build confidence in yourself and others. Making music can feel vulnerable and uncomfortable, but it’s important for everyone to practice feeling that way so they can feel confident about making mistakes, because they are inevitable! Music is a great outlet for that.

Tess, Grade 11

That it is not all about skill - you just need to have fun and sometimes things don’t go your way but you have to learn to work through those moments and show those haters that you can do anything when you’re putting good effort into it.

Nathan, Grade 6