Music
Music is an important part of what makes Northlea special. All students have opportunities to sing together and perform through classroom choirs (the Junior Choir, the Senior Girls’ Choir) and the band. These groups perform at the December Winter Holiday Concert, Kiwanis Music Festival in February and the Spring Concert in May. For performances, all students should wear a plain, white, long-sleeved shirt or turtleneck, with navy blue pants for boys, and either navy blue pants or a navy blue skirt with navy tights for girls.
Junior Choirs
Grades 5 & 6
Under the direction of Mr. Bondy and Ms. Konjhodzic
The Junior Choir competes in several categories in the annual Kiwanis Music Festival each February where Northlea’s students have shown excellence year after year. In addition to the regular performances, each year the Junior Choir enjoys appearing at one or two special venues such as the Toronto District School Board Spring Festival Concert and TD Canada Trust Centre Branch.
Interested students must sign an agreement about expectations for behaviour and attendance. Sign-up forms are sent home with the students in September. The Junior Choir holds rehearsals are Tuesdays 7:45 – 8:45 a.m. and Thursdays 12:00 – 12:40 p.m. from October through May. All rehearsals feature piano accompaniment. Choir members are asked to contribute a fee at the beginning of the year to cover the cost of sheet music and the accompanist.
In addition to the required attire above, Junior Choir members are also supplied with a green Northlea vest to be worn at all performances and returned at the end of the year.
The Junior Choir relies on parent volunteers to help organize and supervise performances and special events. Parents receive lots of notice and our enthusiastic singers welcome your support.
Instrumental Music
Grades 6 through 8
Under the direction of Ms. Loucks
Students commence the Instrumental Music Program at Northlea in Grade 6 and receive musical instruction once weekly for 50 minutes. Beginning in September, Grade 6 students are given an intense introduction to the traditional Concert Band instruments and are then assigned to an instrument based on their needs, as well as the balanced class instrumentation model. All students beginning the program are to purchase the class Method Book for use during Grades 6, 7 & 8. Students have the option of owning, renting, or borrowing a school instrument. There is a maintenance fee charged for school instruments and a mouthpiece must be purchased for sanitary purposes. Grade 6 students may get involved in extracurricular opportunities (after January) as part of the Grade 6 Junior Band (*) Students rehearse one time a week at noon in the Instrumental Music Room, in preparation for the Spring Open House Concert. Interested students must sign an agreement about expectations for behaviour and attendance.
Grades 7 & 8 Instrumental Music students receive musical instruction twice a week for 50 minutes. Students begin playing their assigned instrument during the second Instrumental Music class back in September. Students in Grades 7 & 8 may participate in the Senior Band, which rehearses twice weekly at noon in the Instrumental Music Room. The Senior Band will have the opportunity to play at the Winter and Spring School Concerts, as well as other possible opportunities to be arranged throughout the year. Interested students must sign an agreement about expectations for behaviour and attendance.
