FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MUSIC PROGRAM
1. What is the difference between CHS Council and the Music Council?
The Canterbury School Council meets regularly to discuss issues that affect the whole school, the students, the parents and the community. All meetings are open and parents are both welcome and encouraged to attend.
The CHS MPSG (Music Parents Support Group) – Is not a council, we are a parent group. We meet once a month at the school in room 160, to discuss issues that affect the Music Program (e.g upcoming events, scholarships, upcoming needs, fundraisers etc.) and lend our support where needed to ensure a premiere quality program.
Music parents/Guardians/Music staff, are all members and are welcome and encouraged to attend. Our constitution is posted online.
2. How does the busing work for the school and is there any car pooling?
Busing – If you live more than 3.2km from the school based on your home address, the OCDSB will determine whether you are entitled to a yellow school bus or a presto card. This policy is reviewed annually by the OCDSB. Entitlement could change from year to year.
Carpooling – There is no carpooling arranged through the school due to OCDSB policy and liability concerns.
3. Why are we asked to pay $250 arts fee every year?
Canterbury HS is a publicly funded high school. Students enrolled in the Music Program are included in the funding for the school as a whole. The OCDSB does not provide any additional funding to support the arts program. To support this phenomenal Arts Program we ask each Arts student to pay $250 per year. This fee helps pay for: visiting artists, specialized equipment, facilities, technicians, and accompanists that are not part of any regular arts program available in any other school. Without this financial support our means of offering such enriched programming will be significantly reduced.
4. Why do we have to fundraise if we pay $250 a year for the arts fee.
Whilst the $250 is most valuable to supporting the Music Program, it does not cover everything. The students perform in many different ensembles and often require an accompanist. Last year we paid $10,000 on accompanists, so it does not take long to use up the arts fee on the program alone.
From fundraising we are proud to be able to purchase extras that are not covered by the $250 art fee. Some of those extras are as follows: A bassoon, Violas, tuba, pianos, Concert attire (tuxedos and long gowns for the senior ensembles), software for keeping track of all of the items belonging to the Music Department. Special chairs were purchased for the strings department, to help students perform with the correct posture.
Every year we have a wish list from the Music Department and it can be viewed on our website.
5. If we do not have our own instruments, are there instruments for us to borrow?
Yes we have a small supply of instruments for those students who do not have one of their own.
6. When are rehearsals?
In a typical year...
Male chorus Mon 8:00 am
Senior Band Tues 7:45 am
Strings Ensemble Tues 7:45 am
Senior Trebles Tue 8:00 am
Intermediate Band Wed 7:45 am
Intermediate Trebles Wed 8:00 am
Orchestra Thurs 7:45 am
Intermediate Jazz Thurs 7:45 am
Senior Jazz Fri 7:45 am
7. When can we expect to see our students perform?
Two of our main performances are Music Nights, in the Fall and the Spring of each year, where all of our students perform. These are two night concert events with different ensembles playing each night. The Fall performance is usually held at the end of November/beginning of December. The Spring performance is usually the first/second week of May. Information for exact times, dates, and ticket sales can be found on our website and sent to you via Remind or the Music Parents email list. These are spectacular events, with a large amount of work from students, staff and parents and should not be missed, so mark your calendars.
Our students are highly sought after and are constantly performing within the community. Information can be found from the same means above or from the teaching staff.
8. How do we get more information about what is going on in the Music Program?
Visit the website CHSMUSIC.CA - For all information to do with the Music Program, www.chsmusic.ca
Sign up for the Music Parents support Group email - For information and upcoming events - supporting parents and their musicians