Dedicated to nurturing musical learning, enjoyment and excellence.
Magical Holiday Minis happened with Camillia Courts Photography this weekend! Such a beautiful setting for capturing that special moment with loved ones. If you haven’t had the chance to participate in this experience yet, add it to your must-do list for next year! Thank you for doing such a great job, Camillia!
#vernoncommunitymusicschool
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your favourite musician? Do members of your family keep losing their music or forget to bring it to their lessons? Are you looking for the perfect bag to carry your snacks/small instruments/homework in? Look no further! Check out these great bags that have just arrived for the season! Each bag is $20, and with three vibrant and lovable colours to choose from, there is one for everyone on your Christmas list.
Things are getting festive in the Smith House! Have you booked your time yet with Camillia Courts Photography for your Holiday Minis? Sunday, November 17th! Click the link https://camilliacourtsphotography.as.me/ to book in for a 15 minute session and 5 digital image online gallery. You will be so happy you did, for 2 reasons: $5 from each session comes back to the Vernon Community Music School, AND you get some great photos to send out to family and friends over the holidays! It’s a win-win situation!
What a busy and fantastic Saturday morning at the Music School! The Flute Masterclass took place, organized by our own Margaret Burton. You can never have too much information about the mechanics of your instrument, and how to play it better. Thank you to all who came out for this great event!
The Annual Leaf Raking party happened this past weekend, and was clearly a success again this year. Looking outside this morning, it appears we were just in time! Spirits were high, everyone had fun, and the rain held off. Thank you to everyone who came to participate in the festivities, we’re looking forward to next year already!
With over 40 musicians in the Carriage House Loft on Monday afternoons, things are sure to be busy! These violinists and cellists are working hard to be ready for the Vernon Rotary Carol Festival, happening at the Performing Arts Centre December 2nd and 3rd. Timing is everything to make sure everything flows smoothly. If you’re out and about Monday afternoons, make sure you walk by the Carriage House. You’ll hear all of the hard work and dedication that goes into these performances. Well done, everyone!
This is one of our favourite weeks of the year…the week of Halloween! We had all kinds of characters come to visit us in Music Makers this week, including Scooby-Do, princesses, firemen, cats, and dinosaurs! They danced, read stories, and there were lots and lots of snacks! Hurray!!
Music Explorers was also a HUGE hit this morning, and we were lucky enough to be blessed with TWO Spidermans and a Supergirl!
Some of the teachers, not wanting to be outdone, also came out in their best attire for the day. Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Kim were part of the Wee Witchy Cauldron of the Music School, while Ms. Daisy was a Viking Goddess and Mr. Geoff was a leaping lemur.
Mr. Aaron warped in from the 1980s to pose with Leaping Lemur and Tugger the Great. Mr. Aaron had to quickly head back to the 1980s though, and he had important mullet tasks to take care of.
Look who popped by with Mary Poppins! Charlie Brown came in for a visit before heading off to his Halloween special. He even brought his hand-crafted pumpkin in for some fun!
Fairies and Artists have been captivating our attention for years, and this day was no different. In to the school they came, almost as though they had been here many times before. Thank you to everyone who came and participated in our Halloween festivities, you could hear the laughter throughout the building!
More on our series about the Smith House: The ballroom. The ballroom is on the third floor of the house, now known as a voice studio. When the Smith House was built, the ballroom was quite large and included what is now room 11 (or the guitar studio), and had beautiful large windows at both ends and the alcove off to the right where the orchestra played. The room had gloriously high ceilings with carefully chosen chandeliers, polished floors and imported satin damask wallpaper and etched glass panels. Just walking into the room makes your imagination run, as you picture yourself dressed in your best like Vernon and Irene Castle, a husband-and-wife team of ballroom dancers and dance teachers who appeared on Broadway and in silent films in the early 20th century.
A few of our cello students, Angela, Holly and Pieter, were able to participate in a Masterclass with Bryan Cheng this past week. Bryan Cheng’s refreshing approach to showcasing classical music to new audiences of all backgrounds is steeped in a rare balance of infectious joy and enthusiasm in his playing on one hand, and mature, historically-informed, and profound interpretations on the other. How exciting for these cello students!
More on our series about the Smith House: the Recital Room. This room is a favourite one for us at the Music School, mostly because of its size and the beautiful windows that let in so much light. Originally, it was the Smith family dining room with stained glass windows, a beautiful ceiling and wall paneling, and flanked on the east by a charming conservatory. The former kitchen is now a small kitchen, office, and hallway to the back door. The maid’s staircase can still be seen in the office, and originally went to the third floor. Have you noticed the serving access to the games room? People could be served refreshments without the maid entering the room.
Can you imagine having Christmas dinner in the Recital Room, sitting at a long dining table decorated with candlesticks, eating off large serving plates with a beverage served in the finest crystal?