Hello, I'm Simon one of the 3 instructors for the band along with Martina Zechendorf and Erica Skowron.
The Band starts mid September on the14th Rehearsals are from 6-8 Sundays at St Paul's church. People can arrive late or leave early, that's fine. If arriving later the back door is the best way to get someone's attention. The band will run until March-April. That will be season one.
Please register before the first session to enable us to plan.
There is no charge for the bands first season.
We have funding from the New Horizons for Seniors Program for the first season after that there will be a small charge 10/reh. This takes in to consideration the cost of getting to the rehearsal for participants , the loan of instruments remains free. The Prince George version of this band is going into season 14 and the Southside band is going into season 2.
Music level depends on who wants to play. Usually when I do these bands the first 30 minutes of the reh is dedicated to beginners. (we have a set of good beginner band books and a set of quartet books that are end of first year books) I'll start there then we will move on to sheet music.
Often the more experienced players like me play along with the beginners to help them but it's also a good warmup. For the most part I go for music that most people can play fairly quickly but I mix in harder pieces as well. If you have a music stand that you could bring that might be a good idea, we have a few but it's good to have extras.
We have instruments that players in the band can use while they are in the program for no charge, flutes, clarinets, sax, trumpet, trombone, tuba, baritone, drums etc. These are fcfs as we have only a few and are serving multiple bands.
first rehearsal of season 2 is September 15 2025 at Grassy Plains School
This year has 3 session, each session is a commitment for min of 10 rehearsal /lessons. Cost is $10/session or $100 for all 10. Session 1 starts Sept 15. Minimum enrollment needed to proceed. The band is still loaning out instruments to active participants at no cost including annual servicing.
Please register before the first session to enable us to plan.
We have 3 bands to supply with instruments. Act now now while supplies last!
We have purchased 2 new Yamaha single French horns! We also received donations of an electronic drum set and more band music.
If there is a meeting at the school there will be no band. There will be some Mondays that are holidays so the school will be closed. Last year if I was out of town performing I would make a special trip back for band and then go back to work. I can't do that this season so there will be some gaps in the schedule
Instruction from professional musicians.
Contact us : Simon at 250-694-3338 or 250-961-1810 cell/text or
Facebook Page: Southside Community Band
Next rehearsal is Sept 4th 2025
though you may join at any time please contact us first to register.
Cost is $233 for each of the 3 terms. No adjustments for partial attendance. In the event of any disruption meetings continue online.
The band is from 400-600 pm on Thursdays at the 1st Baptist Church on 5th Ave.
A huge thank you to 1st Baptist Church for helping make this possible.
This band I am proud to say is now an advanced group. A dedicated group interested always in improving and refining. It's better than fun, it's rewarding, meaningful and gratifying, Last year we performed the Weber concertino amongst other works.
We have some instruments to loan out for people in our programs flutes clarinets etc. We do this for 3 bands spread out over 300km so we are limited as to how many we have to lend.
Read more: Alban Classical Band Prince George Season 14 2025-26
We have some of the auxiliary instruments (bass clarinet, alto clarinet Eb clarinet, piccolo ) to loan to regular members (not available to drop in players) and flutes clarinets trumpets trombones tuba baritone saxophones bass bells drums timpani piano etc...to loan to full year players. Some have been donated to us, some we purchased over many years.
Flute & Clarinets are like the violins and violas in an orchestra they provide the main texture
Alto clarinet, Bass clarinet, Contra bass clarinet add to the depth and richness of the sound
Oboe and bassoon add color
Alto sax tenor sax Baritone sax add fullness color and depth, the saxophones function as both winds and brass
The brass, trumpet trombone baritone tuba add color and strength and another range of colors
Percussion- not pitched drum set bass drum etc
Percussion- pitched bells timpani mallet instruments
Piano guitar bass guitar
violins can play flute parts cellos can play bassoon parts viola parts we transpose
We have a lot of music for these these instruments and at different playing levels