Hello all! See what's in this announcement below; - [[#Long & McQuade Instruments Arrived]] - [[#Now What]] - [[#Startup Clinics]] # Long & McQuade Instruments Arrived Your students' instruments that were ordered through Long & McQuade have arrived. If your student did not receive it today, it is because their instrument was not included in the delivery. In such a circumstance, you will need to contact Long & McQuade to determine why. **Students who ordered reeds**, please confirm that the type and thickness of reeds that you ordered are the exact same as the ones you received. A couple of students indicated that they ordered the "blue box" but received the "orange box", so please confirm you received your orders properly. # Now What Your student will likely want to start on their instrument right away, but I haven't had a chance to give proper instruction on them. That doesn't mean your student should avoid touching the instruments; they are of course welcome to experiment. However, if at all possible, they should start with good habits. Students can go to https://teachband101.com/cgi-bin/101.cgi to access some well-curated videos about their instrument. - Click on the **TeachBand 101 TV** menu option - Choose your Instrument - Scroll until you find some Beginner videos and watch them for advice on how to start with your instrument. Students will also be participating in Startup Clinics very soon to help them get started. ## Please note, all students will be requiring their instruments starting next week for classes. # Startup Clinics Students who are new to their concert band instruments at any grade level, or who are learning a secondary instrument for Jazz Band, will be going to Startup Clinics on September 23, 2026. **Families must complete permission forms for this free activity**. Please complete those permission forms at https://christtheredeemer.schoolcashonline.com/ by September 18. We require consent to take your students off-campus, even if there is no activity fee. Students will be leaving Notre Dame Collegiate at 11:40 AM at the beginning of lunch, so will need to pack a bag lunch. They will be working with our Music Mentors, students in high school who will be guiding them on starting up and playing their instruments. The entire activity happens at the Highwood Centre where they have graciously offered us space to work without interrupting other classes. We will return to Notre Dame Collegiate in time to catch busses at the end of the day. At the end of that day your student will know fully how to maintain their instrument, put it together effectively, play the first notes (and maybe their first song) on their instruments, and have some tricks passed down to them from the older musicians. # After School Ensembles This is just a quick reminder of when our after school ensembles start up. **Steel Pans** - already started. Juniors meet after school on Wednesdays, Seniors meet at 5:30 PM on Wednesdays. **Junior Jazz** - Students will have an organizational meeting at lunch on Monday, September 14. After school rehearsals start on Monday, September 21 after school. **Strings** - starts on Tuesday, September 15 after school. Students should be picked up at 4:50 PM. **Senior Jazz** - starts on Thursday, September 17 after school. If your student hasn't signed up yet but wants to, ask them to do so either through the Google Classroom or [[After School Bands and NDC Rentals|my last blog]] using their school-based account. # The excitement begins! Take care of each other and love each other! Joel Windsor