Info for Students

Education Band on Parade – EDSE 401/501, 3-credit Spring course

Learn the basics of marching band.  This course is for anyone interested in a “hands on” approach to learning about organizing, managing, and performing in a marching band.  Individuals may participate for credit [EDSE 401/501] or as an extra-curricular, non-credit activity.

This is Dr. Dust’s ongoing effort to establish a modern day marching band program at the University of Alberta – we did have a marching band in the 1960s… but not since then.  The "new" U of A Marching Band started in spring of 2016 and enjoyed five very successful seasons - we were unable to gather and parade in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID health restrictions but returned to action for 2022.

 The band/class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 pm between May 7 and June 6, 2024.  In addition to the band/marching practices there are parades, all on Saturdays – tentative dates are May 18, May 25,  June  1, and June 8.   It is anticipated that travel, parade preparation, the parade, and post-parade activities will take from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm on each of these Saturdays.  The Tuesday/Thursday practices plus the parade times comprise enough hours for EDSE 401/501 participants to earn *3 credits that can be used toward the BEd degree as an Education Elective or as an Open Option.

 If you can play a band instrument at a grade 2 level (usually a second year player in school grade 8) you can do this.  If you have your own instrument – super… if not, Dr. Dust has a few loaners.  If you do not play a band instrument but can read music and are interested in being part of this endeavor, you can possibly play bass drum, crash cymbals, glockenspiel (must be able to play piano), or be part of the color guard (you don’t have to read music to be in the color guard).