Old Scona offers music to students as the Instrumental Music course under the Alberta Curriculum. Classes are divided into Grade 10, and a combined class of Grade 11 and 12. At its core, students are expected to be able to perform on either a wind or a percussion instrument. Students who do well and complete Instrumental Music 30 can use their final mark as a grade booster for post-secondary applications.

Please note that for incoming grade 10s, our slots for percussionists are limited and preferably reserved for the most experienced, organized, and technical students who can be well-versed on both pitched and percussive instruments. As such, it may be beneficial to consider taking up a wind instrument for contingencies. 

For wind instruments, we are always happy to receive new students regardless of skill level at this time, however previous musical instruments skills will be beneficial for the learning process.

Students rent instruments from the school for the full school year, and can choose to keep the instruments during the summer breaks for extended practice. Percussionists will receive a percussion kit to take home with a snare drum and bells.

Extra Life 2023 Video Game Charity Event at West Edmonton Mall

Students participating in the Music IB Diploma Program are enrolled under the General Music course at Old Scona, as it partially overlaps the Music IB curriculum. In Music IB, students are encouraged to turn their wealth of musical knowledge and information that they have learned previously into inspiration through a variety of musical expression and mediums. Students are expected to:

1. Explore various aspects of music through critical listening and research

2. Experiment with musical stimulus using different tools and techniques

3. Present music that showcases the musical skills of the individual in a variety of settings

4. Make and manage a musical project in a real case client-based scenario (HL only)

On this journey, students will not only develop a deeper understanding of how the music that they listen to on a daily based are created, but discover how they can be creative and conjure ideas in a way that is critical, self-reflective, true to themselves, and true to their peers, something that they can take with them through their future endeavours.

A portion of Music IB requires the candidate to be familiar with music technology and understand what it is capable of. As such, students will learn the fundamentals of writing, composing, recording, producing, mixing, and mastering music from start to finish. Students will be exposed to the same industry standard professional equipment and software that is being used in today's professional studios. Through which, students will learn how to use them to bring their musical ideas to life.