Bon été !

Happy summer! Congrats to all music students at Quarterway this year, especially to our grade 7's who will be moving on to their next step in their educational journey! Students have created instruments, created electronic music, sang many a song, played many instruments, and last but not least, practiced making recordings so that they can show their classmates.

We'll be having our year-end virtual concert at the school on Tuesday, June 29 at 9:30am at our year-end assembly. This assembly is just being shown within the school for media privacy rules. At the end of the year, I will be unfortunately saying my farewell as well, as Mme Quezada will be coming in as the new music teacher next year. I'm so thankful to have known this wonderful school community this past year and hope that our paths will cross again. If students so choose, music videos like ukulele tutorial videos and Bandlab tutorial video will still be accessible over the summer.

Have a happy and safe summer!

John Hamblett (aka Monsieur H)

Chantez des chansons d'hiver avec Quarterway!

On Tuesday, December 15 at 9:00am Quarterway had a virtual school sing-along. It was collection of French and English winter and Christmas songs, and a few recordings of some Christmas music that some students had been working on.

Bonjour!

Hello Quarterway community! My name is Mr. Hamblett, or M. Hamblett, and I will be the new music teacher this year. Mme Lorenz is moving on to a well deserved retirement. If you haven't already, please make sure to check out Mme Lorenz's "au revoir" message and farewell video.

Mme Lorenz has told me all about what a great group of students and community Quarterway is, and I feel so lucky to get to know you this year. Just look for the dude with the Quarterway Cougars music cart and you're bound to see me. I I look forward to meeting each and every one of you, and of course, making some great music!

Merci,

M. Hamblett (aka John Hamblett)

Singing Opportunity!

As in past years, the Vancouver Island Symphony will happen again this year for any students aged 7 to 12. This time it will be . . . virtual style!

Come learn about the magic of music and your voice! Each Thursday – put on your VIS Choir T-Shirt, warm up your voice and sing some fun songs, learn different languages and sing with your friends at our Zoom Choir. Each week we will have a surprise guest musician who will show us how their instrument works. And guess what… if you live in the Nanaimo area… at Christmas you will sing together at an outdoor Christmas Concert (social distancing in place) with our VIS Back Row Brass Quintet!

The fall session runs from September 25 to December 13, and the spring session runs from January 8 to April 29. For more information and how to register, please check out the following website: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eh9fam2ce1a0f09f&oseq=&c=&ch=

An "au revoir" message from Mme Lorenz:

Dear Parents and Students,

Music matters. It gives us joy, helps us work through our sadnesses, comforts us, gets us moving, and feeds our spirit. It has been my honour to teach music to Quarterway students for 18 years. Now it is time for me to bid you all "adieu".

I am driving my station wagon into the sunset of retirement. I have been blessed to teach thousands of students in the course of my career, from Yellowknife to Kyoto, Scarborough to Uganda, Kobe to Nanaimo. Most of the time, I've been a music teacher, which has been my passion. I've also taught strings, beginner band, ESL, FSL, Grade 6 French Immersion, grade 4, high school English Lit, high school French, and been a "sub". I've worked very hard and hope that the things I have done well outnumber the things I have done poorly. If I spoke words which hurt you, please forgive me. I am human and imperfect.

It is my hope that I have inspired my students at Quarterway to make music a part of their lives. I hope they have a better understanding and appreciation of good music, whatever the genre. I hope they understand that music binds humanity together and we are not that different, one for another. And I hope that my "kids" will always turn to music and the Arts when their spirits need healing and expression.

I am inspired by the human decency of my students. This year's grade 7's turned their loss, a cancelled 3 day overnight trip to Camp Quanoes, into gold. They donated the $2700 needed, to purchase a brick oven/stove for Hope for Youth Elementary School in Uganda. Now these Ugandan students will be able to have one hot meal a day, and those students not continuing to high school, will receive training as cooks and bakers. Un grand merci aux septièmes. Your generosity touches me deeply.

I plan on dusting off my cello and finally having time to make music with my husband and friends. I'll be working in my garden, cleaning out clutter in my house, on my computer and in my head. Travelling will have to be limited to travelling virtually via books and skype until COVID time is no longer. You can be sure, once it is safe, I'll be booking plane tickets to distant places.

I send an Irish blessing to all of you. Until we meet again.

Au revoir,

Mme Lorenz (aka Elizabeth Lorenz)