WFSS music students complete SHSM program

West Ferris Secondary School Music Department
News Release

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The West Ferris Secondary School Music Department is
pleased to announce that Music students in the Special High Skills Major Program: Music Performance have completed their three certifications required for their SHSM program.

In the Fall, SHSM students spent the day working with Professor Brenda Arrowsmith and Dr. Matt Gould from Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario.

The band students worked with Professor Arrowsmith to complete a certification in Concert Band Techniques with a focus on Phrasing and Articulation. As well, students who are enrolled in the Cambrian College Music Department put on a concert for the West Ferris Music students.

The West Ferris SHSM guitar students were treated to an
afternoon of performances and clinics by Cambrian guitar players and had an opportunity to work with their esteemed mentor, Dr. Matt Gould. Gould earned his Bachelor of Music at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland; his Master of Music at the University of Arizona; and his Ph.D. in Guitar Performance at Arizona State University.

“The SHSM program has provided many opportunities for development and growth in our musical knowledge and talents.

The certifications are informative and fun and focus on what I’m really interested in, Music,” says Lashawna Whittaker, Grade 12, SHSM Music student.

This February the SHSM Band students completed two certifications.

Warrant Officer Chip Kean and Corporal Chris
Mark worked with the SHSM major students on Jazz Articulations and Improvisation techniques. At the end of the workshop, the students were able to play through two pieces of music and were confidently playing solos.

For their final workshop and most energizing workshop, the West Ferris Concert Band and the Music SHSM students participated in a workshop with Professor Mike Keddy from the University of Victoria. The musicians worked hard on phrasing and breathing techniques to improve their tone.

Professor Keddy worked with the band on pieces that they will be performing at the Northern Ontario Band Festival in Sudbury on February 29th.

“What an amazing workshop. Prof. Keddy was humorous yet very insightful. He provided us with techniques that improved our tuning and our overall performance in our band,” says Sarah Smith, clarinet major in the SHSM music performance program.

West Ferris Secondary School is proud of the
accomplishments of their SHSM students in the music department. The West Ferris Concert Bands have been actively performing in the community and in various competitions. The Senior Band has received Gold medals at Kiwanis and NOMF for the last few years and has been invited to perform at Music Fest Nationals.

This year they will be travelling to Chicago to play in the Heritage Festival of Music in May. They have previously competed at the Festival of Music in New York City, MusicFest Canada in Ottawa, and at Festival Disney in Orlando, Florida.

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