It wasn't that long ago when virtually no music rang through the halls of Pinewood elementary school.
Then along came newly-appointed principal Rob Larson, who, with help from staff, decided it was time to change it up in 2013.
To make sure he was headed in the right direction, the students were asked to fill out a survey asking how they felt about how much music was in their school curriculum.
"There was a Christmas concert but there were no music classes," said Larson. "And the teachers don't have musical expertise, but I decided to put in a band program for any Grade 6 and 7 students who wished to join."
Sam Nelles, Prince George Secondary school band teacher, agreed to come to Pinewood twice a week for 45 minutes sessions to teach band. The kick-off to introduce the students to the instruments was orchestrated by the Prince George Symphony.
With a fledgling intermediate band and MusicPlay music program in place for the primaries, it was time to bring some hardware with woodwind flare and brass panache into the mix.
With $5,000 from the MusiCounts Band Aid program, TD Community Music Grants, the addition of two flutes, two clarinets and two trumpets were brought to the band.
The percussion instruments used in the program are expected to arrive soon after the March break.
Rallying the musical community within the school district for support, Larson added his own letter to the application process, explaining how music should be accessible to all the students.
"What we do is rent the band instruments but there are some students that can't afford to even rent so the schools purchased instruments so that those who might not have been able to afford it can be in band as well," said Larson, who is in his second year as principal at Pinewood.
"It's really cool."
Students who aren't in the band are divided into groups for singing, recorders and music history and rotated through the year, Larson said.
"The MusiCounts people were just incredible and we're really excited about what this will mean to the students," said Larson.
Nationwide, 70 schools were provided with more than $600,000 in funds for music education through MusiCounts Band Aid program, TD Community Music Grants.
