By Jason Misner
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, HDSB STAFF

M.M. Robinson High School’s front foyer was turned into an orchestra pit this morning as the school’s Sr. Concert Band played a number of songs to recognize Music Monday. 

Launched by The Coalition for Music Education in 2005, Music Monday is an annual event that brings together thousands of students, musicians, parents and community members across the country to celebrate the gift of music, on the same day at the same time.

The Sr. Concert Band – comprised of 54 Grade 9-12 students – performed a few songs including the theme to the 2010 Winter Olympics. The band won gold at Musicfest Regionals and has been invited to the National Musicfest Competition later this month. Superintendent Odette Bartnicki got in on the fun and, at the invitation of the school, conducted the band through a song.  

MMR has participated in Music Monday since the beginning. 

“We feel that it is important to celebrate music in our society and to demonstrate the important and vital role music education plays in the lives of every Canadian,” says MMR teacher Heather Wilcox. “Each year, we perform a concert for the school. The idea of Music Monday is to play the original composition of the year at the same time across all of Canada.  This year's piece was Tomorrow is Coming by L. Doucet.”

MMR was one of more than 1,700 schools and organizations across the country expected to participate today. Similar initiatives have been inspired in the U.S., Australia, Britain and Hungary. Last year’s Music Monday event saw more than 750,000 participants.

Wilcox notes Music Monday ties into the students’ curriculum, as it is based on a student’s performance skill, creating/critically analyzing and interpreting music. It also provides the opportunity to practice the skills required for a musical production, like concert repertoire choices, and the setting up and taking down of equipment. 

“Music provides the opportunity for us to build community, to create positive self esteem, to build diversity and to improve student academic achievement,” says Wilcox. “It provides us with a way to express our emotions and to share that with others.  It provides joy in our lives.  It's hard to imagine a day without music.”