"Being a part of the band is a very fulfilling experience. Learning how to play music in an ensemble and the many skills involved in the performing arts is a great way to develop as a person. I've learned so many great lessons that can be applied to many different facets of life through my participation in the band, and it's what helps me the most out of anything in my life to be active, develop commitment, exercise my creativity and critical thinking, and most importantly of all, strive for success in my life and reach further than I otherwise ever would have tried.

The band has both taken me to great places, both figuratively and literally. It's really striking to learn and perform music at such a high level at such an early stage of my life - it's given me a taste of what it's like to be a professional. We, at The Woodlands have had the honour to meet and work with some rather remarkable musicians and educators - Jonathan Dagenais, Mark Caswell, Susan Barber Kahro, Leah McGray, and Jermie Ronald, just to name a few.

These seasoned, well-established professionals who we have the wonderful privilege to work with in festivals and workshops are super helpful in helping us improve our music and pick up new skills to help with specific quirks - for example, the "bop method" for finding out which instruments are the most important in a given section of a piece, strategies for sight reading, and a way to reliably tune by ear. These tidbits of musical knowledge really enhance my overall understanding of the field, and helps me build the big picture of music performance - even teaching me a few things about music theory, composition, and history along the way - that makes me appreciate composition and performance of repertoire even more.

Performing causally in front of our school and competitively at festivals alike is very gratifying, and is always a great thing to both look forward to and anxiously prepare for, bringing some spice to my life in a way that's entirely satisfying, rather than stressful. On top of that, the musical pieces that I get to hear at concerts are nothing short of magnificent.

It's in large part due to Woodlands Music that I have this honour. Even though our performances are serious, the band is very laid back and casual about 90% of the time - helped in no small part by our directors Ms. Jack's and Mr. Mootrey's keen senses of humour - making rehearsals, as well as really just any time spent together with the wonderful Woodlands Music community wholly enjoyable. I am very grateful for everyone that contributes their fun and good vibes to add to the band's joviality.

Thanks to them, contrary to what most of school does to us, the reward that the band experience for putting in the necessary work far outweighs the challenges. The band has also helped me grow as a person! The meticulous practice and preparation that we have to do to stay on top of things has taught me the value of responsibility and commitment. Plus, the fact that we can always expand the scope of our self-fostered development as musicians opens up rewards for initiative, and gives those who are ready to go one step further chances to go the extra mile and learn a technique ahead of our usual skill, or play a piece beyond our band's level, or play an unfamiliar scale pattern five BPM faster, or anything, really.

The ability to go wherever we want to go with our individual practice alongside the repertoire that we are tasked with playing is quite liberating. In addition, being in the band has given me a taste of what truly living in the real world is like, and opens up a ton of doors for musical adventures - everything from concerts to master classes to participation in performances myself - that will no doubt make my life much more fulfilling. Participating actively in the worldwide music community is... well... just really cool.

I have the honour of being in of one of the best high school concert bands in the entire country. It's so accessible, too, as an extension of school. I'm able to participate in it having literally just started playing my instrument from scratch when I first came to this school in ninth grade. That fact is just unbelievable, and it's a striking testament to the power of the music program as a vital cornerstone bridging the otherwise long, scary gap from elementary and amateur music to professional music.

All of this isn't even grazing the surface of the exceptional thrill and outstanding enjoyabilty of the overnight field trips that we get to go on as a band, which are by far my most memorable and impactful moments in the band. In the three years under my belt so far, I've had the opportunity to go on excursions to Niagara Falls, Chicago, and even New York City to both perform at prestigious national festivals. In the festivals themselves at which we perform, I always learn something new about music and get a new perspective on something about it. These trips serve as glorious respite and rejuvenation from my darkest moments - even within the trips themselves - that, no matter what goes wrong, always leave me fresher, brighter, and more rational, but also more appreciative of the fun things in life, than every before.

All in all, band trips are packed to the brim with sheer awesomeness! They're easily the coolest events of my entire life. Music itself can be really moving, and inspires us in ways that little else can. The community that's been built in this school around music is very passionate. I've made many great friends along the way. Overall, the band is the best thing that's ever happened to me."
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If there is one thing that would improve the music program, what would it be?

"The band's overnight music festival field trips, superbly fun and educational as they are, come at a hefty price. In order to come along and experience their wonders, every single individual in the band has to forfeit hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year to cover the cost. It's so worth it that it's practically a steal - but, unfortunately, not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to afford this exceptional privilege. If there's one thing that would help uplift the music program to give everyone the opportunities that they deserve as hardworking members of the band, it would be to enrich Woodlands Music with the monetary support it needs to cover at least the bulk of the band trips' hefty price tag."