All Saints Band Calendar and Information for 2021-2022

Start of the school year: 2021

• Tuesday, August 31 – Demonstration of instruments to fourth and fifth grade
• Tuesday, September 7 – Band Registration Night for Parents/Students at All Saints at 6:45 PM
• Tuesday, September 14 – Beginner and Advanced Lessons Start – Please bring instruments and music to school

All band lessons will be held every Tuesday throughout the year (if school is in session). Please bring instruments and music on Tuesdays.

All student musicians must be registered with the Garwood Whaley Music Program to take lessons.

Lead Band Parent
This position for the 2021-2022 school year is currently open. Please contact Mr. Ward to find out more. Serving in this capacity will provide you with volunteer school hours.

Instrumental music instruction is available for your son or daughter next year at All Saints Catholic School. Classes are offered during the regular school day and Zoom classes may now be used to supplement missed days during the year. The child who learns to play an instrument learns discipline, cooperation with others, and a new way to a fuller, richer life. Playing an instrument automatically places him or her in worthwhile school activities, it gives something interesting to do, and is a pleasurable use of time.

The beginner band is comprised of the following instruments: Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone and Drums. However, the advanced band looks to spread out instrumentation with bass clarinet, tenor sax, and tuba, and these instruments may be available to students from the band. The Garwood Whaley Music Program is a local organization which has offered contracted music instruction at All Saints for many years. Our band director is Mr. Barry Ward, who is an original starting director with the program with over 40 years of experience. Also included in this program are written evaluations, performances at school and away, band music, and the opportunity to perform in both the Diocesan Band Festival and the Honor Bands.

Our overall Program was selected as the official program of instrumental music instruction for the Diocese of Arlington Schools in 1979. The program is staffed by full and part-time teachers with degrees in performance and music education. The Program is supervised by Mr.  Barry Ward, who has experience working with elementary schools throughout the diocese, and a retired assistant director from  Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria. Mr. Ward’s diverse background as a performer and teachermakes him uniquely qualified to teach and supervise. He has published a number of educational articles, and composed and published music pieces through C. Alan Publications.

Our school’s band program has earned many honors, and in a sense, too many to list. Of course, the program is presently regenerating itself after this Covid year where there was both in-school and online lessons. If you are interested, we urge you to attend a registration / instrument rental meeting in September. More immediate questions can be directed to Mr. Ward at The3wardsdad@aol.com. If the interest exists, give your child all the possible support and assurance by attending the meeting at school. Enroll your child next year in our band program!