Brandon Schools Band Program

Instrumental Music Program (Band)

Students in Grades 7 through 12 are welcome to participate in the Instrumental Music Program (Band). Band at the Grade 7 and 8 levels can be taken as a required arts option and is timetabled in the school day with classes meeting three (50 minute) periods per cycle. Grade 7 and 8 students are bussed to either Waverly Park or Earl Oxford School. Grade 9 to 12 students at Vincent Massey will take band classes at Vincent Massey High School. Grade 9 to 12 students at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School and École secondaire Neelin High School will take band classes at Crocus Plains. 

There are four band programs within the Brandon School Division:

BSD's East Side Band Program is under the direction of Ms. Erin Dodds and Ms. Brooklyn Friesen, and is housed at Earl Oxford School.

BSD's West Middle School Band Program is under the direction of Mr. Graydon Cramer and Ms. Brooklyn Friesen, and is housed at Waverly Park School.

Crocus Plains/Neelin Band is under the direction of Ms. Anna Penno and is housed at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School.

Vincent Massey Band is under the direction of Ms. Meaghan Graham.

Entering the Band Program - Grade Six

The staff offers a series of steps to familiarize students and parents with the music program. Program Directors contact all K-8 schools each winter to communicate with the Grade six students and staff. Students will receive information regarding the band program which includes the different locations, instruments available to the students, registration and rental process, and information on the Brandon Schools Instrumental Music Association (BSIMA). Students can select band as part of the spring registration process and do not need any previous knowledge of playing an instrument. For more information, please see the Grade 7/8 Registration Guide.

Parent Support Groups - BSIMA

The Brandon Schools Instrumental Music Association (BSIMA) is a parent support group for the band programs in the City of Brandon. All students in Grade 7 and 8 have the opportunity to rent a band instrument through BSIMA. Students in Grades 9 through 12 who play the larger, more expensive instruments can continue to rent an instrument as well. The BSIMA will: support the Brandon School Division's instrumental music programs to provide educational opportunities and access to instruments of good quality. The BSIMA will also advocate for, and promote public awareness of, the instrumental music programs in our schools. Additional information on BSIMA may be found at www.bsima.ca.

School Level Parent Support

Each Band Program has its own parent executive. Each parent executive has two elected members who sit on the BSIMA Board to ensure that the programs are represented on the BSIMA Board.  Please contact your school directly for contact information.