2023-2024 Season – What We Offer:
Welcome to the Second Chances Band Program of Nova Scotia! Here you can find a brief description of all of our programming for this year.
- The Second Chances Singers *NEW*
- String Orchestra *NEW*
- Concert Band: Beginner
- Concert Band: Intermediate
- Concert Band: Symphonic
- Chamber Music/Small Ensembles
- Jazz Band: Big Band
- Jazz Band: Combos
NEW! The Second Chances Singers
Instructor: Chuck Homewood
The Second Chances Singers program is intended for anyone in the Halifax area. Rehearsals will take place on Monday evenings from 7-9pm. Our rehearsal venue will be the Northwood facility on the corner of Gottingen and North Street in Halifax.
NEW! String Orchestra
Instructor: Gail Teixeira
The Second Chances String Orchestra program is intended for anyone in the Halifax area. Rehearsals will take place on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm. Unlike our many other programs though, the string orchestra will rehearse in Dartmouth at Christ Church, Dundas Street, B2Y 2T2
Beginner Band
Instructor: Serena Godmaire
This program is intended for adults and seniors with very little to no previous playing experience. Students will learn the proper techniques for holding their instrument, how to make sound, how to sit properly while playing, as well as how to read and play music on their chosen instrument. Sessions are divided into 14-15 week ‘seasons’ and each will end with a public performance.
A new beginner band will begin each September. Traditionally, we host a general information meeting during the first week of the month to answer questions about the program, costs for participants, resources available and how to obtain a musical instrument if you don’t already own one. A sales representative from Long & McQuade Musical Instruments is usually on hand with a variety of wind instruments for you to try.
Instruction will be offered on the following instruments:
Note to Percussionists: All drummers will be expected to learn to play mallet instruments, and all mallet players will be expected to learn to play the drums.
Note to Orchestral String Players: The selection of the violin or the cello will require the purchase of a method book that is not written for your instrument. Please contact the director to find out which book you should purchase for use with the concert band.
Rehearsal Times / Location: All rehearsals/lessons for the beginner band take place on Monday evenings from 7-9pm at the Aurora North End Parish Church, 5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax. (see map below)
Intermediate Band
Instructor: Chris Ward
In the fall of 2020, it was decided that we needed a middle level ensemble. An ensemble that could bridge the gap between what was being taught in the beginner program and the expectations of a more advanced concert band. Thus, the intermediate band was born.
This program is intended for anyone in the Halifax area with at least one (1) year of playing experience. Adults, seniors and students are all welcome in this community ensemble.
Rehearsals might include continued encouragement to use proper techniques for holding their instrument, sitting properly, and creating a good sound… but also exploring more developmental concepts such as balance, intonation, and musicianship. The goal of this ensemble is to encourage confidence in ones own playing and to explore a wider range of music written for concert band. Sessions are divided into 14-15 week ‘seasons’ and each will end with a public performance.
The intermediate band has three seasons per year beginning in September, January and May. Traditionally, we begin each new 4 month season with an open reading session, inviting community musicians from all over the city to join us for a night of sight reading.
Rehearsal Times / Location: All rehearsals/lessons for the intermediate band take place on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm at the Aurora North End Parish Church, 5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax. (see map below)
Symphonic Band
Conductor: Chris Ward
The symphonic band is intended for anyone in the Halifax area with a comfortable level of playing experience, or for members of our intermediate program who feel ready to move to a more advanced level of playing. The expectation for the concert band is that players will have a minimum of 2 years of previous playing experience.
Adults, seniors and students are all welcome in this community ensemble. Participants will continue to refine their skills with rhythm reading, transposition, major and minor scales, and key signatures as well as rehearse/perform repertoire written for high school level players and university level players. Seasons are 14-15 weeks long and end with a public performance.
The symphonic band has three seasons per year beginning in September, January and May. Traditionally, we begin each new 4 month season with an open reading session, inviting community musicians from all over the city to join us for a night of sight reading.
Rehearsal Times / Location: All rehearsals for the Second Chances Symphonic Band take place on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm at the Aurora North End Parish Church, 5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax. (see map below)
Chamber Music Program
Instructor: Mitchell Webster
The chamber music program (also called the small ensemble program) is intended for anyone in the Halifax area with a comfortable level of playing experience including members of our intermediate program who feel ready to move to a more advanced level of playing. The expectation for any small ensemble is that players will have a minimum of 2 years of previous playing experience.
Adults, seniors and students are all welcome in the small ensemble program. Participants will focus on the fundamentals of playing and performing in a chamber music setting. Some of the skills that are focused on include rehearsal techniques, listening to one another, intonation and developing confidence in your own playing. Ensemble instrumentations vary every term with a mix of traditional and unconventional groups depending on our registrations.
The chamber music program is scheduled for two seasons per year beginning in September and January. Seasons are 14-15 weeks long and end with a masterclass style performance. The program will not be offered during the summer months.
Rehearsal Times / Locations: all rehearsals for the Second Chances Chamber Music program are currently scheduled on Tuesday evenings from 6-7pm for our intermediate players and Wednesday evenings from 6-7pm or 9-10pm for our symphonic players at the Aurora North End Parish Church, 5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax. (see map below)
Jazz Band
Musical Director: James Shaw
The jazz band is intended for players with a basic level of playing experience and provides the opportunity to apply what they have learned by performing music in a jazz style. The program requires that players have a minimum of 1-2 years of previous playing experience.
Adults, seniors and students are all welcome in this program. Participants will learn the basics of swing rhythm reading, jazz accents and articulations, the pentatonic and blues scales, as well as the basics of jazz improvisation. Repertoire for this ensemble will be selected from a variety of grade levels. Seasons are 14-15 weeks long and will end with a public performance.
Similar to the concert bands, the jazz band has three seasons per year beginning in September, January and May.
Rehearsal Times / Locations: All rehearsals for the Second Chances Jazz Band will take place on Thursday evenings from 7:00-9:00pm at the Aurora North End Parish Church, 5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax.
Jazz Combo Program
Instructor: James Shaw
The jazz combos are intended for players with a basic to advanced level of playing experience. Focus for these sessions will be on the foundation of improvisation, how to solo, what notes to use, standard jazz etiquette, understanding form, what to practice to develop your improv skills and listening to the band while playing. Most class/rehearsal time will be spent playing/soloing, with less emphasis on reading music and following the chart.
The program requires that players have a minimum of 1-2 years of previous playing experience.
Adults, seniors and students are all welcome in this program. With a maximum of 10 people in each combo, everyone will be given lots of time to play.
Similar to the concert bands, the jazz combos will have three seasons per year beginning in September, January and May.
Rehearsal Times / Location: All rehearsals for the Second Chances Jazz Combos take place on either Monday or Thursday evenings but the times will vary depending on which combo you are a part of. The location for rehearsals is the Aurora North End Parish Church, 5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax.
Rehearsal / Lesson Locations
In May of 2019, the Second Chances Program moved all our rehearsals / lessons to our new home, the Aurora North End Parish Church, 5666 Sebastian Street, Halifax. There is parking available on both sides of the street in front of the church, as well as around the corner. Please be sure you know if your rehearsal takes place inside the church sanctuary or in the church hall.
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This fall 2023 is seeing another expansion to our programming and we will no longer be able to host all rehearsals at Aurora. Our beginner band and the Second Chances Singers will be moving to the Northwood facility on the corner of Gottingen and North Street. The address is Northwood Care Residence, 2615 Northwood Terrace Halifax
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Our brand new string orchestra program will hold rehearsals at Christ Church on Dundas Street, Dartmouth
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How Do I Choose / Find an Instrument:
Sometimes choosing an instrument can be as simple as picking up what is readily available to you, but for others the selection of an instrument can be a bit daunting and intimidating. Please remember that during the information session held at the beginning of every new beginner band session, a complete selection of instruments will be available for you to sample and try.
Every effort will be made to find the perfect instrument for you.
Anyone interested in participating in the Second Chances Band Program will need to acquire an instrument of their own as well as a music stand before rehearsals begin. If you already own the instrument you intend to learn this is not a problem, however if you are looking to learn an instrument you don’t already own then it is suggested that you try renting the instrument for at least the first four month session.
Long & McQuade Musical Instruments has very reasonable rental rates for all instruments found in the band. While the instrument is being rented, it is also covered under a warranty program that is next to none, covering not only normal wear and tear but also those accidents resulting in more serious damage.
Information regarding rental rates and options will be presented during the first information session.