The Whistler Youth Community Band is hoping to attract more budding musicians to their group with an instrument fair next month.
While the band started out three years ago with around 15 young musicians, its numbers have since dwindled, explains Jane Millen, whose son is in the band. "These five kids love it," she says. "But to be a concert band you need more players."
To that end, the group will host an instrument fair on March 8. Music store Long & McQuade will bring various instruments down from their Vancouver store for any prospective young musicians to try out. (The group is open to anyone in Grades 5 to 12, regardless of musical experience.)
If they find an instrument they like, they can rent it on a monthly basis. They can also purchase books and CDs that help teach them more about their instrument — which is how many original members of the group started out.
"My son learned by listening to the CD at home and learning and going to band practice," Millen says. "It showed me how easy it was with those tools, if you put in some time, to pick up an instrument."
Practice takes place every Thursday at Myrtle Philip Community School from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., led by teacher Chris Hepburn. The fair will take place in that time slot in lieu of practice on March 8.
Meet world-renowned artist
What do tennis star Roger Federer and music icon Lady Gaga have in common?
They both own paintings by Jane Waterous. The internationally acclaimed Canadian artist, who's represented locally by the Whistler Contemporary Gallery, will be at the Four Seasons hotel gallery on Monday (Feb. 19) for a meet and greet from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.
She's shown her "sculpture-like, three-dimensional figures in paint" in over 16 international art shows, earned the SOLO Artist award at the 2012 Art Expo in New York and created her painting "Dance of Diplomacy" for the UN Mission in NYC, according to a release.
For more information visit whistlerart.com.
Tim Baker performs at The Point
Tim Baker, the former frontman of Newfoundland indie group Hey Rosetta!, will be performing a solo show at The Point Artist-Run Centre on Tuesday (Feb. 20).
Hey Rosetta! was nominated for a Juno and shortlisted for the Polaris Prize before announcing they were going on an "indefinite hiatus" last fall.
Now, Baker is working on a new solo record, set to come out later this year, and performing from the anticipated release.
Doors for the show are 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance at thepointartists.com.
