Author: Mark Follett

Band 8 – Music Literacy Check

A reminder for 8’s that we’re doing a Music Literacy check on Tuesday next week. Please do not panic as it’s not “for marks” but so I have a clearer sense of where everyone’s music reading knowledge is. The Literacy Check has been posted in the Pass Through (band hallway) since the first day of school, but I’ve posted a photo here as well.MusicLitCheck

See you Tuesday :)

Vancouver Jazz Shows in October 2025

For members of the DWP jazz program, there are a few great jazz concerts to check out at the end of October that you should be aware of:

Chet Doxas with the Cap “A” Band @ the Blueshore at Capilano U

FRIDAY, OCT 24 @ 7:30pm – TICKETS – http://purchase.capilanou.ca (Student Code for cheap tickets is “jazz10”)

BIG BAND MONDAYS at Frankie’s Jazz Club! JILL TOWNSEND JAZZ ORCHESTRA

MON, OCT 27 @ 7:00pm – TICKETS – https://frankiesjazzclub.turntabletickets.com/

BIG BAND MONDAYS! JILL TOWNSEND JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Jazz Masterclasses @ CapU – October 25

Capilano U’s Jazz Program has just announced 3 masterclasses for Saxes, Trumpets, and Trombones on October 25th. Steve Kaldestad (sax) Brad Turner (trumpet) and Ellen Marple (trombone) have all been clinicians and/or adjudicators for us here at Poppy in past years. I’m unable to organize this as a school trip that weekend, but this is a great opportunity for the kids if they can make it. Info on the attached PDFs below

Welcome to the 2025/26 Season

Dear Poppy Music Families,

 Welcome to the 2025/26 Season of the DW Poppy Music Program! I’m very excited to introduce Mr. Marco Del Rio who is joining us as Poppy’s choir director this year, covering for Ms. Chen while she is on maternity leave. Marco and I are looking forward to getting into music with the kids in Band, Choir and Jazz groups as soon as possible.

A copy of the 2025/26 Music Handbook which has our calendar, schedule, materials lists, policies, and course expectations was emailed home on September 4th/5th and hard copies have been distributed. Please take a few minutes to review it and add the dates to your family calendars. Also, please return the last page, signed by both the student and a parent/guardian by Friday, September 12th.

A few important reminders for all musicians here at Poppy:

  1. Senior Wind Ensemble (Also called SWE or Senior Band), Junior and Senior Choir, Junior and Senior Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz (Off-Timetable Classes). We have a meeting in the Band Room (110) on Friday at lunch.  If they are interested, don’t worry if these ensembles are not on your child’s schedule yet. We can add them when we see them.
  2. Off-Timetable rehearsals will start Monday/Tuesday September 8/9. The schedule is the same as last year and is on the first page of the handbook if you need a reminder. 
  3. Calendar Dates / Performance Expectations – A full calendar of music events is on page 2 of the music handbook that is attached. A reminder for families that all concerts, festivals and other performances are course expectations, so please add those dates to your calendar as soon as you see them. (Junior and Senior Tours are optional but STRONGLY encouraged and we’ll send out info about those trips in the next week or so.)
  4. Parents – Our fall music parents meeting will be on 7:00pm on Tuesday, September 16 after the Grade 8 Parents Meeting. We will be talking about Junior and Senior Tours, Festivals, Concerts (Including both ESPRESSIVO’s!) and ways you can support your child’s musical experiences this year either at home or here at Poppy. 

As usual, if you have any questions or concerns, please email us back and we will respond as soon we’re able. Thank you so much for supporting your child’s interest in music! 

Mark & Marco

ESPRESSIVO: Summer Celebration

The DW Poppy Family of Schools is proud to present

ESPRESSIVO: Summer Celebration

5:30pm, June 4, 2025

Whether this is their first year, or their seventh, we come together this evening to celebrate the work of 322 young musicians who have connected with others and built a community through their involvement in music. Thank you to all our principals, vice-principals and the Langley School District for supporting music in our schools. Thank you to all of the parents for supporting your children’s love of music, both through your encouragement at home and your direct involvement as chaperones, fundraisers, drivers and volunteers. Most importantly, thank you to all the students for choosing to spend your time and energy pursuing music, an art form that can do so much to bring us together as it has this evening. Congratulations to the graduating musicians of 2025 & enjoy the show!

Elementary Ensembles

Wix-Brown Elementary Band

Bandroom Boogie – Michael Sweeney

Brain Stew – Greenday, arr. Victor Lopez

Fort Langley Elementary Band

Sousa’s Cadets – Timothy Loest

Linus & Lucy – Vince Guaraldi, arr. Michael Sweeney

North Otter Elementary Band

Fire’s Edge – Ralph Ford

Feel It Still – Portugal, The Man, arr. Mike Kamuf

Elementary Honour Choir

Solfege Symphony – Cristi Cary Miller

We Are One – orig. by One Voice Children’s Choir

Coghlan Elementary Band

Rolling In the Deep – Adkins & Epworth, arr. Robert Longfield

High Hopes – Panic! At the Disco, arr. Doug Adams

Peterson Road Elementary Band

Penta – Larry Clark

Hand-Clap – Frederic et al., arr Vinson

“Massive” Band 

Star Wars – John Williams, arr. Carl Strommen

DW Poppy Ensembles

Senior Jazz Ensemble

The Chicken – Alfred James Ellis, arr. Kris Berg

Megalovania – Toby Fox, arr. Paul Murtha

Concert Band 9

The Greatest Show – Pasek, Paul & Lewis, arr. Paul Murtha

Blinding Lights – Tesfaye, et al., arr. Matt Conaway

Senior Choir

Drunken Sailor – Sea Shanty, arr. Robert Sund

Chosen Family – Rina Sayama & Elton John, arr. Roger Emerson

Concert Band 8 (CB)

The Avengers – Silvestri, arr. Robert Longfield

Sweet Caroline – Diamond, arr. Johnnie Vinson

Vox

I Wish You Love – Charles Trenet, arr. Kirby Shaw

Alright, Okay, You Win – arr. Steve Zegree

Concert Band 10 (JB)

Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns n’ Roses, arr. Paul Martha

Spider-man: No Way Home – Gicchino, arr. Michael Brown

Junior Jazz Ensemble

Don’t Stop Believin’ – Perry, Schon & Cain, arr. Paul Murtha

Birdland – Zawinul, arr. Michael Sweeney

Junior Choir

Kwela Kwela – South African traditional, arr. University of Pretoria Youth Choir

Beat It – Michael Jackson, arr. Mark Brymer

Mass Choir

Defying Gravity – from Wicked, arr. Roger Emerson

Senior Wind Ensemble

How to Train Your Dragon – Powell, arr. Sean O’Loughlin

80’s Spectacular – adapted by Jay Bocook

Massed Band

The Gathering of Eagles – Bob Baker, arr. by Robert Buckley

Take On Me – Waaktaar & Furuholmne, arr. Paul Murtha

Summer 2024

Hi everyone! We’re really excited to get things rolling again for Poppy Musicians and those in our family of schools in a few weeks but if you’re looking at the site, lots of links are down while things get updated for this year. Check back once school starts to see all the info you’ll need for this year.

See you in a few weeks!

Music Meeting Notes and a call for volunteers

Thank you to everyone who came out last night. We have a great year ahead. Sorry for the bit of a list, but a few points and a call for help we wanted to make sure every parent is aware of:

  1. Communication:
    1. Please be sure your child is in the ALL MUSIC STUDENTS Teams group as well as for each of their ensembles and be sure to check before leaving for early mornings in case we are ill and need to cancel
  2. Parent Support – the kids need your help!
    1. We are looking for parents to coordinate a number of activities (ESPRESSIVOs, Festivals, Concert Door) and to help raise funds for student travel (Neufeld Farms, Purdy’s, Poinsettias and Coffee). We’ll show you how if you need, but the fundraisers cannot run without parent help, so if you (or you and a friend or two) are willing to coordinate an activity or fundraiser please let us know by filling out the form here: https://forms.office.com/r/EQjtRnUCQm
  3. Actions you need to see/hear from your kids at home:
    1. Your kids need to be practicing at least a 3-4 times a week at home (and sorry, but at the beginning of each season, it won’t sound good if they are working on the stuff they should be 😊)
    2. They regularly need to be listening to the recordings of their music (usually posted to Teams) so they know what the “target” is
    3. They need to stay on top of any written work or recording assignments posted to TEAMS so they should be checking those classes regularly at home, in the learning commons or on a device
  4. Off-Timetable Classes (Jazz Bands, Choirs and Senior Wind Ensemble)
    1. If your child is going to be late or absent, please email us directly – we don’t hear about absences for off-timetable classes from call-ins so please let us know so we know the kids are safe those morning,s especially for those who are driving themselves
  5. Events
    1. Concerts, Festivals and other performances (other than tour) are course expectations.
    2. All dates are in the handbook that should have gone home and online at www.dwpoppymusic.com/handouts or www.dwpoppymusic.com/events
    3. If there are pre-existing conflicts or challenges come up during the year, please let us know right away so we can support everyone
  6. Tours
    1. Junior Tour (8/9): UBC Residency (May 23-25)
      1. Info/pricing will be shared as soon as vendors lock spring prices but more details will be out soon
    2. Senior Tour (10-12): Montreal (Late April – 5 days)
      1. A separate email looking for interest in this trip is coming shortly before we move ahead

Thanks you all so much for your ongoign support of your child’s interest in music. If you’re able to help with one of our fundraisers, please let us know, and we look forward to seeing you at their first concert this year!