![\"music](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/leaderpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/20260325-band-01_302264884-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=tJCPSB1VqvRA5IXMDlv_rQ\")
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The Saskatchewan Band Association and other local music organizations are calling upon Regina Public Schools to halt changes to its Grade 6-8 band<\/span>\u00a0program.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n <\/span>or<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Eleven groups have signed a letter to school board chair Adam Hicks, who announced on Feb. 24 that the school division would centralize music classes starting this fall at the former Dieppe School and make Grade 6 band mandatory through the arts curriculum.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Saskatchewan Band Association CEO Suzanne Gorman, whose group promotes school and community bands throughout the province, is worried that the changes will negatively affect participation of Regina children.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cTheir objective is to grow the band program, which is fantastic, but we\u2019re not sure that the moves they\u2019re making will help make that happen,\u201d Gorman said Wednesday at a news conference where the letter was publicly released.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n It includes signatories such as the Saskatchewan Music Educators Association and the Regina Conservatory of Performing Arts. They\u2019re asking the board to gather more input before proceeding with its plan.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n A Regina Public Schools spokesperson responded to the letter Wednesday with a prepared statement that asserts the changes came from dialogue with its educators and the board of trustees.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cStudents will receive regularly scheduled time dedicated to music education, allowing classroom teachers to adapt their lesson plans around consistent band periods \u2014 eliminating the scenario where children would miss important literacy and numeracy teaching,\u201d said the emailed statement.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cThe updated band program brings music education to all students in Grade 6, regardless of background or circumstance,\u201d continued the statement, which also noted that band fees for that grade are being eliminated under the new model.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Gorman questioned the nature of the band programming that Grade 6 students will receive via the arts curriculum.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Asked for clarification, the school division said the updated band program \u201cwill be in addition to the existing Grade 6 Arts Ed teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cA team of experienced system leaders is finalizing details for implementation for the start of the 2026\/2027 school year,\u201d said the initial statement, which added that specifics on fees for band students in higher grades will also be included in the final plan.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Regina Public Schools CEO Mark Haarmann previously told the Leader-Post that 40 per cent of Grade 6 students were signing up for band, but uptake was falling to 17 per cent by Grade 8.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Gorman expressed concern about making changes when the Grade 6 program already seems to have good uptake, noting that the focus should be on other areas.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n![\"music](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.0.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-rlp-new.svg\"){kind=logo}
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