A salute to all the parents that get their kids involved in extracurricular activities like choir and band. When I attended Lumsden School – grades 1 through 12, we didn’t really have technology, like today. Typewriters were electric, no computers. Calculators didn’t really come into play until later, so it was long division, pencil and paper or the slide rule! My trip on the bus in the morning and afternoon were long for a little kid, about 40 minutes so any kind of school events outside of class were a no-go. BUT, I did make into band and choir for a short period of time. I remember the smell of the Lumsden dump being burned off in spring or fall. Ah, maybe it was the burning barrels in back yards! That smell still sticks in my head.
I recall being apart of the “Treble Choir” but I couldn’t tell you who else was in nor what we sang. The Lumsden School Band, I do remember that vividly. I still see the people that were in the band and recall what we played in competition. Our band director was Mr. Don Jenner. He had this brilliant kind of pompadour/quiff of red hair and seemed to me to be very intense. He was a huge fan of Doc Severinsen, the Tonight Show Band Leader! When Mr. Jenner would conduct us and show us what we needed to do, he would grab the trumpet and rip through the piece. Hitting the high notes and his face turning red. I don’t think he held much hope for my playing ability. I went from his favourite instrument, the trumpet to the mellophone! The poor man’s version of the french horn!!
We played in Regina and Moose Jaw band competitions. We marched in parades, which was a great experience. Our uniforms were a cream shirt with green tie, green blazer and cream colour trousers. Lumsden’s colours remain that shade of green. My time in the band didn’t last long. Firstly, I suppose I wasn’t great at keeping up with practicing. The horn I was playing felt dull as it seemed to have many whole notes and long pauses! It just wasn’t sexy like the oboe, the clarinet nor the trumpet. I think I kept up with the band for 2 years. But, I never lost the love of band music. Big band, swing band, marching and military style.
When I moved back to Regina, CKRM did interviews with Mr. Bob Mossing. Whether the band was performing or had openings at the Music School, Bob had created, he was welcomed into have a chat and drum up new students. Bob’s brother Darcy was a band instructor in Lumsden. Bob was teaching all kinds of students including some impressive names you might recall. The late, Kenny Shields and his Streetheart bandmate, Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve were band alumni. Every band you see backing up a country or rock artist think of where they got their love of music and ask yourself, “how many instruments” do they play. The start of their career might just go back to a high school band.
The history of the Prairie Winds Concert Band ties in with the life of Bob Mossing, his niece Jane Pinch and the decades of the Mossing family’s involvement in music. Bob and Jane have stepped away from conducting the Community Band, but remain in the band playing.
On Sunday, December 8th, I was recognized for being the emcee and supporter of the Prairie Winds Community band program. What a wonderful surprise. Their concerts inspire and bring back many fond memories of my days in the band. The musicianship in the band is well worth attending their shows. Movie music, traditional concert band pieces, incorporating other artists such as the bagpipes and choral enhance the concerts. If only I had practiced! The message, if your children or grandchildren, whomever, want to play music make sure you give them every opportunity, the world awaits the next up and coming artist to play on stage. We all have to start somewhere. Thank you again to Sandra and Jan as well as Lois for creating my banner! We always have a fun time.
