Page 14 - Info Magazine nr 17 april may 2021

Ilse:
I am part of a musical family and especially en-
joy listening to music. My family members play
different instruments. I once ventured to play
the guitar. That was without much success. At
the launch of our Class Band, I was challenged
by jOris to join the flute section. In the begin-
ning (and still sometimes) it was quite a chal-
lenge. But I got the musical itch and the desire
to practice at home and make music together
every Friday, after school, is there. Because
Name of organiser and interim teacher: jOris you make music together. Our Class Band has
Casteels and Ilse Imbrechts become a close-knit music group with three
Driving force behind the Class Band: jOris teachers, the headmaster and eleven pupils.
Casteels and Ilse Imbrechts The end is nigh for this group. I hope they have
Name of town: Erps-Kwerps, Belgium got the urge to make music after this school
Name of school: Mater Dei year.

Why did you start with Yamaha class band in Where do the pupils get their instruments?
your school? - The pupils get an instrument on loan. We
jOris: were lucky that Tine bought instruments
I love listening to music, singing, making mu- through the Boudewijn Foundation. We are
sic and playing instruments. I never had a tho- allowed to use these instruments for an inde-
rough musical education but tried things out. finite period of time in order to give children
And practice makes perfect. That is obvious. the opportunity to learn music. Some of them
In class and during workshops, I regularly play would not have the opportunity to learn to play
the guitar, ukulele or accordion. The interest in music at home.
playing a new instrument is growing every day. - The first weeks we do not give the instru-
In a school in Mechelen, they once started a ments home. They first have to learn how
YCB. Unfortunately, this project only existed to play the instrument and how to handle it
for one year. I know Tine Dubois from the fund properly.
'het Coconnetje', who owns a large number of - After that, they get to take the instrument
Yamaha instruments. I suggested to start up home to practise at home.
the 'Class Band' in our school in Erps-Kwerps. - The children also receive the student book.
In September 2018, we started the first Class - The students pay a small contribution per
Band in Flanders. In our school we do not lesson to be able to pay professional teachers.
have the possibility and means to organise the
Class Band during the lessons. Therefore, we Teachers
made the choice to do it weekly after school - In three years' time, we have already worked
hours. With success. At the end of June our with five teachers. It is always quite a search to
first group will leave the school. They gradually find someone, but they did it, each in their own
got to know their instrument and together they way, very well.
play a lot of fine melodies. Making music to-
gether is wonderful and every note, no matter What else do we do with our wind class?
how small, sounds big. - We already had the opportunity to play in the
support act of the concert of the local brass
To organise our YCB, I suggested Ilse Im- band.
brechts, a teacher and policy officer in our - During 'festive moments' at school, our pupils
school, to help out. are occasionally allowed to play on stage. They
enjoy this immensely.