Welcome to the Brookswood Community Youth Band (BCYB) info page for our 2022-23 season.  Here you will find information on how your child can participate and learn music through instrumental performance at the Elementary school level. This class is open to Grade 5-7 students from the Brookswood Family of Schools (Alice Brown, Belmont, Glenwood, and Noel Booth).

Re: Brookswood Community Youth Band 2026 – 2027 Season

Dear Families of the Brookswood Family of Schools,

I hope you all had a great school year and are looking forward to a nice summer break. I 

wanted to let you know of the Community Youth Band opportunities coming in September 

2026. This program is open to Grade 5-7 students who want to learn, or continue learning, 

their band instrument. 

There are two ensembles at the Elementary level:

1. Beginner Band (1st Year) is open to all Grade 5-7 students who have never played a band 

instrument before. Students in this band can start on flute, clarinet, alto saxophone,

tenor saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and percussion (snare drum). If you are 

a piano player, we have opportunities for you too! This includes piano and keyboard 

percussion. 

2. Junior Band (2nd Year) builds upon Beginner Band and is for those who have already had 

a year or more experience on their instrument. This class will take those students from 

Beginner Band with a year of experience and continue to develop them. As they 

continue to develop their instrumental skills and musicianship, this class will also 

prepare them well for their journey into Intermediate Concert Band at Brookswood 

Secondary School. Students here will also discover different instruments in their 

instrument family, and this will help to create more sounds and colors in the ensemble.

Band Class Information

- Taught by Mr. Derrick Turi (Brookswood Secondary School Music Director, Drums 

and Percussion Major, UBC) 

- Rehearsals are held in the Brookswood Secondary School Music Room.

- Music students from Brookswood Secondary help with the class!

- This is a full credited course with a report card assessment.

- Perfect opportunity for students who love music, have a desire to learn a band 

instrument, and who are interested in developing strong work ethic and dedication. 

- We will encourage and challenge our dedicated music students, no matter their level 

of musical background. 

- Concerts at our family of schools, including concerts with Brookswood Secondary 

Music Department, Annual Brookswood Car Show, and District events

Schedule

This is the schedule for both bands. Times are worked in with the numerous other High School 

ensemble rehearsals. Both groups are 45 minutes, twice a week. 

Beginner Band (1st Year students):

• Monday 3:15 - 4:00pm

• Thursday 2:15 - 3:00pm (students arrange to leave elementary school a few 

minutes before the bell to come to Brookswood Secondary)

Junior Band (2nd Year students):

• Monday 4:10 - 4:55pm 

• Thursday 4:30 - 5:15pm 

The expectation is that students who join this band will be committed to attending all 

rehearsals. Being a part of a band is not unlike being a part of a team. Every rehearsal builds 

upon skills and lessons taught in prior classes and being at each rehearsal contributes to the 

success of the ensemble. However, I understand that students may have commitments that 

sometimes conflict with band. Please let me know ahead of time. 

Some students who have piano or violin experience may be wondering how this band might 

work for them. Your dedication and musical ability will help you to have success in band class. 

If you are interested in joining band, then we encourage you to choose one of the band 

instruments offered. Learning new instruments is a great challenge for those with musical 

experience. However, if experienced piano players would like to play something like piano, 

then you could be a part of the keyboard mallet percussion section. There will be many 

opportunities at the High School level for piano players (Jazz Band, Musical Theater Orchestra) 

and string players (Musical Theater Orchestra). 

Getting Your Instrument

There are a few different ways to get your instrument. You may be using one passed down in 

the family, or you may have purchased one through Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or your 

local music store. Many people rent or rent to own their instrument through the music stores. 

Tapestry Music is a great store for this. Please do not order from Amazon or Walmart, etc.. 

These generic cheap ‘instruments’ often fall apart and don’t play or tune well once the student 

starts developing some experience. Please find a well-known brand: Yamaha, Jupiter, Conn, 

Boosey and Hawkes, etc.

If you have any questions about getting an instrument, please contact me. 

Instruments to choose from: Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Trumpet, 

Trombone, Baritone/Euphonium, Electric Bass, Snare Drum, Mallet Percussion (for piano 

players).

There are specific cases where students play instruments not on this list. Please make sure you 

have communicated with me if an instrument not on this list has been chosen. 

Tapestry Music Rental Portal:

1. Visit the Tapestry Music Website: https://www.tapestrymusic.com/

2. Click on Rentals

3. Select ‘Band Rentals’ under Start A Rental

4. Choose the purchase program you would like, Buy Back Program, School Year Rental, 

Monthly Rental

5. There’s even a video to help walk you through it!

6. Scroll Down and press Select

7. Proceed with filling out your rental information.

Both bands will use the Essential Elements Book 1 for their instrument. We have them 

available for purchase here at the school. Please let me know if you would like to purchase one 

through us. Tapestry Music will deliver the rentals directly to Brookswood Secondary School 

and I will hand them out during scheduled band classes.

Percussionists (Snare Drum and Mallet Percussion) will need a Stick Pack that has the following: 

Profile Stick Case, Vic Firth SD1 sticks, Vic Firth T1 timpani mallets, Clevelander CSX3 hard 

plastic mallets, Clevelander CCV2 medium yarn mallets. This pack is available through Tapestry 

Music, or you can order the parts separately. 

Final Thoughts

I very much look forward to working with your children and 

inspiring them to adopt a lifelong love of music and musicianship. 

There will be a newsletter coming home in September with more 

information including sign-up info and start up dates. If you have any 

questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Turi! 

Kindest Regards,

Mr. Turi 

BROOKSWOOD COMMUNITY YOUTH BAND