REDVERS - Early in January, Lindsay Holizki, the music teacher at Redvers School, was beginning to contemplate how she could showcase the musical talents of her band students.
As she was giving this some thought, a couple of students requested that she pick out some music that would stretch them. Specifically, they were hoping she could find songs that would showcase the low-voiced instruments – the baritone saxophone and the trombone – that they played.
While she was searching for something that might work, she found a band arrangement of the song "Low Rider" by War. The bass line of that song was perfect for featuring the instruments. She constructed the theme of the concert around this song and searched for more pieces of music that related to vehicles. That led to a concert called Cruisin’ Through Sound – Songs about Planes, Trains, and Automobiles at the school June 3.
Over 70 students, ranging from Grades 5 to 12, played a total of 13 musical pieces. The Moosomin Community Band, consisting of nine musicians, was on hand and added three selections of their own.
Most of them were introduced to music through school programs years ago. They also joined in with the Grade 7-8 band, as well as the grand finale presentation with all the Grade 8-12 students. That final song, Crazy Train, stayed on the same track of the evening’s theme.
The music program at Redvers School begins with Grade 5. Most of the beginning students have little or no music experience.
Holizki is wrapping up her third year as a half-time music teacher with Redvers School. She spends the other half plying her trade at Rocanville School. The musicians of Rocanville performed the same show the previous evening.
Holizki is from Wynyard, so she is used to small towns. Small-town band programs own a piece of her heart.
“I am happy to be serving such wonderful communities,” she said.
It was in Wynyard that she developed her interest in music, playing in the school band. From there, she went to the University of Regina to get her degrees and then taught history and English at the public school in Shaunavon until she found a position teaching band at the two schools where she currently serves.
She has been amazed at the musical ability in her students and attributes that to the work of her predecessor, Carrol Dyck. And as one attendee of this year’s concert noted, Redvers’ music program has continued to thrive under Holizki’s leadership.
Besides being quick to acknowledge Dyck’s years at the school, Holizki paid tribute to her students.
“Great students are what make the program," she said.
