Rosemount High School to launch much-anticipated Arts-études program on Thursday/ Lancement du programme Arts-études tant attendu à l'école secondaire Rosemont
Montreal, February 14, 2024- Rosemount High School (3737 Beaubien) will inaugurate its new Arts-études program, the first-of-its-kind amongst English high schools in Quebec on Thursday, February 15 (10:30 am) as part of Hooked on School Week. A total of 165 students across all grade levels (Secondary I to V) are taking part in the five-year program this academic year, with music now playing an integral part of the students’ daily class schedules.
“It is about giving a holistic study in music, theory and practice,” said Anthony Cooperwood, Director of Bands at Rosemount High School, who is in his seventh year at the school. “We start from the very beginning. You will learn what a scale or a whole note is, and what the different keys are. From there, we will teach you how to read those elements and how to perform them on the instrument that you have selected. Students sometimes come here with no musical experience. We teach you everything.”
While music instruction has long been a staple at Rosemount, the introduction of the much-anticipated Arts-Études program allows for music to be incorporated throughout the school day, as opposed to strictly after-school as a 75-minute extra-curricular course between 3 pm and 4:15 pm. Music classes are now interspersed throughout the day, with students having as many as three for-credit music courses in a single day.
“Under the Arts-études program, we are asking the government for permission to allot a certain number of minutes throughout the school year,” said Mr. Cooperwood. “Under a regular music program, you can see the students, but for very short amounts of time. The Arts-études program makes it all possible.”
The music courses occur in non-traditional classroom settings, such as dedicated band rooms, a percussion studio and on the auditorium stage. All students are assigned their own instrument at the start of the school year, which is theirs to keep and maintain for the duration of the academic calendar. Such instruments include flutes, trombones, trumpets, tubas, clarinets and oboes, among others.
“We keep our stock current,” said Mr. Cooperwood, who works closely with longtime school music teacher Debbie Best. “We take care of our horns. The instruments in the program receive regular maintenance throughout the year.”
Rosemount High’s pre-existing extra-curricular music programs, such as junior and senior jazz bands, are also continuing. The school’s popular performance ensemble group “Class Act” is also back for its second year. The group, made up of a small group of senior-level students, was the brainchild of Mr. Cooperwood as he sought to create a student band “with a professional touch” that would embody what is being taught at school. The group performs a variety of music, from classic hits to wedding songs.
Last year, Class Act performed at multiple school events such as Open House and graduation as well as at the EMSB’s Commissioner Holiday Luncheon and other corporate events, such as a 50th surprise birthday party, the 50th anniversary of the Comité de Gestion de la taxe scolaire de l’île de Montréal and model Aiesha Robinson’s Born to Rise event, among others.
“I call it the ‘hit and get’ squad,” said Mr. Cooperwood. “It’s a small, tight unit. We set up, perform our material, and then we ‘get.’ I know what I want it to sound like and I know what I can make sound good with these kids. They are able to perform the songs that I give them and they can make a living doing that. Ultimately, that is what we are trying to give to all the students in our school.”
Mr. Cooperwood credits Principal Lino Buttino for continuously supporting the program, including providing funding for transportation to and from events as well as helping set up the infrastructure necessary for a successful program as well as Ms. Best, a music teacher at the school for 27 years.
“It takes all three of us to get the whole thing going,” he said. “I’ve got spark and fire, Debbie has the administrative experience and the know-how, Mr. Buttino has the power and the strings. The three of us working together allow us to make this whole thing happen.”
Another popular element of the program are the various trips and outings, funded in large part by the school’s Music Parents Association. Rosemount has taken its music students to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, as well as on visits to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Walt Disney World in Orlando and to Ottawa to play for a judge.
Mr. Cooperwood says the new ministerial Arts-études designation will have trickle-down effects on students, beyond increased instruction time and credits. He won’t be teaching English or Ethics & Religious Culture (ERC) courses anymore, instead devoting his time and energy strictly to music instruction. A third music teacher, Cordell Henebury, was also brought on this year to supplement the work of Mr. Cooperwood and Ms. Best. Music coaches are also available to students to work with students one-on-one, when needed. He also notes the positive impact the program has on students, beyond the musical components.
“We teach you how to be someplace on time, how to carry out your tasks with quality and excellence, how to follow something through until the very end,” he said. “I’m going to teach you how to be a mentor so you can be a manager and a leader. They are transferable skills you can use in all walks of life. I teach you music in order to teach you about life.”
About Mr. Cooperwood
Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Cooperwood would go on to study at Truman State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Music and Piano Performance, as well as a Master’s of Arts in Music Education. He would later work for the university as director of recruitment for students of color.
“I grew up in a strong high school band program with strong band directors that really shaped my directions forward in music,” said Mr. Cooperwood. “They introduced me to performing jazz and playing in jazz bands. I played piano in jazz band, flute in the symphony band and bass drum in the marching drumline.
Mr. Cooperwood next moved to New York City as he pursued a professional career as a pianist. He joined Cirque du Soleil in 2001, touring across North America and Europe with the group for eight years as part of its Dralion production, on which he served as the keyboard and bass player, as well as backup conductor.
Seeking a change of pace, Mr. Cooperwood moved to Montreal where he put his teaching degree to good use. He began at General Vanier Elementary School before ultimately joining Rosemount High School’s music department seven years ago.
“I like Montreal because it was the closest thing to living in Europe, but in North America,” he said. “It’s almost like living in a European city, but I get all the flavors of being here at home. This is similar to where I grew up.”
About the English Montreal School Board
With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 73 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.
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Contact:
Michael J. Cohen
Manager, Marketing and Communications
English Montreal School Board
mcohen@emsb.qc.ca
Lancement du programme Arts-études tant attendu à l'école secondaire Rosemont
Montréal, le 15 février 2024 – L'école secondaire Rosemont (3737, rue Beaubien) a inauguré le jeudi 15 février, dans le cadre de la Semaine de la persévérance scolaire, son nouveau programme Arts-études, le premier du genre parmi les écoles secondaires anglophones du Québec. Au total, 165 élèves provenant de tous les niveaux scolaires (1re à 5e secondaire) participent cette année à ce programme d’une durée de cinq ans, grâce auquel la musique est désormais intégrée à la grille-horaire quotidienne des élèves.
« Il s'agit d’enseigner globalement la musique, sous l’angle de la théorie et de la pratique », a expliqué Anthony Cooperwood, responsable des groupes musicaux à l'école secondaire Rosemont depuis maintenant sept ans. « Nous commençons par les notions de base. On enseigne aux élèves ce qu'est une gamme, une ronde et les différentes clés musicales. Ensuite, ils apprennent à lire ces éléments et à les interpréter sur l'instrument qu’ils ou elles ont choisi. À leur arrivée à l’école, les élèves n’ont parfois aucune expérience musicale. Nous leur enseignons tout. »
Bien que l'enseignement de la musique soit depuis longtemps présent au sein de l'école Rosemont, la mise en place du très attendu programme Arts-études permet désormais d’intégrer la musique à la journée de classe, alors que jusqu'à présent, il s'agissait d'une activité parascolaire de 75 minutes offerte entre 15 h 00 et 16 h 15. Les cours de musique sont maintenant dispensés tout au long de la journée, et les élèves peuvent suivre jusqu'à trois cours de musique par jour auxquels sont rattachées des unités.
« Dans le cadre du programme Arts-études, nous demandons au Ministère de nous allouer un certain nombre de minutes tout au long de l'année scolaire », de dire M. Cooperwood. « Un programme de musique traditionnel prévoit de très courtes périodes passées avec les élèves. Or, le programme Arts-études vient complètement changer la donne. »
Les cours de musique se déroulent dans des salles de classe non conventionnelles, comme des salles d'orchestre dédiées, un studio de percussion ainsi que sur la scène de l'auditorium. Au début de l'année scolaire, les élèves se voient attribuer un instrument qui leur sera prêté et dont ils et elles devront assurer l'entretien jusqu’à la fin des classes. Il s’agit notamment de flûtes, trombones, trompettes, tubas, clarinettes et hautbois.
« Nous maintenons à jour notre inventaire d’instruments », a souligné M. Cooperwood, qui travaille en étroite collaboration avec Debbie Best, enseignante de musique de longue date à l'école. « Nous prenons bien soin de nos cors. Les instruments font l’objet d'un entretien régulier tout au long de l'année. »
Il est à noter que les programmes parascolaires actuels axés sur la musique à l’école secondaire Rosemont, tels les orchestres de jazz junior et senior, sont maintenus ainsi que le groupe Class Act, qui en est à sa deuxième année. Composé d'un petit nombre d'élèves seniors, Class Act est né du désir de M. Cooperwood de former un groupe « à l’allure professionnelle » pour incarner ce qui est enseigné à l'école. Le groupe interprète un vaste répertoire, allant de grands classiques aux chansons populaires lors de mariages.
Natif de Kansas City dans le Missouri où il a grandi, M. Cooperwood est titulaire d’un baccalauréat en arts et d’un baccalauréat en musique (interprétation au piano), ainsi que d’une maîtrise en éducation musicale de la Truman State University. Il a été à l’emploi de cette université en tant que directeur du recrutement d’étudiants et d’étudiantes de couleur. Par la suite, M. Cooperwood a poursuivi une carrière professionnelle de pianiste à New York. Il s’est joint au Cirque du Soleil en 2001 et, pendant huit ans, a parcouru l’Amérique du Nord et l’Europe en tournées avec la troupe de Dralion, en tant que claviériste, bassiste et chef d'orchestre suppléant. Désireux de ralentir la cadence, M. Cooperwood s'est installé à Montréal où il a mis à profit sa formation en enseignement. Il a fait ses débuts à Montréal à l'école primaire Général Vanier avant de se joindre au Département de musique de l'école secondaire Rosemont il y a maintenant sept ans.
À propos de la Commission scolaire English-Montréal
Forte d’un effectif de plus de 35 000 élèves composé de jeunes et d’adultes, la Commission scolaire English-Montréal (CSEM) est la plus grande commission scolaire publique anglophone du Québec. Fondée le 1er juillet 1998 dans la foulée de la création des commissions scolaires linguistiques par le gouvernement du Québec, la Commission compte un réseau de 73 écoles et centres. Pour en savoir davantage, veuillez consulter le site Web de la CSEM à l’adresse www.emsb.qc.ca.
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Personnes-ressources :
Michael J. Cohen
Gestionnaire, Marketing et communications
Commission scolaire English-Montréal
mcohen@emsb.qc.ca
