Parents cautious about new music program for Regina Public Schools

Starting this fall, all Grade 6 students attending public elementary schools in Regina will automatically be enrolled in a new music program at the site of the former Dieppe School.

Parents who see the benefits of music education have expressed some reservations about the plan.

Public school board chair Adam Hicks said the new music centre for students in Grades 6 to 8 will address some of the shortcomings of the old school band program and expand opportunities for students.

“There are still three out of five Grade 6 students that do not get the opportunity right now to explore the beauty of music,” Hicks said.

Around 60 per cent of students leave the current band program between Grades 6 and 8 under the current ‘pull-out’ instructional model, and the model creates academic problems, he said.

“Students are pulled out of their regular elementary school classes to attend band. This approach has limited the number of students participating in music education.”

The old model disrupted instructional time for core classes such as math and science, and physical spaces to teach music are too small at many schools, he said.

Parents’ view

Jessica Tiefenbach has one child who quit the band program in December and another who will be in the new program in the fall.

“I think it’s really good that Regina Public is putting in an effort to recognize the benefits that music can have for students,” she said.

She would like to see a split system, so students are not missing school for band instruction, but travel to another location is a concern, Tiefenbach said.

“I don’t know if they thought about the travel time, especially for those students that live in the east end.”

Hannah Wildman said her son is not of school age yet, but the recent decision may encourage her to send him to a Catholic school, even though a public school is much closer to her home.

It’s not that she’s against musical education.

“I would certainly like for my child to experience the band program because it helps so much with emotional growth and social growth,” Wildman said.

But it’s unclear what instruments will be taught in the new program, what practice will look like and whether the students will be able to take the instruments home.

“I think the older option of still having the pull-out method with a sectional and full band twice a week is certainly a better option than this.”

WATCH | Future of music education in Regina sounds sombre after school band cutbacks:

Future of music education in Regina sounds sombre after school band cutbacks

Parents, students and fellow educators are concerned about Regina Public Schools’ decision to reassign some of its elementary band teachers to other teaching positions.

Band program cut last year

The school division announced a restructuring of the elementary school band program in June 2025, which took effect in the fall. Some elementary school band teachers were reassigned to alternate positions.

When the cuts were announced, school division director Mark Haarmann said the change was necessary due to a budget deficit of over $2 million.

Many community members, including band students, educators and parents, started a petition and attended a meeting calling for the changes to be delayed.

Expert perspective

John Benham is a consultant who specializes in keeping school bands operating.

Any proposed programs must be include consultation with music teachers and parents, he said.

“They need to have the cooperation of the professionals. I don’t go to a gym teacher to have my teeth fixed.”

Benham said the school division’s old program was the worst-structured one he had ever seen.

The best practice is to start band earlier than Grade 6; otherwise, enrollment drops drastically by high school, he said.

Daily rehearsals are also the best practice, he said, noting the public division’s previous program had practices only once a week, even for Grade 8 students.