I was a member of the Woodroffe High School (Ottawa, Canada) Band for 3 years way back. I played the flute which happens to figure prominently in the recent concert above. The reason I played flute goes back further. In Grade 6 my mom decided to enroll me in music lessons. I was given an aptitude test and found out I had good aptitude. The results are shown below complete with Mom’s scribbles. It was recommended that I take up the violin. For some reason I abhorred the violin and instead chose the 2nd recommendation, the flute.
The flute is a relatively easy to play wind instrument (you need to develop your ombouchure) and relatively inexpensive. The one above is what I think I had – it currently retails for $129CDN. So I began music lessons on the flute after school. However in those days, that was a lot of money!
This is the 52 bus route I took every Wednesday after school. I had to go to Elmdale School for the lessons as they were not offered at D. Roy Kennedy or Woodroffe public schools. It was fun taking the bus and walking a few blocks – rain or shine. It was my first experience at solo travel.
A Mr. Guibault was my flute teacher. He frowned a lot when I played meaning I had not likely done my lessons nor practiced sufficiently in his eyes. I was not a natural for sure. I remember practicing at home. Gradually I made progress, learned to read music and my embouchure, the way in which you apply your mouth to the mouthpiece, strengthened. I remember being in a concert once as a Scout. We all had no idea how to play our instruments but our parents clapped anyways. This reminds me that Miles Davis once told a bandmate “to play that instrument like you don’t know how to play it.” It all paid off though when I got to high school.
In Grade 9 I took Music and continued to practice and learn how to play the flute. The next year I made the Junior Band pictured above. We were a concert band that played in the auditorium occasionally but mostly practiced in preparation for individually moving up to the Senior Band. We did enter band competitions and placed well. In the spring of 1966, the Senior Band lost a large number of it’s senior members due to graduation. So I was moved up to the Senior Band, flute in hand by the end of Grade 10 in the spring of 1966.
Mr. Peter Manley was our very talented conductor. He had built this band up in only a few years to be among the best in Ottawa. It had tied in the A class competition with Ottawa Tech and got invited to play at the World’s Fair in NYC in 1965 before I joined. It was indeed an honour to become a member. It was an extra-curricular activity and we practiced at 8AM sharp every Thursday morning. I remember waking up at 7:40, throwing my clothes on and literally running the 4 blocks to school. You did not want to be late – Mr. Manley was a great ribber. In front of the whole band he would say something like – “Ah Mr. Morgan, late again. Perhaps we should all change our time to suit your schedule, eh?” as I slunk into my place.
We played a lot of marches, some orchestral overtures adapted for concert band and selections from musicals such as Gigi. Our set piece was Colonel Bogey on Parade which figured prominently in the Bridge Over the River Quai movie if you remember it.
I have 2 records they made in the mid 1960’s just before I joined, but no record player on which to play them lol. Here are the numbers recorded as listed on the 1964 recording:
- On the Quarter Deck (Alford)
- Mannin Veen (Haydn-Wood)
- Chorale and Alleluia (Hanson)
- Academic Festival Overture (Brahms)
And on the 1965 recording:
- “Finale” New World Symphony (Dvorak)
- 2nd American Folk Rhapsody (Grundman)
- Colonel Bogey on Parade (Alford)
- Selection “Mr. Lucky” (Mancini)
Wow, pretty cool! An awesome band experience was in store.
mattersofthemoment 
Can’t believe being in this great band back in 1965.
Mr Manley was awesome and I remember in one junior band practice, as he leaned over each of us…..tapping me on shoulder telling me to be at next senior band practice.
I miss those days and all that that era provided us in the formative high school years
Go Woody Go!
LikeLike
Hi Robert, thanks for your comment. I too miss those days at Woody. Did you go to the 50th reunion in 2010? I still remember what happened when I was late for band practice. Mr. Manley would stop the band and say something like “Nice of you to join us Mr. Morgan.” as I tried to slink into my seat unnoticed. Dave
LikeLike
Mr. Peter Manley and Mr. Jim Milne were monuments when I attended Woodroffe High School, having playing the both the Junior and Senior bands. Aside from teaching me the value of dedication to practice. . . I was absolutely a terrible performer back then, they both proved to me how integral they could be in the establishment of a career in music. There were MANY members of prior Woodroffe High School Percussion Sections that continue to be my childhood musical idols even today: Jeff “Benny” Steck, Matt Moody, Art Beers, Rick Pearlman etc. etc.
Thank you Woodroffe High School, Mr.(s) Peter Manley and Jim Milne for igniting an enduring love of music and performance which still alive within me at 63 years old.
Many thanks
Rich Brown
Class of ‘78
LikeLike
Thanks Rich. You echo my feelings perfectly about the band experience.
Dave
LikeLike
I enjoyed my time with both junior.and senior bands.
I think about Mr. MANLEY and his soft yet meaningful encouragement to become better musicians.
I have never forgotten my time at Woody and am so thankful to have been able to stretch whatever meagre talent I had..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Robert. My son has the talent now on the piano and guitar. Mine sadly did not last.
LikeLike
Hi Rich, in case you did not see the sequel, here it is https://mattersofthemoment.com/2020/12/06/1966-trans-continental-music-tour/
LikeLike
Hi Dave. Thanks for putting together this little trip down memory lane. The internet is a many splendoured thing, I went looking for something and end up finding your fascinating posting. I also was a Woody bandsman, graduating in 1972, and you played with my older brother Phil, also a flautist. After university he bought himself a gold coloured flute but just to tool around on, as I don’t think he joined any other band. Sadly, he passed away from a heart attack in 2008. I played alto sax, understudied Jane Brouse briefly and then Sandy Trott, succeeded by Peter Xhignesse; family names you would know from the neighbourhood. I think fondly of my time spent in the Woody bands, the musical challenges, the band trips and the camaderie. All good times. Cheers. Lance.
LikeLike
Hi Lance. I certainly remember Phil well and all those other people you mention. I used to see your parents at Ambleside where my mom lived too. Yes the band was quite an experience and Peter Manley was an unforgettable teacher. Thanks for reaching out and all the best.
Dave
LikeLike
Lance, in case you did not see the sequel, here it is https://mattersofthemoment.com/2020/12/06/1966-trans-continental-music-tour/
LikeLike