The Edmonton Sabers Marching Band is an award-winning marching band. Youth have the opportunity to learn music and dance skills, get physically active, and perform and tour as part of a team. Members get about 12 hours of instruction each month plus a weekend away camp. Half of their time will in a instrumental sectional group and the other half as an ensemble. Instruments, flags and uniforms are all included.
No previous musical experience is required to join Sabers. We provide children with quality music and dance instruction at really affordable rates. Learn trumpet, mellophone, low brass, saxophone, percussion or colurguard. It’s a great way to make new friends, learn musicality, rhythms, dance, travel and perform!
Ages
Children aged 7 to 14.
Band Year
Our band year runs from The 1st Tuesday in October to the end of July.
Practice Schedule
Rehearsals are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:15 – 8:15 PM. Usually at Hazeldean School (6715 97st), practice location may change throughout the year.
Please try to come 10 minutes before practice, as that gives you time to get your equipment & instruments and be ready to practice. Please bring a labelled water bottle, socks, and indoor shoes to every practice.
Band Camps
Members will participate in one weekend workshop per month. From Friday evening at 7:15 PM to Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM. Members are dropped off and picked up at the Radway Agricultural Centre (Radway, AB)
Tour
Summer tour is 10 to 14 days. Typically during the first two weeks of July. In the last few years our tours have taken the kids to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Disneyland in California, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, and most recently around Southern Alberta, British Columbia, Washington State and Idaho.
Local Performances
K-Days Parade
Community Events
Canada Day Parade
Fees and Deposits
One-Time Deposit:
$50 uniform/instrument deposit – The uniform/instrument deposit is required before a Sabers member may take home an instrument/flag or uniform.
Annual Fees:
$75 registration fee – The registration fee is payable in October or upon joining and is required to become a member of the association for insurance purposes.
$100 tour fee – Payable upon registration or by the 1st of May. (Covers all tour activities, accommodations, and meals)
Annual Deposit:
$250 fundraising bond cheque/cash – Paid at the beginning of each year. This will be refunded on a case-to-case basis depending on the efforts made for fundraising.
Monthly Fee:
$50 instructional fees – OCT to JUN (9 months) Payment Options – In full at time of registration or monthly (payable on the 1st of each month). Postdated cheques are preferred; however, if a cheque is returned NSF, all applicable costs are owed by the family and only cash will be accepted thereafter.
Total:
$625 – Annual cost (plus $300 in deposits)
Fees for Siblings:
Siblings pay the same registration, uniform/instrument deposit and tour fees.
Monthly fees are on a sliding scale (Two children = $75/month, Three children or more = $100/month).
Points – Bingo & Casino
As part of the band program, each family must volunteer for activities in order to keep costs as low as possible so that all children may participate. Points must be earned by June 15th. If you wish to donate a point to another family it must be designated as such at the time of the event. Extra points are donated to the band. Points accumulated after June 16th may be applied to the following year.
Each family is required to earn Bingo points per season. Casino points will fall into this category as well.
15 points for one child
20 points for two children
25 points for three or more children
Participation Points
Each family is also required to earn 2 Participation points throughout the year. These points can be earned by volunteering for Fundraising events, Membership drives, and many more behind-the-scenes work that needs to be done.
FUNdraising
Our fundraising goes toward fun activities on our summer tours. The organisation is open to input from its membership on how to reach our fundraising goal!
Possible Campaigns include:
Raffles (Grey Cup Season Passes, Travel Vouchers, Liquor Basket)
Events (Paint Night, Silent Auction)