TDSB's Downtown Summer Strings on CTV News

Yesterday, CTV news had a feature on my summer camp - the TDSB's Downtown Summer Strings.

I just love this summer camp! It's always fun and we get to play lots of cool music.

The camp is split into two main groups. One is less advanced and the other is more advanced. My first year, I started off in the less advanced group but these last two years I've been in the more advanced. We all play some songs together in the really big group.

This year I'm doing both violin and viola. I played viola in the more advanced group and I played violin in the really big group.

We sometimes have theme days where we dress according to a theme, if you want to. This year, we are going to get some special camp t-shirts made for the very first time.

Our concert is on Friday. I can't wait. :-D

Just a few videos

Even though the weather is beautiful we decided to stay in today.
We recorded a few videos.

Here is Für Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven
https://youtu.be/iVK4O4zwymo

Two Gossiping Old Women by Aram Khatchaturian
https://youtu.be/vpPf1mnQiTM

And here is 'Colours of the Wind' from Walt Disney's "Pocahontas" by Alan Menken and arranged by Dan Coates
https://vimeo.com/132611645

To watch use the password: Colours

Colours of the Wind from Walt Disney's "Pocahontas" by Alan Menken, arr. by Dan Coates from J Lee on Vimeo.

Happy 148th Birthday Canada!

Today is Canada Day!
We went to Thompson Park for the Canada Day Festivities.

We were there for the Opening Ceremony with the Aboriginal Blessing by Frances (I don't know her last name). Scarborough is part of the land of the Mississaugas of New Credit. 

There were hundreds of people there.

But there was still lots of places where you could go to sit by yourself.

There so much greenery all around, but sadly there was a lot of litter too.

It is so green and pretty!

 We went into Scarborough Museum and we were greeted with cookies..

We got to hear a bit about the history of the area and of the house itself.

I got to play on the Chickering Piano. It's a side-tuning piano but it was a bit out of tune.

They have a cello too and it needs some love.

You can see that the bible belonged to Elizabeth Thompson.

This is a drawing of Westminster Abbey.

And I finally found out that this napkin holder is a monkey playing a bassoon.

They have a very nice carving set out on display.

 As well as an information panel about Scarborough's History

They had a cool Canada Flag.

And squash growing in their garden.

Mom got a henna tattoo.

We also went to the Canada Day Parade.
I didn't plan to blog about the Parade but I did get to pose for pictures with a couple of politicians.

Here is one with Alex Wilson of the NDP who is running for Scarborough Centre.
(I agree with the Federal NDP in that I don't like Bill C-51.)

And here is a picture with Brad Duguid, MPP of Scarborough Centre.

And, my favourite part of the Parade is watching the bagpipers. Here is a video clip of the Scarborough Pipes and Drums. 

Happy Canada Day!