Sask. teachers concerned over shrinking music programs

WATCH: Music teachers across the province are raising concern over what they say are shrinking music programs.

Many Saskatchewan students have their first opportunity to learn about music thanks to elementary band programs across the province. Recent funding changes, however, have created some challenges for both students and teachers.

“They’re amazed that their small group sections of 10 and 15 are now 35, 37. And they see that their teachers are running around, going crazy in terms of less hands on deck,” said Brent Ghiglione, assistant professor and director of bands at the University of Regina.

Stacey Mortenson-Spokes has been music teacher in Saskatoon for 30 years. She says music programs have been known to have significantly positive impacts on the students who take part.

“The cognitive benefits are immeasurable for music education for young people because music activates parts of their brain that nothing else does,” Mortenson-Spokes said.

She says she believes no school division wants to reduce music programs, but limited funding has forced many hard choices for officials.

“Our school divisions have been tasked with making really difficult decisions. As much as they value music and want the kids to have that experience, we have had cuts to the frequency in which they are able to play together,” Mortenson-Spokes said.

The Saskatoon Public School Board (SPSB) says it has not made any changes to its music programs in the past year.

“Our band programs continue to operate as they have in previous years, and we remain committed to providing equitable access to high-quality music education for all students,” SPSB said.

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While Mortenson-Spokes is thankful that the programs in the city have remained relatively unchanged in the past few years, she has seen significant changes in her three decades of teaching.

“There was a time where it was very common for elementary students to have band three times a week, and now it would be pretty rare for elementary students to have band three times a week,” Mortenson-Spokes said.

The Ministry of Education says Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions are receiving a record $2.4 billion in school operating funding for the 2025-26 school year — an increase of 8.4 per cent over last year’s budget allocation.

“Funding is distributed through a model that supports instructional activities in schools, and while it does not allocate funding for specific classes or programs such as band, it does enable flexibility to allocate resources based on local needs and priorities,” the ministry said in a statement.

Regina Public Schools have been forced to reduce the frequency of band classes at the elementary level.

Ghiglione says there is now significantly less time for the smaller, more individualized rehearsals commonly referred to as sectionals.

“Without that kind of contact time in that small group lesson, there’s no way to fix problems and there’s no way to fix problems, period. And every student has them in terms of fundamentals of play. And it’s like if you never learn how to read, some people sneak through and don’t read,” Ghiglione said.

The Regina Public School Board says it listened to concerns and shared staffing changes with families.

“The Regina Board of Education and the administration of Regina Public Schools heard about concerns regarding the elementary band program from parents, students, staff and stakeholders on this issue at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Staffing changes that were announced at that time and implemented at the beginning of this current school year have been shared directly with school families,” the board said.

Mortenson-Spokes adds that these gaps in skill development at the elementary level often creates frustration for those who continue band in high school.

“Students are not necessarily getting the refinement that they could. And then they arrive in high school, oftentimes from many different elementary schools. And some of the holes in their learning is a little more exposed and can be frustrating to work out when people, sitting right beside them are able to do something that they can’t,” Mortenson-Spokes said.

Ghiglione adds that he believes there should be a greater priority on ensuring music programs remain strong in Saskatchewan.

“The crunch is if we don’t have music and arts programs in our city, we’re in trouble. Any community without beauty is a pretty ugly community.” Ghiglione said.