Vancouver Academy of Music facts for kids
The Vancouver Academy of Music (VAM) is a special school in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It's a place where people learn to play music and become great musicians. VAM started in 1969 as the Community Music School of Greater Vancouver. It moved to Vanier Park in 1976 and changed its name to the Vancouver Academy of Music in 1979. Today, VAM has two main parts: one for students who want to be professional musicians, and another for kids and adults who just want to learn music for fun.
The Story of VAM
When the Vancouver Academy of Music first opened, it taught music to young children. They learned using special methods like Orff, Suzuki, and Kodály. These methods help kids learn music in fun and active ways.
In 1971, a talented trumpet player named Jerold Gerbrecht joined VAM. He helped the school grow a lot! They started offering classes for adults too. These classes included music theory (how music works), music history, composition (making your own music), dance, and private lessons for instruments and singing. The school even started its own orchestra and choir.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, VAM kept adding more exciting programs. They had special workshops with famous musicians and classes on how to perform in operas. Because of this success, VAM started a college program in 1987. It's called the S. K. Lee College Program. Students in this program take their regular school classes at Thompson Rivers University. They take all their music classes at VAM. After finishing, they can earn a Bachelor of Music degree.
VAM's Orchestras
The Academy has several orchestras for different skill levels. There are Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Symphony Orchestras. These groups let students play together and learn how to perform in a big musical group.
Three times a year, the Senior Academy Strings (string instruments like violins and cellos) join with the wind department (instruments like flutes and trumpets). Together, they form the Academy Symphony Orchestra. They perform at the famous Vancouver Orpheum Theatre, which is a very special place to play music!
Cool People from VAM
Many talented people have taught or studied at the Vancouver Academy of Music. Here are a few of them:
Teachers at VAM
- Robert Creech, who plays the French horn
- Kum-Sing Lee, a piano expert
- Phyllis Mailing, a singing teacher
- David Meek, another singing teacher
- Steven Staryk, a violin master
- Gwen Thompson, also a violin master
Students from VAM
- Lisle Ellis, who became a composer (someone who writes music)
- Chan-hon Goh, a famous ballet dancer
- Erin Wall, a wonderful opera singer
- Jon Kimura Parker, a world-renowned pianist
