• Music Store

    Band Instruments reeds and more..

    The  same reeds and gear I use for my own professional engagements, along with prices that match the big stores we offer valuable advice. Mouthpieces, stands, tuners, reeds cases, metronomes and instruments.

     

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  • Woodwind Repairs

    Professional Performing Musicians, Band teachers and Discerning Amateurs send their instruments to us.  Expert repairs and advice that only a first class performer and repairman can give. Since 1991 serving the North from Prince George. Repair and service for your instruments so they and you play at 100% all the time. 

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  • Music Lessons

    voice, piano, flute, saxophone oboe or clarinet  all ages and styles.
     Yes our students all do well on their exams get recommended to provincials or play in the symphony and in community events but more importantly they will have music as a fun and rewarding part of their lives- forever.

    Recommended by band teachers.

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  • Yamaha CSG Clarinets

     Simon Cole principal clarinet Prince George Symphony 

    A refined and ringing tone, superb intonation and response.

  • Sponsors of

     the New Horizons Senior Band For adults with no or long ago musical experience. Join us Mondays at 530-730 1st Baptist Church in PG for more info call the Director Simon Cole at 250-563-4693 or email him.

    Read More at  Alban Classical

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  • for your event

    By Simon Cole / 2007-12-16 22:23:53
    We have done background music for most of the big companies and associations. We are very easy to deal with and our product is very high quality Live Music Small groups of 2-5 up to a small band .…
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  • Saxophones NEW

    By Simon Cole / 2007-12-18 00:49:46
      #15007 soprano saxophone, straight body with two necks (straight & angled), clear lacquered body and keys, high F# key, low C# lock, pivoting low Bb spatula, engraved bell, high quality leather pads with metal resonators, roomy wood-shell case.…
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  • Nobel Flutes

    By Erica / 2009-06-11 06:11:38
    Nobel Flute #11230 high quality student flute, silver plated throughout, closed holes (plateaux), offset G key, C footjoint. This flute is a best seller within the Nobel catalogue. It outperforms many brands of flutes in this category.…
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  • Music Store

    By Simon Cole / 2011-06-13 08:30:12
    Band Instruments reeds and more.. The  same reeds and gear I use for my own professional engagements, along with prices that match the big stores we offer valuable advice. Mouthpieces, stands, tuners, reeds cases, metronomes and instruments.  
    Read More +

  • Woodwind Repairs

    By Simon Cole / 2011-06-13 09:30:22
    Professional Performing Musicians, Band teachers and Discerning Amateurs send their instruments to us.  Expert repairs and advice that only a first class performer and repairman can give. Since 1991 serving the North from Prince George. Repair and service for…
    Read More +

  • Music Lessons

    By Simon Cole / 2011-06-13 08:30:12
    voice, piano, flute, saxophone oboe or clarinet  all ages and styles. Yes our students all do well on their exams get recommended to provincials or play in the symphony and in community events but more importantly they will have music…
    Read More +
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Popular Features

  • Crack Repair
  • Bent Flute
  • Tone hole Repair
  • Cork pads on clarinet
  • New dent removal tools
Having lived and played in a Northern city for close to 20 years I have become a minor expert on cracked woodwinds. Not only is it cold and dry but we often have to play in drafty or cold halls a sure recipe for woodwind cracks. Read More
Uh........ Dad I think I sat on my Flute!Read More
We can replace broken tone holes Read More
ImageThis is a Selmer series 10S clarinet and a Selmer recital  they are beautiful clarinets in great condition.
 The A in particular does not play as one would expect however, response tuning and tone are poor.
 These are usually very good clarinets. A quick check reveals that the pads do not cover, they are skin pads which have warped over time.

I am going to repad the top joint with cork pads on all keys which are usually in the closed position.
 The other 2 keys will have traditional skin pads.
Read More
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We have added MDR
 (magnetic dent removal tools) to our repertoire.
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One Song Universus

Music for Band

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Published on Friday, 04 May 2012 14:46
Written by Simon Cole

This is another new work I composed for the Prince George (Alban Classical) New Horizons band. It has parts of varying difficulty since the players are at varying levels. Music takes time to create a mood so I wanted a work that would have a longer duration ( about 5 min) Some technical parts( to review tech practice, in particular doubling rhythms) some melodic part to feature each section and some guided improvisation. The work is called a New Land I was thinking of ones impression arriving at a new turn in the creek or an island. DOWNLOAD

Read more: Music for Band

Tequila for small band

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Published on Thursday, 03 May 2012 19:58
Written by Simon Cole

Hey I made a play along version for small band you can hear it and play along at www.albanclassical.org. You can also download a PDF of any of the parts. Have fun!

Reality check

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Published on Thursday, 03 May 2012 03:12
Written by Simon Cole

Some people are under the impression that as a “union” member and part of the PGSO professional core that I have a high paying salaried job. One could forgive them after all I play just like the players in the big orchestras that they listen to on CD.

In fact I make c$9985 a year according to my T4.  My “benefits” include pension contributions from my employer and 7 ( usually unclaimed sick days).

Out of this I pay:

Instrument insurance and maintenance ($1000 a year)

Reeds ( for Bb clarinet Eb and Bass clarinet) ( $2000 year)

Replacement parts ( barrels and mouthpieces this year I had to replace them all as the PGSO is now playing at a 442-445)( $1900  this year)

Scores and recording of the works so I can show up to the first reh playing perfectly) ( $1159 this year)

Periodic replacement of clarinets ( this year that was $2813 )

Total $8872

End result less than $1113 for my efforts. For this I work 2-4 hours a day, every day (In addition to whatever else I have to do), I have had 0  vacations in the last in 26 years.

Of course I  think this  (playing great music as well as possible) is worth while even with so little reward or I wouldn't have done  it for 26 years. That is how great music is.

Mean Teachers and abusive conductors.

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Published on Sunday, 22 April 2012 22:46
Written by Simon Cole

I was listening to an Interview with a military leader who was being tried for war crimes. When he was asked why they had performed such horrific deeds he replied " because we could".

Having the capacity to perform something does not give one the right to do so.

Yet so often I experience first hand abusive misogynistic power hunger self serving conductors, have numerous tales of abusive teachers recounted to me and occasionally see it first hand. Worse still in music there are some victims who either think they deserve it or that a teacher or a conductor is not any good if they are not abusive.

Read more: Mean Teachers and abusive conductors.

Authorized dealers of Nobel Band Instruments

Nobel Clarinet

Nobel_clarinet14041 Bb CLARINET, brushed hard rubber body for a wood-like sound and finish, wear resistant nickel plated keys, waterproof Valentino pads, French blue steel needle springs, genuine cork bumpers and tenons, bell ring, 65mm Moenig bore barrel, light case with back pack straps. The quasi-indestructible nature of Valentino pads render the Nobel completely airtight and fully resonant. A best choice for a sound investment. $495

 
Every clarinet is set up and play tested before sale, most stores do not do this. This clarinet has had some undercutting of higher tone holes and resetting of pad heights done for better pitch and tone.

The material, reverse taper barrel and design give this clarinet a more mature rich sound when compared to standard student clarinets costing hundreds more. I have played one in the orchestra for outdoor concerts. 

Play along

  • Jazz improv play along CDs and guide

    I have made a 3 track play along CD and guide for my students to practice improvising it is available FREE for… Read More +

  • RCM G1 Clar

    RCM clarinet grade 1 scales Scales for the grade 1 clarinet exam. You can adjust the speed and also print… Read More +

  • RCM G4 Clar

    RCM clarinet exam grade 4 These are the technical requirements for the exam. Remember to play them all slurred, all… Read More +

  • RCM G2 Clar

    RCM Grade 2 Clarinet Scales Technical requirements for the RCM exam. Play along use the speed slider to start at… Read More +

  • Clar scales

    Free Scales for Clarinet Major Minor Harmonic These scales can be printed. You can also play along with them and… Read More +
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Alban Classical


Private performance April 14

PGSO April 21

Wind World Alban classical school show April 23 and 30