Musical Mentors Program

The Musical Mentors Program pairs mentors with groups of high-school age youth to explore music in different ways. The goal is to bring music to youth who do not have access to sophisticated music programs. Some of the participants attend classes at schools with no music programs whatsoever.

Jason Burnstick working with Lord on the electric guitar. Photo: JED

Musical Mentors Program in Fall 2012 / Spring 2013
Eleven groups of youth from across Winnipeg worked with 10 professional musician mentors to explore music in different ways. The groups involved were from Argyle Alternative High School, R.B. Russell, Gordon Bell, CEDA Pathways, Children of the Earth, Boys and Girls Club of Gilbert Park, St. John’s High School, Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre, Wayfinders and AYO. The mentors include Jason Burnstick, Aaron Burnett, Greg MacPherson, Lindsey White, Keri Latimer, Damon Mitchell, Scott Senior, Nicky Mehta, Lorenzo and Jesse Green.

The mentors constructed the program based on the interests of the group. A few groups wrote hip-hop music, others focused on songwriting and two groups are built percussion instruments to play behind poems and music. A group of Argyle Alternative High School students created a musical score for a film. On October 12, Buffy Sainte Marie stopped by to meet with the students and discuss the process of creating a musical score – an incredible experience for everyone!

Musical Mentor Jesse Green and Buffy Sainte Marie meeting with students from Argyle Alternative High School

For Phase II of the program, eight of the most eager students got together with mentors Keri Latimer and Damon Mitchell to write a song and on May 1, they’ll be going to the CBC Studios to record it! 

The Musical Mentors Program in Fall 2011 / Spring 2012

The mentors began meeting with their groups at the end of October. Mentors Ashley McCurdy, Greg MacPherson, Heather Thomas, Jason Burnstick, Keri Latimer and Lindsey White worked with students from R.B. Russell Vocational High School, Gordon Bell High School, Argyle Alternative High School, St. John’s High School, Children of the Earth High School, CEDA Pathways, Boys & Girls Clubs and IRCOM (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba). Each group received eight sessions with their mentor and performed and presented video to the other groups, friends and relatives on December 15, 2011.

Each group approached the project slightly differently, but have all explored music in the way that best suits the students involved. The students worked with their mentor on songwriting, arranging music, creative use of video and sound, conventional and unconventional instruments and a lot of fun.

Phase II brought together a self-selected group of students from the first phase with two mentors.  Lindsay White and Jason Burnstick worked with students Brendon, Denny, Inny, Jon, Kayla, Kelsey, Lanzo, Lauren, Lord, Nadi, Theresa, Todd, Trent and Troy.  These youth are from R.B. Russell, Gordon Bell, Argyle Alternative, CEDA Pathways and the Boys and Girls Clubs.  They met every Wednesday afternoon for eight weeks in The Folk Exchange to work on a song that they recorded at the CBC Radio studio 11 on April 4, 2012.  The song “Be Who You Wanna Be” was recorded and mastered by Joe Dudych.

Listen to “Be Who You Wanna Be”

The Manitoba Arts Council and D’Addario Foundation have generously donated funds for the 2011/2012 project.

The Musical Mentors Program in Winter 2010 / Spring 2011

80 youth were paired with five musical mentors in the inaugural Musical Mentors Program. Together they built instruments by hand, wrote the music and lyrics for a few songs, performed their original songs live at the Park Theatre and had an opportunity to record one of their songs at the CBC Radio recording studio.

Check out some behind-the-scenes video podcasts below:

Winnipeg Folk Festival Musical Mentor Program pt.1

Winnipeg Folk Festival Musical Mentor Program pt.2

Winnipeg Folk Festival Musical Mentor Program pt.3

All songs written and performed by:
Jaxon Haldane, TJ Blair (Mentors) and Keri Latimer (Assistant Mentor)

Students:
Rio B, Sean H, Grace J, Danielle K, Edmund V from CEDA Pathways
Calvin B, Shannon B, Jesse J, Alexa W and Lexi W from RB Russell

Video:
Roger Boyer (Mentor)
Students:  Hendo, Josh and Alec from Argyle

Project Coordinator and Still Photos:

Jennifer Davis

Made possible by the 2010 Cultural Capitol of Canada through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

CBC Radio also generously donated their recording studio and technician Joe Dudych for the project.