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.

The Musical Mentors Program in Fall 2011

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 two will bring the most interested students together in a single group to work with a mentor with the goal of writing and then performing a song for recording. This phase will offer further experience of the music process and a taste of the music business.

The Manitoba Arts Council has 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.