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B a c k t o S c h o o l / M u S i c & D a n c e - S u p p l e M e n t t o t h e W i n n i p e g F r e e p r e S S - S a t u r D a y , a u g u S t 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 5 Tiredofrunningbetweenactivities? Joinhundredsoffamilieswhoaresavingvaluable hourseachmonthbyschedulingmusic,danceand actingclassesfordifferentchildrenatthesametime. 1.Facilities Our"floating"professionaldancefloorsreduce fatigueandpreventinjuries. 2:CustomerService Deskstaffareavailableduringclass timetoprovideassistance. 3.FreeDanceRecitalDVDforeveryfamily. 4.Optionallow-pressuremusicrecitals. 5:Hassle-freeCostumes Allcostumesizing,orderingand alterationsaredoneforyou. 6.SmallClassSizes Providemoreone ononeattentionandtrainingforthestudents. 7.AllCostsofTheatreshow includedinthetuition. Available onlyat RisingStar ities? Register Now! educe class y. 1.Fa fa 2:Cu ti 3.Fr 4.Op 5:Ha Al al 6.Sm on 7.Al in Calltoday!204.669.2369 orvisitwww.risingstaracademy.ca RisingStarAcademyofArts By Jennifer McFee For the Free Press S tudents are hitting a high note with music lessons while also drumming up success in other areas of study. For Norine Harty, executive director of the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts, the value is clear to see. "The first thing about music is that it's fun and creative, so it helps students bring out their creativity. It's a form of expression, so for kids who may be struggling to communicate, music can be a great way to do that," Harty said. "In multicultural Winnipeg, music is the language everybody knows. They might come from all different corners of the world, but you can always communicate through music. And for those students who struggle academically, music is a way for them to excel at the same level as their peers." Kids who take music lessons are also in tune with the concepts of discipline and dedication. "Music develops skills like listening. When you're playing a string instrument or a woodwind, you have to make sure that you're hitting the right note, so you develop those listening skills. When you're with a group, you have to learn how to play in an ensemble setting. You have to listen to your fellow musicians and make sure that you're in time with them," Harty said. "Music is also a way for people to learn problem-solving skills, and it fosters out-of-the-box thinking. Once you learn the technique of those eight notes, you can play them many, many different ways. You learn how to self-evaluate and guide yourself. Also, for a lot of people, music can be really soothing. It can be a real great stress reliever to play music." When children study music outside of school, their practice is often more in-depth, she added. "It's more individualized. When you're learning in a classroom of 30 people, it's very different from when you're learning one-on-one," Harty said. "Many studies show that students who study an instrument, especially if they're involved in an after-school music program, are less likely to drop out of school. They're less likely to become involved with drugs or gangs or crime because they're focused on something else." In Winnipeg, plenty of opportunities exist to tap into music classes. The Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts, which recently relocated to the University of Winnipeg, offers programs for every age group from tots to adults. The organization also provides about 30 community bursaries each year to ensure that finances don't stand in the way of musical learning. "Anyone who would not have the opportunity because of financial barriers should contact us," she said. "Just because they can't afford lessons, that doesn't mean that their child shouldn't have some sort of music education." As an alternative, parents can also consider music programs at community centres or private music schools. "We partner with Valour Community Centre, and they have a drop- in program that's free to their community," Harty said. "Kids can learn to play music as well as songwriting. It builds self-confidence." Another option is to enrol your child in the Prep Studies program offered through the University of Manitoba. Program co-ordinator Sarah Heidahl says they offer a little bit of everything from group classes to individual lessons for students of all ages and stages. "There are a lot of piano students. We've also got guitar, voice, violin, cello and a range of other instruments," she said. "We have classes in musical theatre, which a lot of kids really like when they're a little bit younger and are just starting to get interested in voice. It's fun and they get to play and act." Lessons are available at the Fort Garry campus, and some instructors also teach from their home studios. In addition, some schools offer after-hours programs for their students, ranging from wind ensembles to orchestral traditions. As an instructor in the Lord Selkirk School Division, Garren Werbicki runs an after-school jazz program. "There are different responsibilities for after-school programs that really benefit our kids," he said. "The more they're on their instruments and with their music friends, the more they're involved in a nice, positive environment." Kids who study piano or other instruments on their own time are often the strongest musicians in school programs, he adds. "It's exercising the right side of your brain," Werbicki said. "You're learning another language and a way to communicate and that usually helps the kids socially and emotionally throughout their years." Norine Harty, executive director of the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts (on the piano), Stéphanie Dupuis (on violin) and Haley Rempel (on flute), play music at the conservatory. Photo by Darcy Finley

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