Back to School

2015

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By Donna Maxwell for the Free Press If the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts conjures up images of studying rather than jamming, then you don't know the place. E xecutive director Norine Harty says local music historian John Einarson, who opened up for Led Zeppelin when he was 17, is teaching a class called 'From Elvis Presley to Elvis Costello' at the Conservatory this fall and you can learn everything from classical to rock and roll, and then some, in classes they offer. "People hear 'conservatory' and they think theory and exams and we're far more than that," Harty says. "We've got some exciting things happening, like ukulele, which we started a couple years ago." The conservatory has a host of programs starting this fall, and if you're interested in individual instruction, there's something for everyone. "Normally it's a classical focus but we also have jazz programs, we've got pop, we've got rock, so basically whatever students are interested in we can fill the bill for them," Harty says. You can also sign up for a group program, if a solo gig isn't your thing. "Sometimes people prefer to learn in a group, they like to have the comfort of having other people around plus the whole social idea of sharing musical experiences with other folks." Harty says the joy of playing music is obvious, but learning an instrument pays dividends far beyond the skill you'll pick up. "Learning music teaches us focus, and it teaches us discipline because you have to practise. You're learning a new language because you're learning how to read music, but some of the other things people don't think about with music is how you learn so many social skills," Harty says. "If you're playing in a group you have to learn how to listen, you have to learn to be able to communicate in that group, you have to learn to be prepared because if you're playing in a group you have to have your part practised so it can go with the other folks', so everything is in a good ensemble." Those are all transferrable skills that help students throughout their lifetime. Harty says their students are as young as 12 months-old and as senior as 80-plus. "You're never too young and never too old to learn music. Music feeds your soul and it's a great stress reliever and it's a great social experience as well," Harty says. You can register online for fall courses at mcma.ca and Harty says they have a community bursary program for those who don't have the financial means to afford music lessons. Kerri Stephens is the community outreach co-ordinator at the West End Cultural Centre and she's gearing up for another year of turning students on to music in their Tune In program that runs for free Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. Stephens says it's a drop-in program and whoever shows up will be able to learn anything from acoustic and electric guitar to drums, bass and ukulele, or just learn some songs and sing. Kids 10-17 are welcome. "You don't have to know anything about playing. That's the whole point, they can come and we've got some great teachers and they're typically the same teachers every Tuesday and Thursday and they work with the kids from the beginning to the end, which is so great," Stephens says. "And some of the older kids are really great with helping the younger kids." The program runs from 4-6 p.m. and the kids are given a healthy snack. Kids in last year's Tune In program got to perform on a local TV morning show and they also participated in Culture Days at The Forks. "We definitely have some good opportunities for the kids," she says. Along with opportunities to play on TV and at other venues, kids often form friendships and even their own bands. "The kids get to know each other and some of them will start working with others… and get together and jam." The WECC also offers a summer program called Play Downtown Elmwood-Kildonan South West ywinnipeg.ca/birthday INCLUDEDFEATURES: Privatepartyroom Action-Packed BirthdayParties Partyhost Swimming Facilityusefor guestparents duringtheparty FREEY familyday passforeach childattendee PartyPackageA:Do-It-Yourself Alloftheincludedfeatures,plus •giantplaystructure(excludingDowntown) (excludingDowntown) •inflatablebouncer PartyPackageB:StructuredActivity Alloftheincludedfeatures,plus Alloftheincludedfeatures,plus •activityleadertoenergizeyourgroup •activityleadertoenergizeyourgroup •yourchoiceofactivitytheme: •yourchoiceofactivitytheme: •Zumbakidsclass •Sports •Sports(floorhockey,soccer,basketball,playground&scootergames) (floorhockey,soccer,basketball,playground&scootergames) •Sky'stheLimit(inflatablebouncer,minitrampoline,jump&tumble (inflatablebouncer,minitrampoline,jump&tumble equipment,climbingwall(WestPortageonly) Member& Non-member pricing conditionsandrestrictionsapply conditionsandrestrictionsapply 301VaughanSt 301VaughanSt 454KimberlyAve 5FermorAve 3550PortageAve 947-3044 668-8140 233-3476 233-3476 889-8052 889-8052 Formoreinformationcontact 284-0250 ✺classesfornewborns, tots,tykeswith parents ✺classesforchildren 4-12 ✺child&parentclasses ✺adultworkshops ✺birthdayparties www.calmnsense.ca • listening skills • communication skills • discipline • teamwork • social skills • stress relief and Record, and Stephens says many of the Tune In kids will take that the following summer. In Play and Record they are put into a band, write a song and record it, all within one week. Throughout the school year, the WECC does several free community concerts where they take professional musicians out to places, like schools, to perform. anyone interested in a free concert, or more information on tune in, can check out wecc.ca. ❚ Clockwise from top left: Students in three different classes at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts and at the West End Cultural Centre. Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts photos/ WECC photo B a c k t o S c h o o l , M u S i c & D a n c e … a n D M o r 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 at u r D ay, a u g u S t 15 , 2 0 15 7 BEAPARTOFMANITOBA'SLONGEST RUNNINGUKRAINIANDANCESCHOOL! ClassesstartSept.9,2015.Ages4andup. Registeronlinetoday:rusalkaunf.ca 204-202-9264•school@rusalka.mb.ca Underthemanagementandartisticdirectionofthe RusalkaUkrainianDanceEnsemble

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