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Songs and Stories of Migration and Encounter
Date: September 11, 2017 – October 22, 2017
Venue: Locations across Cape Breton Island – Locations TBA
Project Information:
For youth ages 12 to 18 – Join us at one of our in-community locations for 5 weeks of creative arts, multimedia, songwriting and performance workshops where youth will be working with artists, elders and facilitators to converse, collaborate and create a piece about migration and encounter. Workshops will begin the week of September 11, 2017.
For more information please call Kathleen: (902)561-1121 or send us an email at sound_communites@cbu.ca
Singing the Circle: Educator PD Event
www.singingthecirclepdday.eventbrite.com
Thanks to the generosity of our funding partners, we are pleased to offer this PD day free of charge.
Singing the Circle: Music Education from Birth to Adult
(Boardmore Playhouse, Cape Breton University)
Registration: 8:30-9:15 am
Welcome and Introductions: 9:15-9:30 am
Session I: 9:30-10:30: It All Starts With Singing (Ardelle Ries, U Alberta)
Nutrition Break: 10:30-10:45am
Session II: 10:45-11:45 am : Doing Away With Classroom Management: Teaching for Musical Transitions
LUNCH (NOON to 1pm)
Session 3: 1-2 pm: The Wonder of the Child Voice
Final Plenary Discussion: 2-3 pm
SESSION ABSTRACTS
Session I: It All Starts With Singing (Ardelle Ries, U Alberta)
In late 16th century, British composer, William Byrd (1543-1623) published one of the first English songbooks. Within this book, Byrd wrote of the wonder of singing and reasons why “all ‘men’ would learn to sing.” Designed to address the needs of both classroom music and choral—through songs, games, and dances—this session will focus on the importance of singing for musical, intellectual, and personal development and how Byrd’s ideas, although centuries’ old, remain true today.
Session II: Doing Away With Classroom Management: Teaching for Musical Transitions (Cathy Benedict, U Western Ontario)
Classroom management problems arise when teachers fail to understand that focused musical transitions are essential for successful lessons. What if, rather than managing children, we design lesson plans that flow so tightly music making is all we worry about? Participants will experience a series of elementary lesson plans that demonstrate musical activities and transitions that serve to facilitate safe, creative musical environments. Join us as we say ‘No’ to managing and ‘Yes’ to making music.
Session III: The Wonder of the Child Voice (Ardelle Ries, U Alberta)
Our voices, and especially our singing voices, are miraculous forces of nature designed to help us survive, to communicate, and to create! Children’s voices—flexible, adaptable, and resilient—move through many developmental stages. As we prepare to celebrate World Singing Day, this session will examine the singing journey from early years through to adolescence with suggestions for a sequential vocal curriculum and suitable repertoire.
Songwriting Workshops for Youth
Project Information
Songwriting Workshops: For Youth ages 12 to 18, there are three in-community workshops where youth will be working with singers and artist facilitators to co-create a music piece about immigration and encounter. There will also be mentors (Stewart MacNeil, Bryan Cherwick, and Robert Deveaux) at each of the locations giving information and telling stories of their experience or families experience with immigration to Canada and Cape Breton. For more information please call (902)563-1696. The deadline for registration is June 15th.
Songwriting Workshops for Youth
Project Information
Songwriting Workshops: For Youth ages 12 to 18, there are three in-community workshops where youth will be working with singers and artist facilitators to co-create a music piece about immigration and encounter. There will also be mentors (Stewart MacNeil, Bryan Cherwick, and Robert Deveaux) at each of the locations giving information and telling stories of their experience or families experience with immigration to Canada and Cape Breton. For more information please call (902)563-1696. The deadline for registration is June 15th.
Songs and Stories of Immigration and Encounter
More Updates Coming Soon
Project Information
Songwriting Workshops: For Youth ages 12 to 18, there are three in-community workshops where youth will be working with singers and artist facilitators to co-create a music piece about immigration and encounter. There will also be mentors (Stewart MacNeil, Bryan Cherwick, and Robert Deveaux) at each of the locations giving information and telling stories of their experience or families experience with immigration to Canada and Cape Breton. For more information please call (902)563-1696. The deadline for registration is June 15th.
Singing The Circle: Music Education from Birth to Adult
www.singingthecircle.eventbrite.comUpdate: Early bird registration: 15 September 2017, $65 + applicable fees
Last day to register in advance: 5 October 2017, $80 + applicable fees
Singing the Circle: Music Education from Birth to Adult
(Boardmore Playhouse, Cape Breton University)
Registration: 8:30-9:15 am
Welcome and Introductions: 9:15-9:30 am
Session I: 9:30-10:30: It All Starts With Singing (Ardelle Ries, U Alberta)
Nutrition Break: 10:30-10:45am
Session II: 10:45-11:45 am : Doing Away With Classroom Management: Teaching for Musical Transitions
LUNCH (NOON to 1pm)
Session 3: 1-2 pm: The Wonder of the Child Voice
Final Plenary Discussion: 2-3 pm
SESSION ABSTRACTS
Session I: It All Starts With Singing (Ardelle Ries, U Alberta)
In late 16th century, British composer, William Byrd (1543-1623) published one of the first English songbooks. Within this book, Byrd wrote of the wonder of singing and reasons why “all ‘men’ would learn to sing.” Designed to address the needs of both classroom music and choral—through songs, games, and dances—this session will focus on the importance of singing for musical, intellectual, and personal development and how Byrd’s ideas, although centuries’ old, remain true today.
Session II: Doing Away With Classroom Management: Teaching for Musical Transitions (Cathy Benedict, U Western Ontario)
Classroom management problems arise when teachers fail to understand that focused musical transitions are essential for successful lessons. What if, rather than managing children, we design lesson plans that flow so tightly music making is all we worry about? Participants will experience a series of elementary lesson plans that demonstrate musical activities and transitions that serve to facilitate safe, creative musical environments. Join us as we say ‘No’ to managing and ‘Yes’ to making music.
Session III: The Wonder of the Child Voice (Ardelle Ries, U Alberta)
Our voices, and especially our singing voices, are miraculous forces of nature designed to help us survive, to communicate, and to create! Children’s voices—flexible, adaptable, and resilient—move through many developmental stages. As we prepare to celebrate World Singing Day, this session will examine the singing journey from early years through to adolescence with suggestions for a sequential vocal curriculum and suitable repertoire.
Rescheduled! Romani Musicians: Scenes from Kosovo
ATTENTION – Exhibit opening and film screening has been rescheduled!
The photo exhibit will be on display all day at the McConnell Library, Friday, March 31st, 10-9pm; the film will be screened at 3:30 pm, Friday, March 31st. Dr. Pettan will be in the library to discuss the film and photos until 6 pm.
Sound Studies Initiative Upcoming Events: March 2017
Here is a message from one of our friends at the University of Alberta, Dr. Mary Ingraham, the Director of the Sound Studies Initiative about upcoming events at the end of this month at their university:
The Sound Studies Initiative at the University of Alberta is pleased to invite you to two events next week. Read on for details!
1. Distinguished Visitor: Dr. Svanibor Pettan
When: Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Sound Studies Initiative, 3-47 Old Arts Building, UAlberta North Campus
Cost: Free/All Welcome
This Tuesday, we welcome renowned ethnomusicologist Dr. Svanibor Pettan for a lecture on Romani musicians. Dr. Pettan’s visit is part of the Global Musics – Local Connections applied ethnomusicology project. This lecture is co-presented by the Wirth Institute, the Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology (CCE), and the Sound Studies Initiative at the University of Alberta.
This talk is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
2. @ Noon Documentary Screening: “A Tribute to the Music of the Southern Appalachian Mountains”
When: Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 from 12 – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Sound Studies Initiative, 3-47 Old Arts Building, UAlberta North Campus
Cost: Free/All Welcome
Join us Wednesday @ Noon for a three-part tribute to the rich musical and cultural traditions of rural Appalachia. We will be screening two short films, along with a live cameo performance by Edmonton’s premiere (and possibly only) old-time stringband, The Strawflowers.
The feature presentation is a documentary by John Cohen – “Roscoe Holcomb from Daisy, Kentucky” (2010). During a sojourn to eastern Kentucky in 1959 in search of local musicians, Cohen met Roscoe Holcomb (1911-81). Impressed by his powerful and unique singing and playing style, Cohen was instrumental in introducing Holcomb to a broader audience in North America and beyond. Cohen’s evocative film reveals a man whose music was shaped by the harsh demands of life in a region experiencing difficult times. In an effort to place Holcomb’s playing and singing within that cultural context, Cohen provides us with an unvarnished glimpse of life in coal country during the early 1960s, together with sampling of music and dance forms from the region.
We will also be screening a short film by Craig Evans on the celebrated annual Appalachian Stringband Festival, AKA ‘Clifftop’.
Roscoe Holcomb was a Folkways recording artist, as is John Cohen, who was a founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers. Craig Evans is an independent filmmaker. His DVD series on banjo builders is now part of the Smithsonian Folkways catalogue.
All are welcome, and light refreshments will be served. Popcorn will be provided courtesy of the Faculty of Law.
Have a wonderful week,
MARY INGRAHAM, PhD
DIRECTOR, Sound Studies Initiative
PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
Sound Studies Initiative
3-47 Arts Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton AB T6G 2E6
They’ve changed their name! Building on previous endeavours under the banner of folkwaysAlive!, they are blending their firm commitment to the stewardship of the Moses and Frances Asch Collection of Folkways Records with new initiatives based broadly in sound studies.
Effective 1 January 2017, their email address is: soundstudies@ualberta.ca and their web address is: http
Nèba Solo, the Master of the Balafon
In 2010, Professor Cherif Keita, two of his colleagues and his students of Carleton College(Minnesota) visited the Southern Malian town of Sikasso, where they called on his old friend Nèba Solo, the master of the Senoufo balafon. This is a piece is about friendship, music and the culture of Mali.
World Renowned Malian Musician, Lasssana Diabate!
Dear Colleagues, Friends,
Itinerary for Lassana’s Visit (Updated Thursday, Feb 17th at 8:15 am)
Wednesday, Feb 22nd at 1pm – Lassana will perform to introduce and close the CBU Library presentation “Viola Desmond’s Canada” with Wanda Robson and Dr. Graham Reynolds. Find more information about this event HERE. If you are unable to attend in person, you can join us via livestream at this link: https://youtu.be/vC14rV1xlf0
Thursday, Feb 23rd (daytime) – Lassana will work with Cape Breton youth in a workshop, “Intercultural Performance Laboratory” at the Centre for Sound Communities Studio.
Thursday, Feb 23rd at 4pm – Lassana will provide a music educator’s workshop at the Centre for Sound Communities Studio! Please bring any instruments such as wooden xylophones and mallets (for you and other workshop participants).
Friday, Feb 24th at 5pm – Lassana will engage in intercultural music-making with local musicians, as a means of “Celebrating African Musical Traditions!” Join us for this special event in honour of African Heritage Month. (Livestreaming may be available – stay tuned!)
Sunday, Feb 26th at 2pm – Lassana will perform in a house concert! Join him and local community members at A Paradise Found Bed & Breakfast (62 Milton Street, Sydney NS), and enjoy a chance to meet and chat with this extraordinary musician. $20 at the door; all proceeds go to the musician.
Tuesday, Feb 28th at 7pm– Lassana will be presenting The Sunjata Story: Glimpses of a Mande Epic – the first in a series of films as part of the Global Musics – Local Connections FILM FESTIVAL at the Cape Breton Regional Public Library, McConnell Branch!
This series of intercultural learning events is a partnership with Global Musics – Local Connections and the Centre for Sound Communities at Cape Breton University.
For more information about Lassana and his Cape Breton visit and events, please visit write us at sound_communities@cbu.ca or call Dr. Marcia Ostashewski at (Mobile) (780) 264-7624!
