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Not So Weird, When You Get to Know Them
Fine Arts Council president Dawn Marshall and Music Representative Kim Friesen Wiens greet visitors at their desk on Saturday for the ATA Carousel at the U of A's Faculty of Education.
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Dear Drama Teachers,
It is certainly a longer conversation than my “monthly tip” to exhaust how we might further our exploration of multicultural perspectives, First Nations and Canada’s black history! Last year I shared my work with play texts (set elsewhere) which address colonization and indigenous perspectives. One Yellow Rabbit, and their partnership with Making Treaty 7, have striven to cultivate cultural collaboration and reconciliation through the arts and now offer two pieces:
- Tlakentli - "In a performance midway between dance and theatre, two Indigenous artist from Mexico, of Nahua and Mixteco descent, share with us their quest for identity by drawing on their cultures and the history of their ancestors."
- The Napi Project in February – a performance which is an exploration of Blackfoot story. “The Blackfoot trickster Napi has been told in variations of different stories to youth in efforts to teach about morals and the choices we will face when becoming young adults.”
Young film makers also have time to submit to Dreamspeakers and the National Film Board playlists offer a great selection of Canadian films which address cultural diversity.
Final note, DJD this week is presenting their Juliet and Romeo. Artistic director, Kimberly Cooper, gives a masterclass on transforming a classic dramatic text and challenging our perspectives on culture and gender by reassembling a familiar story through beautiful use of dance, movement, dramatic languages and slam poetry. It has invigorated my thinking about how we might emulate these creative processes to address cultural issues.
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Black History Month:
This year I am excited to be focusing on Eleanore Collins for Black History Month. Eleanore Collins is 100 years old and was born in Edmonton. Her story is amazing and the music incredible. Here is a link to a CBC article from the fall.
Music Advocacy:
Otherwise, much of my thoughts this new year have been around ways that we can continue to advocate for the arts. The students in our schools are doing amazing things and it is our responsibility to make sure that message is heard. For that reason, I am challenging us to nominate students for the NUFSICISUM awards from the Coalition for Music Education in Canada.
Teachers are invited to nominate students who demonstrate a passion for music and who have made positive contributions to their school community. Do you have a student that comes to mind? Wouldn't it be great if we all took the time to nominate those students? I can just imagine how this can help spread the word about our amazing students and the amazing music that is happening in each of our schools.
For more information, check out their website; the deadline to apply is March 13. Happy Music Making!
Kim
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A little behind-the-scenes info about me, I just had my first child in June. As I watch my daughter grow and develop, it reinforces how intrinsic the arts are to human experience. While I was pregnant, certain music would get her moving and that has continued on the outside. She loves when I play music for her, sing to her, and dance with her. She has started moving and jumping when a song she enjoys comes on. She is fascinated by colour, and seems mesmerized by a pen or pencil gliding on paper. She’s discovering her own voice. The majority of her early development and experiences seem enhanced by, or connected to the arts. It would be my hope that by the time she starts school, she has ample opportunity to delve into the arts in order to explore her artistic identity, as well as solidify her understanding of concepts from other subject areas.
As we move towards Chinese New Year, look ahead to to Black History Month, the Buddhist holiday of Maka Bucha, Saint Patrick’s Day, and many other cultural celebrations; dance offers us an opportunity to explore culture through an innate art form. Not only does dance allow us to explore the deeper cultural meaning behind the movement within a multitude of cultures and societies, but it gives us a great opportunity in these chilly months to get our students moving. If you’re stuck on how to incorporate dance into your own classroom, here are some sample lessons you can use as a springboard to inspire your own dance lesson:
Please note that these lessons are meant as examples and that I am not the creator of any of these plans; any opinions stated in the lessons are those of the authors, and do not reflect mine or those of the Fine Arts Council of the ATA.
Stacy Kelba
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This month is Black History Month and what better way to celebrate then teaching our students about the songs, dances and composers who have influenced today’s artists?
At our school every day we play some music after lunch to help relax and focus our students for their learning in the afternoon. Each week I have chosen a composer to highlight. This month will be some jazz favorites like Duke Ellington, Scott Joplin, and Louis Armstrong. The students really enjoy learning about composers from different times and how they influenced the music that came after their time. It fits in really well with the Grade 4 music curriculum and also the listening component in all grades.
I am constantly looking for great literature to incorporate into my teaching. I found a book called “The Roots of Rap” by Carole Boston Weatherford and am looking forward to teaching my students some of the origins of the music that many of them enjoy.
Finally, there are some great songs such as Charlie Over the Ocean and Draw a Bucket of Water that can be incorporated into your classroom or music room. If you teach Grade 2, the GamePlan Grade 2 book has a game for Charlie Over the Ocean that my students really love. It is similar to duck, duck, goose and could also be used in the homeroom classroom or in gym class as well. There is also some great activities for Draw a Bucket of Water to teach the half note and a fun game that had the Grade 2 students smiling and giggling with their classmates.
Other information on different songs, composers and literature for Black History Month that can be found here. |
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Portrait of Portia White from U of A Representative, Dr. Kathy Robinson
Portia White (1911-1968) was one of the greatest voices in Canadian history and the first African Canadian singer of international renown. Portia was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, the 3rd of 13 children born to Izie and William White. Her father was pastor of the Cornwallis Street Church Baptist where Portia joined the choir at the age of 6. When she was 8 years old she learned an aria from Donizetti’s opera Lucia di Lammermoor that she sang in a radio competition and won first prize. Her career as a singer was launched!
Portia continued her musical training as she attended Dalhousie University and started her career as a teacher in Africville, a community founded by former slaves from the US and located outside of Halifax. Becoming aware of her great talent, several Canadians arranged for Portia to give concerts in Toronto and New York’s famed Town Hall, where in 1944 she was the first Canadian to sing. Portia immediately began giving in concerts in the US, Europe, Latin America and throughout Canada and she was recognized internationally for her interpretation of art songs and Negro spirituals. Portia’s grueling concert schedule caused her to leave the stage after only a few years to return to Toronto in 1952 and begin a career as a voice teacher. One of her star students was baritone Robert Goulet, who graduated from Edmonton’s Victoria School of the Arts.
Portia sang only a few concerts in the later years of her life, the most famous being a command performance for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip in 1964 in Charlottetown, PEI. After a long battle with cancer Portia May White died in 1968. She never made any studio recordings, but she can be heard today via a concert recording of a song recital entitled Think on Me. A documentary film of her life with that same titled is currently available.
Portia was the first African Canadian woman named “a person of national historical significance” by the Canadian government. She received many honors including a monument located outside of her father’s church in Truro, a postage stamp bearing her likeness and a special award for artists given annually by the Nova Scotian government.
Portia White’s family is also one of distinction. Writer George Elliott Clarke is a her great-nephew and politician Bill White (who was the first Black Canadian to run for federal office in Canada) and labour union leader Jack White were her brothers. She also had a special relationship with the well-known Viola Desmond whose profile will be shared tomorrow. Viola served as Portia’s hairdresser when she was concertizing.
For more information on Portia White:
- AMI Canadian Portraits
- Portia White: Think on Me 50 minute film on her life
- For Div. II students and beyond
- License may be required; check for availability)
- Portia’s life in pictures (soundtrack is not her singing)
- Children’s Book: Goodall, L., & Milkau, L. (2004). Singing towards the future: the story of Portia White. Toronto: Napoleon Pub
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Events in Alberta
The following events may be of interest to Alberta fine arts teachers, but are not organized by the Fine Arts Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association.
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Flying Canoe Volant Festival
January 30-February 1, 2020
At La Cité Francophone’s cultural winter event you will find curricular specific school programs that offer experiential learning to students from Kindergarten to Grade 9. The focus of their programming is on the sharing of our French-Canadian, First Nations and Métis collective stories, past and present. All programs are presented in both French and English.
Visit their website for more information
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Special Music Education: Two Workshops (on-line)
University of Alberta: Dr. Kimberly McCord, Instructor
These workshops examine current methods and materials for the inclusion of children with disabilities in music classes and ensembles. Participants will have opportunities to explore strategies and techniques that can maximize the potential and develop the musical talents of children with a variety of disabilities and disorders that include, learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, autism, intellectual disabilities and sensory disabilities. The course will consist of synchronous online sessions/discussions through Zoom at any location of a student’s choosing. Music specialists, classroom teachers, graduate students and all those interested in bringing rich, meaningful active music experiences to children with special needs will benefit from this course. Participants need access to high speed internet, headphones and a microphone to participate. For registration and additional information or contact Dr. Kathy Robinson.
Special Music Education Workshop #1:
- Saturday, February 8, 09:30 –12:00, 13:00 –17:00
- This on-line 6.5 hour workshop covers High Incidence Disabilities such as Specified Learning Disabilities, Speech Disorders, Emotional/Behavioral Disturbance, and Intellectual Disabilities
- Participants need access to high speed internet, headphones and a microphone to participate
Special Music Education Workshop #2:
- Saturday, March 14: 09:30 –12:00, 13:00 –17:00
- This on-line 6.5 hour workshop covers Low Incidence Disabilities such as Autism, Vision, Hearing, and Physical and Twice-Exceptional
- Participants need access to high speed internet, headphones and a microphone to participate
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Early Bird Puppet Power Conference Passes
Early Bird Puppet Power Conference Passes are available until World Puppetry Day on March 21, 2020
WP Puppet Theatre is excited to have presenters coming from as far away as Malaysia, Chile and India. Stay tuned over the next few weeks to see who they have lined up!
Early Bird passes include $70 worth of savings, priority selection for hands-on workshops, performances, talks, and a ticket to CAOS's Saturday Night Dolly Wiggler performance.
Puppet Power 2020 will take place May 29 to 31, 2020 at the Calgary Central Library. This year Puppets Go Existential! Read more.
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January EPSB Arts Education Update
Below is a link to the January 2020 issue of the Arts Education Update.
The Arts Education Update is a monthly document created to share news, events and opportunities with District arts education teachers. This document has been created to help keep you up-to-date with events and opportunities.
Please note that two new Google+ Communities have been created as follows. Please feel free to join!
Stay warm,
Jorgianne and Tracy
Consultants
Curriculum and Resource Support
Edmonton Public School Board
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