Mitch Dureault is teaching local kids how to play the fiddle. (submitted photo/Eliza Doyle)

By Derek Cornet

musical learning

Music program hits the right notes

Feb 4, 2020 | 12:28 PM

Eliza Doyle is proud of how a one-year musician-in-residency program in Stanley Mission is progressing.

The program began in September 2019 with the arrival of Erik Mehlsen, who taught community members an array of instruments including bass, cello, electric guitar, drums and the keyboard. He worked in Stanley Mission for about three months and Doyle said he mostly worked with high school students.

“Each artist was supposed to be here for three months, so what I started doing was doubling up on instructors because you can get way more done when you have two people on the ground,” she said. “We’re working with the community, the high school, with elementary school, and the radio station.”

Doyle is currently in Stanley Mission, along with Mitch Dureault, who is leading the fiddling program at the elementary school. He has been working with up to 50 kids and Doyle noted the Elders are happy about it because it’s been a long time since the youth had fiddles in their hands. At the Stanley Mission Winter Festival this month, the students will perform Feb. 26 to open the Grand Ole Opry Show.

As part of the residency, Doyle was able to launch a music career work experience class at the high school. It will be a 10, 20 or 30 level elective and will offer a credit to those who learn to play an instrument, as well as other aspects of hosting a concert. So far, Doyle mentioned 17 students have signed up and she will speak to them about how it will all work Wednesday.

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“It’s really exciting because that’s another part of the mentorship program,” she said. “The mentorship aspect is coming along really well. We have a couple people from the community who are helping us lead the jams, the coffee houses and the lessons, which is exactly what we wanted.”

Doyle is also busy working on Girls Rock Camp, which is scheduled for Feb. 17 to 21. It builds upon a trip she took to the main event in Saskatoon with five local girls last year. Doyle said the girls had a good time, but much of the programming wasn’t relevant to the issues they’re faced with living in the North.

The Girls Rock Camp is meant to empower young girls in the community, as well as introduce them to various aspects of being in a band. They will write songs and perform them Feb. 21 during a special evening concert.

“We’re trying to devise the camp from the perspective of the community,” Doyle said. “We are going to be working with women, Elders and youth.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno