Meghan Harnum

For my EL Grant project, I wanted to merge my love of art and music into a multidisciplinary educational program offered to a group of kids at La Cabane, a local non-profit. In doing so, my goal was to utilize my formal training in art education in conjunction with my extensive but informal musical background as a drummer and songwriter in order to implement a “rock camp” style element into my internship with this wonderful organization. 

Throughout the course of my work term with La Cabane, which took place between January and May, I was able to successfully deliver a wide variety of immersive workshops/lessons to a small group of participants between the ages of six and eleven. Our time together was divided into three blocks. The first two blocks centred around creating visual artwork inspired by music, and the final block contained the aforementioned rock band component. The overall purpose of this process-oriented series of workshops was to prepare the kids for an end-of-semester showcase wherein they would show their art and perform an original song on stage for their community. 

Through embracing a hands-on approach to art making and musical composition, my colleague/assistant educator from ARTE 330 and I led the kids through many exciting projects. In our first workshop together, we discussed the role of percussion instruments in music, focusing on rhythm and patterns, and then painted and assembled shakers and drums. The following week, we presented a lesson entitled “Draw What You Hear!” during which the kids learned about abstract expressionism and then painted while listening to different music genres with the goal of conveying how each genre made them feel through abstract art. In the following weeks, the participants invented unique imaginary instruments, constructed original instruments using a wide variety of recycled materials, designed show posters, and created a band logo which was then screen printed on t-shirts that they wore during the final showcase. 

The kids spent the final four workshops of the semester exploring different musical instruments and writing an original song. Drawing experience from my time as a band coach and instrument instructor with Girls Rock camps, my intention was to have the kids choose an instrument, learn the basics of how to play it, form a band, write a song, and perform the song at a fun-filled showcase in front of their families and friends. With the help of fellow artist, musician, Concordia student, and Girls Rock alumni Davita Guslits, the children were given the opportunity to explore a variety of musical instruments (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, electric drums, and keyboard). Once the kids chose their instruments, we then guided them through playing together as a band and supported them as they jammed and wrote their very first song together as a group. In addition to renting and borrowing instruments, we also rented a P.A. system and microphones so that each of the kids could sing on stage. 

The biggest challenge we faced was figuring out how to work within the time constraints given for the project. While a typical rock camp takes place over the course of an entire week and is jam-packed with workshops, lessons, and daily practice sessions, Davita and I did our best to fit everything we could into just four 1.5-hour afternoon sessions. It was quite difficult at times, but in the end, it came together just as we’d hoped; the kids had a wonderful time performing, and we were both really proud of them. I am grateful for the funding from the Experiential Learning Office, which allowed us to see this project through. It was a great success and a very rewarding experience overall.

This article was written by Meghan Harnum and edited by Juan Espana.