Released on May 24, 2016
A brand new year-long program called Songwriting for Nature is being launched by the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM).Funded by Environment Canada in partnership with Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area, high school students throughout Saskatchewan are invited to apply for the program, which will deepen their appreciation for the natural world through the songwriting process.
Program participants will work with three local songwriters to generate song ideas and lyrics inspired by the Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area (NWA). The songwriters include Megan Nash, BreakOut West 2016 Western Canadian Music and Industry Award Nominee (Songwriter of the Year), RSM Curator of Human Ecology and accomplished musician Glenn Sutter, and Regina-based singer/songwriter Ryan Hicks.
“Music is an effective way to communicate thoughts, ideas and emotions,” RSM Curator of Human Ecology Glenn Sutter said. “The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is excited to take part in this brand new project and explore ways that songwriting and the beauty of Last Mountain Lake can help people reconnect to nature.”
Successful applicants will go on two chaperoned field trips to the NWA, one in September 2016 and one in May 2017. During these trips, students will learn about song structure, and strategies for crafting lyrics and melodies. They will also learn techniques to improve songwriting by capturing their impressions of NWA through journaling, photography, visual art and more.
Throughout the school year, students will work with the facilitators to develop their ideas and songs for a temporary museum exhibit and a public performance in June 2017. Participants will deepen their connection to nature, be mentored by songwriters who will help them to develop as musicians, and will also contribute to research about humans and their connection to nature.
The 2016-17 program is a pilot project; applicants should act quickly as there is space for just twenty participants.
Applications will be accepted until the end of May, and successful applicants will be contacted in early June. Learn more and apply at www.songs4nature.ca or the Songwriting 4 Nature Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Songwriting-For-Nature-861354373968420/?fref=ts.
This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of the Environment.
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For more information, contact:
Jill Sveinson
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5781
Email: jill.sveinson@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-527-8152