Marching to the beat of my own drum

So there I was, sitting in the First Nation Centre. I had walked in with my nose in a book and didn't look until after I had sat down, so I didn't notice it. When I looked up, I couldn't believe that I had missed it. There, in the middle of the room, was a giant drum. It was easily the size of myself if I were to curl up into a ball.

Pow-Wow Drum

This drum, which I later learned to be a Pow-Wow drum due to its larger size and the ability for multiple people to sit around it and play, drew me into it. I sat down, tentatively picked up a drum stick, and after a furtive look around to see if I would offend anybody through my actions, I began to play. It was noting fancy; just a simple repeating beat. I don't know how long I sat there, playing the same beat over and over again. After what seemed like a long time someone sat down across from me, picked up a second drum stick and began to play the same beat with me, adding their power to my own. Then a third person sat down and did the same. After a few moments the tempo began to increase and the volume with it. I was hypnotized by the steady, throbbing pulses that were echoing around the room. Even in my distracted state I noticed someone close the door, as by this time the sonorousness tones emanating from the drum ceased to be the sound of three separate drummers; it was now as though there was a giant with one stick producing a sound that no mere mortal could ever hope to make. Then finally, after our speed had increased to a point that it was almost no longer manageable, and without a single word or glance to each other, we all struck the drum will one final blow that reverberated throughout the room.

It was quite the intense experience, and I can understand how drums are often used in many cultures' spiritual practices. I wonder if there is a way that I can incorporate this into the classroom and have the students feel the same oneness that I felt with my other drummers. I can imagine having the students connecting with each other through this raw and primal style of music; nothing but a basic beat.

As a final note, merging into visual arts, here is a picture of a drum that I made last year. I cut and stretched the hide, created the strips to tie it down, sanded the frame and sewed the leather drum head. And of course I painted it. Tradition dictates that one gives their first drum away, so I gifted it to my step-father.

My first drum

A little art in my day

I had an enjoyable time this morning participating in an event that my board game club arranged entitled Paintstravaganza. You see, my club acquired a board game entitled 'Super Dungeon Explore', a fun if slightly eccentric experience. Unlike your average game, the pieces in this game don't come assembled or painted. For that is part of the fun for the owners of the game.

So that is how I spent my Saturday morning. Sitting with a small group of like-minded individuals in a haven for the nerdy while we learned different painting techniques from an experienced painter of miniatures. It was a fun, precise and relaxing way to pass the time. And it has a practical usage beyond painting pieces just for this game. If one was to really get into it, one could paint miniatures for many different activities. Of course, its really easy to get sucked into this if you're not careful. It can become an expensive, time consuming passion that can fill shelves and shelves.

I am not an experienced painter, but I do truly enjoy it. It is always nice to find artistic activities that align with other interests, in this case my penchant for nerdy games. This also gives me hope for finding art connections with my future students. Maybe they'll be interested in the painting of miniatures that appeals to me, or maybe together we'll find some other form of art that they'll enjoy just as much.

And we danced...

I've been giving more thought to dance lately. I've never been much of a dancer. At weddings or other celebrations my dancing is something of a novelty. Something done in a mockery of form and grace; something even I laugh at, for it is all I can do really. I can slow dance I suppose, though I don't know if what I do even has a name. It is more of a hold-her-left-hand-and-put-my-other-on-her-lower-back-and-shuffle-back-and-forth-to-the-rhythm more than anything. I've never really taken the opportunity to study actual dancing. Waltz, swing, square; all of these I know exist, but I've never seen a purpose in learning it.

But maybe it was because I never knew about the multitude of dance that existed. Maybe if I was shown at an early age how dance can be about more than learning structured moves and choreographed steps I might have been more into it. I say today techniques for getting kids into dance that I thought were really cool. Dancing with eyes closed to remove self-consciousness. Starting off small and building to greater fields of motion. These are things that I can see myself using to get kids of any age excited about dancing. And I have plans to do just that.

 (Step Dancing for beginners as done by Victor Sho)

While I haven't finalized the above video as what I'm going to use, this is what I want to teach my class. Step dancing. While I initially thought about leaping right into this fun style of dance, I think that some of the aforementioned techniques might be a better start. It will get the kids moving and energized, and maybe they'll go into this feeling a bit more comfortable. The only question is do I ask them to perform? I cannot insist that they perform, can I? I mean, I could I guess, but I'd never want my teacher to do that to me. Maybe ease them into the idea? Is dance something that has to be performed? Is it just as valid if no one ever sees it?


Again, more questions then answers. Then again, I don't know if I will ever have more answers than questions. Nor would I want to I think.

And just because I can, and because in dancing timing is everything, ladies and gentlemen, once again I give you Chris Goodwin performing Timing is Everything by Garrett Hedlund.
 

(Once again, swiped from Chris Goodwin's YouTube Channel)

Artists, the classroom and me.

I have never been to a 4Cats Arts Studio, but from how the literature I picked up from their Prince George location describes their sessions, their approach to kid's art sounds awesome. Each session is dedicated to the study of specific artist's history and work, with the students participating in age-appropriate art activities in the style and spirit of the artist. From their website: "4Cats kids create imaginative works using professional quality art materials. Kids get to work in a variety of mediums, taking inspiration from the works of famous artists. If we are studying Andy Warhol, we silk screen and make ink blot paintings. If we are studying Picasso, we create acrylic on canvas cubist paintings and ceramics, if we are studying Frida Kahlo, we make paper-mache and paint acrylic on canvas self-portraits.You get the picture!"

Taken without malice from http://www.4cats.com/

 

That whole approach sounds like something that I think would be really useful in the classroom. Making connections between real people and art, as well as between art and real life. My only concern is that I might not have enough art talent or knowledge to do these famous artisans justice. I mean, I can look up their information and styles on the internet or in resource books, but even then I am just parroting what others have said about them. Now, before you say anything, I know that one does not have to be good at art in school. All that matters is that you try. And I am totally on board with that considering my own less-than-impressive art skills.But I feel that I might lack the enthusiasm that is required to really make this click with the students.

One of my cooperating teachers told me how last year her class had a visiting artist who came by once a week to do focused projects with the students and I though that that was a great idea. A specialist who knows the specifics about the artists, their styles and great kid-friendly ways of introducing them to the students. And I wish that there were more specialists like that in all of the schools every year. Many schools have music teachers, why not art teachers?

Maybe I am just putting too much thought into this. I know that it is not necessary to go into great detail about artists with visual arts. I can make connections to other things like culture and society, and I can show them my attempts at a few different art styles. But what if there is that one kid whose whole life would be changed by knowing that other people have seen things the way they do? One students whose world would be that much better if they knew that there is art out there (that I as a teacher don't know about) from the same point of view that they see the world from? I know that no one can know everything, but this thought is nagging upon me.

Bah, too much negativity towards the end. Time to lighten things up. Take it away Chris!

(Shamelessly Stolen from Chris Goodwin's YouTube Page)

A trip to the Theatre!

I went to a play this evening at Theatre North West, and though it was a comedy set on a farm, I could not help but be reminded of teaching. The play is called "Letter from Wingfield Farms", starring Rod Beatie as Walt Wingfield and everyone else.

As a one man show, it fell upon one actor to keep an entire theatre entertained for almost two hours. He used a multitude of voices, postures tones and facial expressions to portray many characters of different ages, genders and backgrounds. Rod Beatie talked, telling stories, relaying experiences, and the crowd hung on his every word. It was rather like watching a teacher holding the attention of a class. I suppose that in a way all good teachers are part actors, using their dramatic skills of entertainment to snare students' attention in order to teach them. It would certainly explain why I have both a penchant for the theatre as well as the drive to become a teacher. Now all I have to do is prevent my natural inclination for overacting from interfering with teaching the students.

Something else of note that I saw while at Theatre North West was the TrueNorth New Works project. 2015 will mark several important events here in good old Prince George, including the city's 100th anniversary, the Canada Winter Games and Theatre North West's 20th anniversary. As such, Theatre North West has arranged TrueNorth New Works, an initiative that will offer play development opportunities to local playwrights, with one lucky finalist presenting their work as an opening act in TNW's February 2015 during the Canada Winter Games. For those with the theatre skills this could be a great opportunity.

For those of us without such skills, do not fret, for there are yet more things that are being offered this month by TNW to foster interest in the dramatic arts. Theatre talks, tours and even a Vlog (that is video blog for you non-digital natives).

 

And just for fun, the first episode of the TNW Vlog. Let's meet the team!