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October 20th, 2016

10/20/2016

2 Comments

 

MEET SAM!

Interview by Stephanie Madsen 
This past summer I was lucky enough to have a chance to sit down and talk with Sam Spensley and her mom, Krista, about their experience with the Legacy Children’s Foundation. As some of you may know, Sam got a chance to perform at the Juno’s this year with Canadian singer/songwriter, Lights. If you got a chance to see her performance you know how amazingly talented this girl, who’s been taking lesson’s with the Gift of Music program for about 6 years, can be. Unmistakable thanks to her blue ponytail and laid back nature, Sam was a delight to interview! 
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When did you first become interested in music?
I’ve always been interested in music because of my dad; he was a big influence because he was listening to music constantly as I was growing up. Mom: He has a story for every song.
 
How do you mean?
Mom: well, he makes up a little story to go along with every song. It’s how he remembers them; he’ll forget anything else, but never a song.
 
What kind of music was he playing around the house when you were growing up?
The Beatles, especially Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, disco, metal, rock. Everything really, from the Bee Gees to Led Zeppelin
 
What is your favourite song right now?
I’d probably have to say Move On by Wit Lowry. I really love the powerful lyrics.
 
Tell me a bit more about your experience at the Juno’s, how did this opportunity happen?
I went to a TD’s MusicCounts event and played with Chantel Kraviatzic, that was awesome. Then my mom sent an email to them to say thank you and that started the whole thing. After that they asked if I’d like to play with Lights … it was unreal.
 
In two words, how would you describe the experience?
Mind. Blowing.
 
How was Lights to work with?
Absolutely so down to earth and sweet! She always made sure I was comfortable and prepared.
 
Were you a fan of Lights’ before you met and performed with her?
Yes, since I was 9! I saw a music video of her on the Family Channel, the one with the paint on the white house, and loved it!

​How did it feel to perform in front of such a large audience, watching both live and at home?

Pretty crazy! I was really nervous but I couldn’t actually see anyone once I was onstage because the stage lights were so bright. I think the best way to describe it would be empowering. It was empowering!
 
You said you were really nervous, how did you deal with those nerves and give that amazing performance that everyone saw?
Take a few deep breaths, I kind of had one, I guess, breakdown? The morning before. [Lights and I] had been practicing over skype and it was all going well and then it just hit me! But my mom was there and she helped me through it and after a few deep breaths it was okay.
 
Who’s been your #1 supporter through all your musical endeavors?
Definitely my parents, they’ve always been very supportive.
 
What is your biggest goal outside of music right now?
Get my high school diploma. It’s one of those thing like, don’t love it but I gotta do it!
 
After you finish your education would you ever consider pursuing music professionally?
Yes, I’m very interested!
 
What could you see yourself doing? Performing or more behind the scenes stuff?
I think I’m a pretty loud and in-your-face kind of person so definitely performing!
 
Outside of music, what else are you really interested in?
Cosmetology, especially [hair] colouring and stage makeup!
 
Your blue hair has become your signature, did you do it yourself?
Yeah! Actually I’ve been doing it for years so I’ve gotten a lot better at it! It’s fun! 
2 Comments

Music to our Ears

7/19/2010

4 Comments

 
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Throughout the last year, students from Morley Community School have been the fortunate recipients of first-rate musical opportunities, thanks to Legacy Children's Foundation's Gift of Music program.  

Situated on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Morley reserve is home to the Stoney Nakoda First Nations.  It is an area filled with warm people, rich cultural traditions, and beautiful landscapes.  However, the Stoney Nakoda First Nations also face unique challenges, and often children and youth are most susceptible to distressing influences such as addiction, gang involvement, violence and suicide.  Despite these circumstances, the Stoney Education Authority receive 30% less funding than provincially-funded school boards.  It is for these reasons that the Legacy Children's Foundation Gift of Music program is such a welcome and necessary fixture at Morley Community School.  

It is refreshing to hear the crisp guitar licks and muffled instructions echoing throughout the busy hallways on a Tuesday afternoon. The program indeed has a pleasant effect on the school's ambience, and has produced very real and positive outcomes for the students participating.

Guitar teacher Verne Luchinski has been coming to Morley to teach guitar since July 2009.  He has been teaching 8 students individually for half-hour lessons, and has also been co-facilitating an after-school band program.

"I enjoy coming out here," he says.  "I think I've developed friendships with all of [the students], which is very important to me.  And I think that musically I've seen them progress - they all progress at different speeds - but they've been progressing."

When asked about any stand-out students, Luchinski is quick to point out 14-year old Tashina Ear.

"Tashina is great.'," Luchinski says.  "She's a very quiet girl to begin with, but I never saw her smile until November or December.  She started smiling, started to open up, crack the door a little bit, and she started telling me things.  She's just developed a real keen interest in learning certain songs now and she's brought her friends alongside her as she's growing.  You can see her confidence build as she shows her friends who haven't played guitar before how to play guitar.  Very cool.  She's come to her lessons pretty much all the time, so that's pretty good to see.  I've had her the longest out of all the students because she started in the summer, so I've seen this over time - the confidence building and the friendship developing.  She's started to become a good little player, learning on her own."

When asked about Luchinski, Ear doesn't hesitate to praise her teacher.  "He's fun," she says.  "He explains it well, so that's why I'm interested in it."

The effects of the Gift of Music program can also be seen through the improvement of students'  academic performance; teachers have reported an improvement in attendance in some students since they began lessons. Ear confirms this. "I come to school more often now," she confesses.  "Thank you for coming here and teaching me."

Irfan Pirbhai
Stoney Education Authority

4 Comments

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