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Lakeland Public Television presents Common Ground brought to you by the
Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
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Welcome to this episode of Common Ground.
We are at Solway school for a pirate play and a lesson in the importance of
musical theater in education.
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My name is Mary Boranian. I'm a second grade teacher at Solway School.
I've been at Solway school for 5 years but I'm a veteran teacher
I've been 34 years in the Bemidji school district. I use to work
in child development in Bemidji School district and that is how I got to know Cate Belleveau.
Cate and I got together last summer and we wrote a
Region II Arts Council grant to do a play with my second grade students.
Come on in second grade. We started rehearsal on Monday
and we will be done with the whole play in nine days. Perfect.
The play is Pirates Don't Change Diapers. It's a story
written by Melinda Long. Cate went ahead and asked
for permission from Melinda to write it into reader's theater.
So she changed it to script form and she has rehearsing
that story with my students.
I'm Cate Belleveau and I have the distinct pleasure of working with
the students here in Solway School in Ms Mary Boranian's class.
She is a huge supporter of creativity, enrichment and the arts.
So she went ahead and wrote a Legacy grant
we were awarded that grant and it was to let me serve as artist in residency
to teach not only a full production but to try
to sneak in whatever I could, a lot of theater skills and understanding
with little second graders. Mary reading "The head pirate climbed out of the boat.
and yelled. Ahoy there mateys."
I wrote the script that is real student friendly and it's based
on the book Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long. That's our
lets practice it. They will not
change a diaper.
Pee-you! So we got permission
and I turned it into a script. I've used it before with
students in theater camp. It works really great because it's highly
funny, highly energetic. It's perfect because it's a very child friendly
script. Just kind of a fun show to put on in a quick period of time.
In 9 days we can put on a production.
I think we still need to work on the words though wouldn't you agree. Yeah, so let's keep working
on singing it then we will add the dance.
?There's lots of stuff that pirates do. That pirates do, do do.
They wear a patch, they all say "yarr", they eat a lot of goo.
And if they're bad, they walk the plank, and if they're good they don't.
And if they're really, really fine,
the gold they get to count.
There's lots of stuff that pirates don't. That pirates don't, don't don't.
They don't wear suits, they don't wear ties. In fact I hear they won't ?
Hello, I'm Anna Larson and I'm the music teacher
at Solway. We have an exciting
week the second graders are working on a play with Cate.
?Will not change a diaper! ?
Pee-You
Mary Boranian, the teacher.
Today in our class
We worked on the songs and the choreography. Alright let's get up
I know we still have some words a little weak but let's get up and do our actions.
I was one of those students in my generation we were able to do a lot of
sports and the arts. Getting a little bit trickier in the generations now.
But when I was young I was a basketball player, volleyball player, tennis, softball
all those things. But I also had a passion for the theater and the arts.
and did both. We're going to do I'm proud pirate and I'm
dig you got it. Dig Dig.
Let's do that again. 1, 2 ready go... Dig
Dig, dig, dig. What comes next? The bubble gum
So it works to call it the bubble gum foot. That bubble gum foot is not moving
pivoting like a basketball player. Here we go. One
two, So I did theater in high school and college.
and as an adult I founded the Mask and Rose Women's theater collective.
We did that so women's strong stories could be heard.
There is many fascinating women around the planet and they have substantive
and rich lives and we wanted those stories to be heard.
But the secondary of Mask and Rose is that we also continue to build up the theater skills.
of the youth in this region. So we do a lot of large theater productions
and theater camps to build up the skills of the kids.
Dig dig dig, dig,
one two three, goon.
I am an arts advocate and Cate and I both
really believe in the arts for everybody.
And second graders are so eager and so curious
and it's a perfect age to do a play.
Cate and I have a background in gifted and talented education. This is an enrichment
piece and it is terrific for everyone. I believe
in teaching children so they discover their strength.
This is great. Are there any kids in here that write with their left
hand instead of right hand? I knew it. This is going to feel
really weird Bemjamen and Sophia because we are going to expect you guys to do opposite
of what your body wants you to do. We're going to expect you to put up
your right leg and your left arm.
That's going to feel odd to you. So right leg
Da da, da, da,
Let's keep doing that til it feels comfortable. We're walking the plank.
into the crocodiles. Theater is a fantastic art form
I call it kind of the queen of the art forms. Because it is very collaborative.
in nature. You are bringing in visual art, dance
of course the theater voice, story telling, play write. So it's such an amazing
gathering of all of the arts in one location. For young
students what I have always seen happen is their confidence level grows.
To find their own voice when they are young and to be able to memorize lines,
and push towards a level of excellence that builds their confidence.
I think when you see people that have been exposed to theater they have such a sense of
presence and confidence in their regular day to day life. It's really important
to give children a voice. When we
put children as the focus.
It let's them shine in their individual ways.
So it can bring out every child.
It can bring out their kinesthetic
or their visual, or their musical passion.
It can bring out their speaking voices.
It can just enrich their life but also help them grow into
confident interesting individuals that share
their strengths. I'm a believer that it's not what
you know, it's what you do with what you know. We have only
been working on the play for 2 days. It's amazing
how I can already see the progress that
the students are making individually, as well as a group.
You need that team work to do something like
the project like of the play. Theater equips students again with knowing
that they are capable of their voice being heard and clearly heard.
Then I think the piece that is sort of a by product
is even though you can shine as a star in a theater
production. It is still so contingent on collaboration
and ensemble work. It's such a gathering of so many talented individuals
on the stage and in the background. That then they end up knowing what it takes to
be something bigger than just themselves. That builds a level
of camaraderie and community that is really important. Fingers together.
I'm going to go slow motion and you do it slow motion with me.
"And if they're bad they walk the plank
and if their good they don't."
We've only been at this for two days. So what you are seeing
is really new for all of them. But through the year we've been practicing
stage presence. We've done poetry readings. We've read scripts.
Everyday they have opportunity to use their speaking voice
to be in front of a group of people.
As we put this together with Cate the joy for me is watching them interact
with another positive adult. Kids can't have too many of those.
Cate has so much excellence and experience
in teaching and in theater. She brings with
it a freshness and a vivaciousness that is addictive
and challenging. The kids are
learning a lot. The research is there and I'm an educator
by trade. I taught gifted and talented programs for many years
in the catholic school district. Everyone knows
if you go into any research that when you incocate art into a school
If you are looking for levels of academic achievement
rising that is the way that you are going to do it is to have art and study of
language incocated into schools. We are very fortunate in Minnesota because
we collectively as a state decided that art and protection of the environment were important.
And we dedicated of course our legacy funds to do that. This wouldn't
be happening if it wasn't for that collective vision that we need to keep the arts
in schools. So theater to me again is
one of those collaborative thing much like team sports where it is something above and beyond
you. A lot of times with theater though we are not just selecting always just
a few students. I've had 60 kids in plays.
Where everyone feels like they are part of the process.
That the students have to integrate their different
skills to do a play. It's not just about
voice. It's about movement. It's about interacting with a team.
It's about sharing the space and having
patience. It's about learning something new and taking risks.
Make you're pirate face Sophia.
Let's try that one more time. Nice straight line.
Face the audience. What two words do we use to get hooked up? And if
Right One, two ready go.
"And if their really really fine, their gold
they get to count." Smile arrgh.
Good Alright what's next. Well today they had too
coordinate their singing, with their dancing.
And anytime you coordinate your
voice with actions it is difficult.
It takes every bit of you to think about the motions
think about the physicality, thinking about
your voice. Are you being heard? Are you remembering the words?
Are you singing in key? There is just so much
They are having fun and doing a terrific job. It's just integrating
all the itty bitty pieces. I stepped out cause I wanted to kinda watch you.
What's the thing about the plank? Yes the lead characters
really have to carry the ball. And we are very fortunate all the kids are talented.
Two of the s students are expected to take the scripts home and work a little bit with
their parents. But I'm trying to take that pressure off by spending a lot of time in the classroom
as well drilling their memorization with them. Here we go 1, 2 ready
bounce. There you go. Get in line honey.
Dig. Sing. I think the biggest
joy for me working with young people, is to see their confidence level
rise. Again they saw themselves as an individual
which is normal for a child to say it's just me. But when they rise above
just me into something that is bigger than themselves you will see
it on their faces when they perform that night. It will be almost a level of ecstasy.
A level of feeling such joy and a profound sense of
achievement. That they worked really hard to get to something that wasn't
easy, but that they can be really proud of.
Little second graders are capable of that. I always set the bar that there are bad
productions, mediocre productions. I ask them do you want a good production? Usually their hands
go flying up and then I go nope wrong answer. Excellent and then I
try to layout to them what are kind of the parameters for getting to excellent.
Kids will go as far as you set the bar for them. So that's really important
to me. In children's lives they need to have someone
pass mediocrity and pushing them to excellence. And yes second graders are capable
of excellence. Everyone is.
If their good so very good they often
will get hyper. 1, 2 ready go
It's a whole brain activity.
As they practice it feels clumsy, they feel unsure
am I going to remember this. The more they practice
the more they correct. The more they change
what they are doing and get sync with everybody else. It all becomes
integrated and it all becomes second nature. So when they
do the performance there is probably not a whole lot of thinking.
Because it becomes natural. But during the practice
stage the I have to try it again. I have to try it again.
and just having the patience to do that is really
important skill. What the viewers may not know is that Mary wrote the grant
and sometimes even with art people there is a misunderstanding
that little people, young people don't need art enrichment in their lives.
I mainly work with adults and teenagers in my theater world.
But I do so strongly believe that young people
exposed to this it can be life changing.
When you put an artist in residency in schools, I know my husband is a sculptor has gone into
schools I have as well. When that spark
is the one that gives a child a vision of what they want to be or what they want to strive for
That can be life changing. You can be the one person who makes them strive
for something that they didn't even know was out there. That's the thing I'd like people
to know is that young people need exposure to the arts as well.
There is no learning without risk taking.
You have to step it up. You have to try things
you thought you could never do. Even from day 1
when we had a few reluctant learners and they were being very bashful.
They were thinking in their mind that they couldn't do this.
Already I've seen them try and try
and really taking a liking and an interest to the process.
The grant is the Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota
through grants from the Region 2 Arts Council. Thanks to a legislative appropriations
for the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. It's because
of all Minnesotan that we have this money available. Also
First National Bank of Bemidji, they gave us the seed money
and believe from the get go. Solway's school principal Tammy
Wesley has been very instrumental in supporting creativity.
Karen Bradley, musician and retired teacher
she has just been on board from the beginning as well. The Solway PTO
also gave us seed money. I tried, I didn't get the
grant and so this winter I rewrote it and resubmitted it.
The thing I had to sell was
second graders yes can do a play. It's important at a young age
have students work with many positive people. Not just the teachers
or parents in their lives. So we got the grant and right away
oh my gosh. It's just been so lively and energetic
It's just been amazing.
This is all about team building my class is a team
each child is a vital important part of the production.
It's a win win for everybody. Hard work
is how we get our confidence. If it's not hard we won't get
much confidence. It's really teaching them a lot about perseverance and
patience and sharing the stage. ? ?
There's lots of stuff that pirates do. That pirates do, do, do.
They wear a patch, they all say "yarr, they eat a lot of goo.
And if they're bad, they walk the plank, and if they're good they don't.
And if they're really, really fine, the gold they get to count.
There's lots of stuff that pirates don't. That pirates don't, don't don't.
They don't wear suits, they don't wear ties. In fact I hear they won't.
And if they're good, so very good, they often will get hyper.
But one thing they will never do.
They will not change a diaper. ? ?
Pee You!
applause
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? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
Two years ago, I won
the flutist of the year award. I was the youngest to ever receive
that award at the Native American Music Awards. Then this past year
my bro and I Frank Waln did a song called
Hear My Cry. And we won song single of the year for that
song last week at the Native American Music Awards.
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
It's always an honor.
We always go into it not expecting to win. Just to
be nominated and up against
you know the caliber of musicians that are involved.
This year some of the nominees were Rickey Medlocke
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jana Mashonee,
and so just stacked full of talent. So to win
is always an honor. Especially this year with having so many other great artists
submitting and nominated as well.
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
Oh it was amazing.
I got to take my younger brother with me. It was his first time to the Native American
Music Awards. We took a road trip out there and
I was performing. So I arrived on Thursday
and did sound checks and then Friday was the day of the show.
So many great performers that performed live
As I said they had Blackfoot, Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Nellie Furtado performed. Jana Mashonee performed
myself many other artists.
So it was a great show, great experience, a lot of fun just hanging out with friends.
and other colleagues and contemporaries in the business.
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
?native american flute music ?
When I was younger I grew up
in Alaska and had the opportunity
to meet the members of the band by the name of
Medicine Dream. I would always listen to the native flute music.
I loved it.
Watching them really inspired me. Member of that group
Paul Pike he's also a flute player. I asked my dad
to get me a flute and it was kind of like
you'll just play it for
a little bit and never touch it again.
So after a couple weeks of asking he finally got it for me.
it was quite the opposite. I never put it down. I remember road trips
with the family where uncles and aunties wanted to strangle me because
I was just playing non-stop behind their head in the back of the car.
I just fell in love with it. I just never put it down and it brought
me a lot of peace in my life and helped me get through a lot of hard times.
I guess this year I've been playing now about 15 years
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
It's pretty much I don't
actually write as actually write the
song out note by note. Obviously there is composition
in how you develop the song. You know character
of the song. Style techniques you put into the song.
So there is a composition process just not as you
would write classical music note by note. Every time
at least for me every time I play a song it's a little bit different.
At least for me I put my heart and my feeling into it when I'm playing.
You know sometimes you might play it just a tad different
depending on how your feeling. The emotion you want to put into the song. Definitely
there is a writing process too. How I create my music.
? native american flute music ?
In being blessed with
everything I have in my career and being able to
live my dream of music. I felt it only right to give back
I founded the Cody Blackbird scholarship for American Indian Youth. It's a once a year
scholarship. I choose one applicant
and they will receive a $2,000 scholarshipPPto go to the college of their choice.
for any American Indian student or Alaskan native student who wishes to
achieve the goal of higher education.
Which is something that is very important I believe. Making sure that we educate ourselves
so that we can better ourselves as a people and carry on
and continue thriving.
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
? native american flute music ?
Every song I say that I'm not a
I don't write my own music. I'm merely one member of
a symphony being conducted by the creator.
I truly believe that what I write and what comes through me
is transcended through me.
I think capturing the emotion that I'm
feeling when that song comes to me and being able to relate that
emotion or that feeling to the audience
to the listener. That's what I think is most important
if you can do that as a songwriter, as a composer as a musician.
You've done a good job and you've done what
you know the listener is looking for it to be captured
by that music. To take you on a journey to
take you to another place away and just be able to relax and
be able to just enjoy
and feel the emotion of the song.
Thanks for watching.
Join me again next time for another episode of Common Ground.
If you have an idea for a Common Ground piece that pertains to north central
Minnesota. Email us at legacy@lptv.org.
or call us at 218-333-3022.
To view any episode of Common Ground online
visit us at lptv.org.
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of Common Ground please call 218-333-3020.
Common Ground is brought to you by the
Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with money from the vote of the people
on the 4th of November 2008.