Manitoba Music Launches New Round of Aboriginal Music Mentors Program

Posted on March 7, 2016

Manitoba Music is bringing back its popular mentor program for Aboriginal artists this spring. Run through the Aboriginal Music Program (AMP), “AMP Mentors” was launched to engage new and emerging First Nation, Metis, and Inuit youth along with elementary school classrooms interested in learning more about the Aboriginal music community in Manitoba.

Mentor sessions will touch on a variety of creative and business-oriented topics, including career advice, instrument lessons, and songwriting feedback.

The diverse group of experienced mentors includes 2016 JUNO Award nominee Don Amero, jazz trumpeter Chuck Copenace, Western Canadian Music Award nominated artist isKwe, Indigenous Music Award-winning rapper Karmen Omeasoo (Hellnback), young fiddlers Luc and Aidan Wrigley (Double the Trouble), rock singer/songwriter Orvis Thomas, fiddle champion Patti Lamoureux, classical vocalist Rhonda Head, singer/songwriters Ali Fontaine, Ashley Robertson, Frannie Klein, and Renee Lamoureux,

Running March through May, the artists will be available for presentations about their careers in the music industry along with a limited number of one-on-one consultations for youth interested in more detailed instruction or feedback. The majority of the mentors will be available for presentations in and around Winnipeg. Rhonda Head will be available to deliver workshops in the region surrounding the Opaswayak Cree Nation and a number of the mentors are also available by Skype. There are also opportunities for some mentors to travel further north or into rural communities, if there is a request for two or more presentations.

One-hour mentor consultations and presentations will be free of charge and available on a first-come, first-served basis. To schedule presentations, teachers and youth programs can contact Alan Greyeyes (204.975.0284, alan@manitobamusic.com) or Calvin Nepinak (204.996.4544, joemaximband@hotmail.com).

Manitoba Music's Aboriginal Music Program was launched in 2004 to help First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people in Manitoba develop sustainable careers in music by connecting them with opportunities within Manitoba Music and beyond. Manitoba Music would like to acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters, the Province of Manitoba, Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council, and Manitoba Film & Music.

AMP MENTORS PROGRAM DETAILS

All speaker fees and transportation costs will be paid by Manitoba Music. Please be sure to have a teacher of supervisor in the room for the full duration of each presentation.

Please be sure to identify the artist name, presentation topic, school or program name, address, parking instructions, grade or average age of the youth, class size or number of youth you expect to attend the presentation, and the name of the teacher or supervisor/program leader that the artist should connect with upon arrival when you reach out to Nepinak or Greyeyes to request a presentation.

MENTORS & SERVICES AVAILABLE

Ali Fontaine
Note: Does not have Skype

Presentations:

Careers in the music industry
Intro to guitar and songwriting, a presentation for elementary school aged kids

One-on-Ones:

Guitar lesson
Feedback on rap lyrics
Feedback on a live performance (note that the youth must have a gig booked or rehearsal space where the mentor can watch them perform)
Business advice

Ashley Robertson
Note: Can provide one-on-ones via Skype

Presentations:

Careers in the music industry
Marketing in the music industry Rights management in the music industry
Intro to guitar and songwriting, a presentation for elementary school aged kids

One-on-Ones:

Feedback on lyrics
Feedback on a live performance (note that the youth must have a gig booked or rehearsal space where the mentor can watch them perform)
Business advice
Songwriting advice

Chuck Copenace
Note: Does not have Skype

Presentations:

Introduction to jazz and instrumental music

One-on-Ones:

Compositional advice/direction to aspiring beat producers

Don Amero
Note: Can provide one-on-ones via Skype

Presentations:

Careers in the music industry
Marketing in the music industry
Intro to guitar and songwriting, a presentation for elementary school aged kids
Music Is Medicine - The effects music has on the health of an individual

One-on-Ones:

Guitar lesson
Feedback on a live performance (note that the youth must have a gig booked or rehearsal space where the mentor can watch them perform)
Business advice

Frannie Klein
Note: Can provide one-on-ones via Skype

Presentations:

Careers in the music industry
Marketing in the music industry
Intro to guitar and songwriting, a presentation for elementary school aged kids
Intro to Métis music, a presentation for elementary school aged kids

One-on-Ones:

Introductions to the people that book acts at live music venues in Winnipeg
Feedback on a live performance (note that the youth must have a gig booked or rehearsal space where the mentor can watch them perform)
Business advice
The emotional roller coaster that artists go through mentally and physically

Karmen Omeasoo (Hellnback)
Note: Can provide one-on-ones via Skype

Presentations:

Careers in the music industry
Marketing in the music industry
Rights management in the music industry
Intro to songwriting, a presentation for elementary school aged kids
History of Native people in hip hop music

One-on-Ones:

Introductions to the people that book acts at live music venues in Winnipeg
Feedback on rap lyrics
Feedback on a live performance (note that the youth must have a gig booked or rehearsal space where the mentor can watch them perform)
Business advice
Drive and focus pep talks

Luc and Aidan Wrigley (twin fiddlers)
Note: Can provide one-on-ones via Skype

Presentations:

Careers in the music industry
Intro to Métis music, a presentation for elementary school aged kids
Performance advice

One-on-Ones:

Fiddle lesson

Orvis Thomas
Note: Does not have Skype

Presentations:

Intro to guitar and songwriting, a presentation for elementary school aged kids

One-on-Ones:

Guitar lesson
Feedback on a live performance (note that the youth must have a gig booked or rehearsal space where the mentor can watch them perform)
Songwriting

Patti Kusturok
Note: Can provide one-on-ones via Skype

Presentations:

Intro to Métis music, a presentation for elementary school aged kids
Demonstrations of different fiddle styles across Canada; talking about how music and dancing go hand in hand; talking about how Manitoba fiddling fits into the Canadian fiddle genre.

One-on-Ones:

Fiddle lesson

Renee Lamoureux
Note: Can provide one-on-ones via Skype

Presentations:

Careers in the music industry
Marketing in the music industry
Intro to guitar and songwriting, a presentation for elementary school aged kids
I teach yoga and could incorporate it with finding inspiration for music.

One-on-Ones:

Guitar lesson
Feedback on a live performance (note that the youth must have a gig booked or rehearsal space where the mentor can watch them perform)
Business advice
Intro piano
Vocal lessons
Stage/performance coaching
Songwriting

Available for presentation in the region surrounding the Opaskwayak Cree Nation

Rhonda Head
Note: Can provide one-on-ones via Skype

Presentations:

Careers in the music industry
Marketing in the music industry
Rights management in the music industry Music therapy

One-on-Ones:

Feedback on a live performance (note that the youth must have a gig booked or rehearsal space where the mentor can watch them perform)

Available for Skype presentations or one-on-ones only

isKwe
Note: Can provide one-on-ones via Skype

Presentations:

Careers in the music industry
Marketing in the music industry
Intro to the hand drum, a presentation for elementary school aged kids
Songwriting without a guitar

One-on-Ones:

Feedback on a live performance (note that the youth must have a gig booked or rehearsal space where the mentor can watch them perform)
Voice lessons