A Holistic Approach to Healing Through Music
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Instructors: River Christie-White & Dr. Noah Schwartz
COURSE OVERVIEW
A Holistic Approach to Healing Through Music
This program offers a holistic approach to healing through music. It is designed for Indigenous youth and will run in-person at ArtHaus. Each session will focus on the development of an open, creative, “safe space” to learn songwriting, music production and performance while encouraging participants to develop healthy processes to deal with personal challenges.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own musical instruments and other music making tools (e.g. laptops, phones, sound recording devices). Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information messages can be sent to noah@arthausmusic.com
COURSE DETAILS
WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Participants meet and detail their experiences, goals, and share their connection to music
Discussion of traditional indigenous musical philosophies and why they are important
WEEK 2: TRADITIONS AND CREATIVE PROCESSES
Discussion of traditional indigenous approaches to healing and the relationship to creative processes
Discussion of creative processes, common songwriting techniques, and song structure
WEEK 3: SONGWRITING AS HEALING
Discussion of professional songwriting practices and processes and how they can act as forms of expression, reflection, and healing
Approaches to transforming ideas and feelings into lyrics, music, and structured songs
WEEK 4: PERFORMANCES AND REFLECTIONS
Approaches to transforming songs into performances and experiences
Participants are encouraged to perform or share what they have learned
INSTRUCTORS
River Christie-White, is using his talents of music and the traditional art of Hoop Dancing to spread awareness about Autism and the lack of support for Indigenous children and families with special needs. River is a talented musician and producer who focuses on heavy and progressive metal. He has also overcome many obstacles and barriers in his life, and has transformed from a non-verbal autistic student struggling within the educational system to an honours student at X University (formerly Ryerson). In 2014 he founded Hoops for Hope, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of indigenous people with disabilities and sheds light on issues of diversity and inclusion vs acceptance. River received the 2017 Diversity, Race Relations and Inclusivity Award for Youth/Young Adults from the City of London in recognition of his work
Noah Schwartz’s journey through music, media and design is typical of creative careers in the 21st century. As a young guitarist at Berklee College of Music, he experienced music’s digital upheaval, and witnessed how musicians with a singular focus struggled while multifaceted creators and entrepreneurs thrived. From there, Schwartz worked on many sides of the industry — including with artists and bands, record labels and music technology companies. Today, he’s a professor of music and digital media, translating his experiences and lessons learned for university students and working with the next generation of musicians and creative professionals. Schwartz holds a PhD in Curriculum and Pedagogy from the University of Toronto, a Master’s in Media Production from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music.
SPONSOR
Kinaxis is a supply chain management and sales and operation planning software company based in the Kanata district of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.