GCVI begins elementary music mentorship program
November 8, 2018
GUELPH, Ontario – Music students and staff at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute have begun a music mentorship program for intermediate students at their partner schools.
On November 7, Guelph CVI music students and staff visited Willow Road PS, Westwood PS and Mitchell Woods PS on the first day of the mentorship program.
GCVI students with their elementary mentees broke off into smaller groups to begin learning a song. Groups were made of vocalists, brass, percussion, guitar and more.
According to GCVI music teacher Lane Osborne, “The Music Mentors program is intended to be a collaborative project between the music departments at GCVI, Mitchell Woods PS, Willow Road PS and Westwood PS. The program will utilize GCVI music students who are enrolled in vocal, instrumental and guitar classes as ‘mentors’ for grade 8 students who are enrolled in music classes…. The program will assist in developing a sense of capability and general love of music amongst elementary students, which will establish an early sense of community and belonging before their transition to GCVI.”
The program saw great success on its first day and will move forward with more rehearsals at each partner school. The GCVI students and the elementary students in the program will join the stage together when GCVI Music goes on its annual Christmas tour. Elementary students will also hit the stage with GCVI at the GCVI holiday concert.
GCVI would like to thank the UGDSB SHSM program and GCVI Student Success for funding this mentorship opportunity. Staff from multiple UGDSB sites worked together to make this project happen including, Anna Armstrong, Dan Austin, Karen Johnson, Mary Leach, Lane Osborne and Kelly Stronach.