By Derek Cornet

Musical talent

Musician invited back to Stanley Mission as pilot project ends

Feb 11, 2019 | 4:35 PM

Students and community members of Stanley Mission were so impressed by the musical teachings of Eliza Doyle they invited her to come back.

Doyle, who spent the last six weeks living in Stanley Mission, left for Saskatoon earlier today after delivering musical programming for a wide variety of residents. She was in the community through a pilot project by the Canada Council for the Arts and Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange, which originally was going to occur somewhere else. While the pilot project came to end, Doyle said she will be back for the annual winter carnival during the last week of February.

“They say it’s really changed their lives,” she said of the students. “I think band council and the schools really picked up on the excitement going on. They want me to stay and there’s a position. I just need to develop it.”

Students in Stanley Mission learned how to play a variety of instruments. (submitted photo/Eliza Doyle)

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Doyle began the project in January and started by touring the local schools to create interest. She also met with local leaders about her intentions and to seek advice about what kind of programming would work with community members. Students, especially those at the elementary grade levels, were excited about the music lessons and Doyle said about 40 would participated regularly. She also held lessons at the high school, which attracted about 20 students, as well as a handful of other residents.

With leadership in the Stanley Mission requesting her to develop a music program, Doyle said she’s going to work to create a curriculum that can still work without her. She would like to have guest musicians from La Ronge, Prince Albert or other nearby communities come to Stanley Mission and develop long-term partnerships with them.

“I see it as a work in progress and maybe try for the fall for what it would look like,” Doyle said. “The more I think about it, I’d like to develop a program that’s not just with me in.”

The guitar was one of several instruments students could learn how to play. (submitted photo/Eliza Doyle)

Keethanow Elementary School Principal Darryl Flett called Doyle’s visit a learning opportunity for himself, teachers, students and community members. He also expressed a desire to have Doyle return to the community to do music lessons as the project achieved good results. Flett noted students learned to write songs, sing and play musical instruments.

“She’s very good with the kids at the elementary school and high school as well,” he said. “She got along really good and developed a rapport with everybody around the community. We’re just happy to have Eliza come up here and have the opportunity to experiment with music programs.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno