Students at the Medicine Hat College Conservatory of Music and Dance will have an opportunity this spring to study with world-class instructors.

The Magic of Music master class is a three-day intensive musical training program running February 21 to 23.

Magic of Music is brought to the conservatory courtesy of Brenda Lea MacPhail and her husband, Ken. Their $30,000 donation will fund the program every spring for four years. As parents of children in fine arts, the couple sees the value in continuing to develop young vocalists and instrumentalists in Medicine Hat.

“One of the best ways to do that is through intensive workshops,” said MacPhail. “We made this donation with the goal in mind of an inter-disciplinary, fairly intense class just before the Rotary Music Festival.”

The class is open to students in the piano, vocal and strings disciplines and provides an “excellent opportunity for them to work on and perfect their festival repertoire,” MacPhail added.

Each day ends with a multi-discipline performance. Performers will be selected by the master class instructors.

“We’re hoping to foster relationships within the different disciplines and create a family atmosphere,” said MacPhail. “We can have piano accompanying strings or a vocal student with a violin player. It may lead to further collaboration in the future.”

Strings instructor Christine Bootland believes students often associate predominately with those studying
the same instrument. By branching out, Bootland said the students will have a chance to expand their horizons.

“It’s a chance for them to see how connected they really are. They’ll see how much they have in common. They’re all expressing thoughts and emotions through music,” said Bootland.

On the final day, students will study the Feldenkrais method (see box).
This approach focuses on posture and body awareness.
 
“Watching a singer teaches you phrasing, musical lines, and breathing,” said participating student Mari Coetzee. “Being balanced and supported while playing can be learned from watching a violinist. Hearing specific instructions for each of
the disciplines in this workshop from a master can be a great learning experience.”

The $30,000 will be divided up, with $7,500 a year paying for the out of-town guest instructors’ travel and booking fees.

“Our instructors at the conservatory are incredible; bringing in top-notch guest artists not only provides a different perspective but reinforces what our instructors have been saying to these kids all along,” said Bootland. “It’s really going to take it to the next level.”

MacPhail said her donation couldn’t have made a difference without the support
of the conservatory instructors, including Bootland, Susan Supeene and Elaine Dobek-Shandro. Although it’s a lot of work for them, MacPhail said their
dedication and love for the students motivates them to “sacrifice their time to
help the students excel.”
Students are encouraged to focus on any type of music they enjoy: rock, pop, classical or jazz. By sharing classes with other disciplines, Bootland hopes new trios form or even recreational “gigging” friendships.

Anyone is welcome to sit in on any of the classes but perhaps the most interesting to view will be the daily multi-discipline performance at 4:30.

“We really needed funds to do this so we are grateful for the super generous donation from Ken and Brenda Lea,” said Bootland. “We could  never have booked this group of instructors otherwise.”

MacPhail saw her donation as an investment.

“We really believe in the fine arts,” said MacPhail of she and her husband. “We’ve seen what it can bring to a child’s self-esteem and general well being. Most kids in fine arts are highly motivated, dedicated and scholastic achievers: true leaders of tomorrow.”