Listen to the Echo
The grade 6/7 and 7/8 class at Echo Place School have been using their innovation skills to create electroacoustic music. Juno Award Winner Pakesso Mukash (Aboriginal Album of the Year) has been visiting Echo Place and teaching students about his love for music and his Native heritage.
Pakesso is of Cree/Abenaki/French Canadian decent. He has always found his strongest identity and purpose with his Cree heritage, followed closely by his Abenaki ancestry. Pakesso taught Echo students to have a voice, to use that voice to be individuals, and become individuals who can make a difference. Students at Echo were able to record themselves playing various instruments (cow bell, xylophone, triangle, rattles, drums, etc.) and making various sounds with school items (bouncing ball, school bell, fence, etc.). Once those sounds were recorded, Pakesso took those sounds and incorporated them in to the music program, Ableton.
Not only did Pakesso take the sounds the students created and produced an original song made by Echo Place kids, he also imported the sounds in to Ableton for students to produce their own creative pieces. Students are currently working on the program in hopes to develop creative music for Pakesso’s next visit. This program has allowed students to create, develop and perform original music pieces, while using the elements and techniques of music.
Students have had the opportunity to engage in several different activities involving the First Nations, Metis and Inuit culture. Students have made personal Wampum strings while participating in circle meetings and have participated in two Lacrosse Workshops. These activities have taught Echo students the importance of teamwork, leadership, individuality, hard work, values and morals.