Heather Latter
Fort Frances High School always has staged its share of musical productions, but it hasn’t had an ongoing club for music-lovers—until now.
Earlier this month, an after-school music club was struck there under the direction of music teacher Lisa Loney and geography/English teacher Rob Roy Donaldson, a talented performer and production technician in his own right.
“The idea was to serve two needs,” explained Donaldson, noting the drop-in club is not only for performers but also for sound and light technicians.
“It gives [the technicians] a chance to learn and try out the equipment with real performers, but not during a live performance,” he said.
“So it’s okay if they hit the wrong switch.
“It’s just really good practice in a low-pressure environment,” Donaldson reasoned.
While the student technicians are up in the booth at the Townshend Theatre learning about the sound and lights, student musicians and singers are on the stage “jamming.”
“It’s something that happens naturally anyway,” said Loney, referring to the 10 students gathered in a circle on the stage last Thursday going over music.
“We’re just here to provide an outlet and offer help when needed,” she added, stressing participants do not have to be a music student or band member to attend.
“Some of the students who are here I have never met before,” Loney admitted, noting they are in the guitar class at Fort High but have not participated in any other musical function there.
“So it’s really great because it brings together a different mix of kids,” she remarked.
“And they can just hang out and make some music.”
Loney said since most students have a smartphone, they easily can tap into the Internet to find music, guitar tabs, and lyrics.
She added someone will choose a tune and they all will give it a try.
This past Thursday was the group’s second meeting and saw more student drop-in than the first week.
There were two technicians, two singers, five guitarists, one student on hand drums, and another playing the stand up bass while Loney played the piano.
“It’s great for students who are just learning an instrument or those who want the experience of playing on a stage but are intimated by an audience,” she explained.
“It’s for students who want to play in an unstructured environment,” echoed Donaldson.
“Putting something together on a moment’s notice is a great skill for musicians to have.”
“We have a lot of talented kids at this school,” Loney enthused. “But some might not have gotten involved [so] this is a good chance for that.”
She added a goal for the end of the year is perhaps to have a concert or do a recording.
“It’s something to work towards,” she reasoned.
“I think it’s a good idea and about time that we did it.”
