Heather Latter
Salsa rhythms and mambo beats are just a few of the musical styles the Fort Frances High School senior band will experience when they visit the Caribbean island of Cuba during March Break next year.
Band members already have began fundraising for the trip, and will continue to do so over the summer months by selling raffle tickets for a cash prize to be drawn in December.
“We just want to ensure that everyone is able to go regardless of their financial situation,” said Fort High music teacher Lisa Loney.
She noted the group just completed a fundraiser selling Lowey’s vouchers and likely will sell chocolate-covered almonds in the fall.
Meanwhile, plans already are well in the works for the trip, which will be educational in many aspects.
“We are supposed to go to two different arts schools,” Loney said, noting the local band will play for the students there and then, in turn, they can show the visiting students some of their music.
“It’s going to be really interactive,” she stressed, saying not only will her students likely get some Latin percussion sessions, and perhaps learn some salsa moves, but they will get to know the school kids there.
Loney also acknowledged there is much poverty in Cuba, so she expects the visit to be “an eye-opener.”
“To see how the kids live there, what they have, and learn about our privileged life,” she remarked.
There also is a plan for the band members to do some humanitarian work at an orphanage there.
Loney said since the children who live in Cuba don’t have a lot, the band wants to bring items for them—everything from toothpaste and toothbrushes to school supplies and even musical instruments, such as violins and guitars.
The company helping organize the trip has provided Loney with a list of needed items.
“So part of our fundraising will not only be to go on the trip, but also to buy some new things to bring for them,” she explained.
Loney said she chose Cuba as the destination for next year’s trip for a number of reasons—the first being that she knew others who had gone there and heard great reviews.
She noted it’s also less expensive than some of the other trips she looked at, was something slightly different than more recent destinations, and is a relatively short flight south—eliminating the issue of jet-lag for the travellers.
While there will be a lot of opportunity to learn about the Cuban culture, history, and music, Loney said there will be some time for fun, too.
“There is half-a-day scheduled at the beach,” she noted, adding they also will go on a hike and visit Old Havana.
“There will be a pretty good balance between learning, performing, and interacting.”
This is the first “big” trip Loney is planning for Fort High students. And while things are on track so far, she certainly expects there to be some challenges—not only because they will be travelling with 60 students and 12 chaperones, but because there will be a language barrier, among other cultural differences.
One thing they’re looking at is what the band will wear while performing there. Their black-and-white dress attire certainly won’t be appropriate in the hot Cuban weather, but they also will have to uphold the school’s dress code.
“There are just some little things like that that we need to think about,” she reasoned.
Loney also will educate the band members in preparation for the trip about things such as not drinking the water there.
“I’m nervous but excited,” she admitted. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.
“They are a wonderful group of kids.”
Loney said she will take time this summer to select some music for their Cuban performances which the band will begin to rehearse in the fall.
“Maybe some with a Spanish flair or music from other cultures,” she explained, citing that since Cuba is not influenced by the United States, it will be interesting to see how they react to the music they play.
Loney also is grateful for the support of the parents and the community while she and the band prepare for this trip.
