11 year old Resound student Sean Thomas is playing his heart out not only because he’s passionate about music, but to support a great cause, “Kids Can Help”. Inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes, and young Sean is definitely such a source for many of his peers and admirers who seek to make a meaningful contribution through music.

Get BROADWAY ready!

This summer we're offering our students a chance to work on their stage performance with a Musical Theatre program! Musical Theatre incorporates songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance into a beautiful art form that dazzles spectators in huge productions all around the world. Develop the breadth of your musical talents and explore something new. Learn to communicate not just through song, but deliver story and emotional content through words, movement and acting as well. This is a great way to expand your musical skill set.

Our vibrant and creative voice teacher, Katie Collins, will be leading the charge on this creative program. Are you interested? Space is limited - Call today to reserve your spot!

Test your skills on stage.

Exciting new opportunity for budding new musicians! Are you ready to share your love of music in a new public space? If so, this may be for you.

This spring, a pair of market managers and a popular Surrey garden center have introduced a new farmers market in Port Kells, Surrey, aptly called "InSeason". This market will bring together the best local growers, food producers, consumers and performers. Building a vibrant local food movement takes commitment...and great entertainment! This is where you can come in.

Port Kells Nurseries is building a new covered event space that will house "InSeason" and can contain up to 50 vendors, artisans, community groups and performers. They are looking to embrace musicians of all ages and offer them a chance to play live at the market. Sets can range from 1 to 3 hours and a variety of abilities are welcome to apply. Violin guitar, flute, banjo, singing-it's all good! Let your Resound School of Music teacher know if you're interested and they'll happily arrange the details.

About the market:

Find food like it should taste: fresh and in season. Find natural and internationally inspired baking, honey from nearby hives, award-winning B.C. cheeses, crazy good preserves, and sauces for the connoisseur. Meet the people behind the local food movement! "InSeason" will operate Thursdays from 2-7pm starting June 6th through the first week of October.

www.inseasonfarmersmarket.com

Spring is officially here, and with warmer weather (and hopefully some sunshine) headed our way, it's a great time to start putting together a "windows down" playlist. What exactly is a "windows down" playlist, you ask. Simple: it's music that makes you want to get in the car, roll down the glass, hit the gas, and feel the wind on your face as you head out to the beach or on a hike. It makes you want to dance with your friends

This track from TC Dickinson off our "Student Songwriters 2012" CD perfectly captures that feeling, with an infectious groove, light-hearted lyrics, and some really sweet harmonies.  It's the type of song that's meant to be played at 11 on whatever stereo you have near you.

A couple of weekends ago, Commander Chris Hadfield, a CSA Astronaut currently flying overhead in the International Space Station, participated in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit.

Okay, first off, let's just take a moment here and contemplate the incredible fact that someone was able to participate in an online Q & A session with someone in space.  That is so unbelievably cool!

At one point in the AMA, Commander Hadfield was asked: "Any advice to a young person who wants to get into this field?”  Commander Hadfield answered:

“Decide in your heart of hearts what really excites and challenges you, and start moving your life in that direction. Every decision you make, from what you eat to what you do with your time tonight, turns you into who you are tomorrow, and the day after that. Look at who you want to be, and start sculpting yourself into that person. You may not get exactly where you thought you’d be, but you will be doing things that suit you in a profession you believe in. Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become.”

What is great about what Commander Hadfield said was it had nothing specifically to do with how to become an astronaut, and more to do with how to live your life. At the same time, there are so many things we can take away from this advice and apply it to what YOU want to do with your musical talents.

Do you want to become faster and more proficient on a drum kit?  Start working on the strength in your legs and arms, as well as your flexibility.

Do you want to expand your vocal range?  Be careful with what you eat or drink, as some foods can have adverse effects on your vocal chords.

Do you want to get better playing your instrument with other people and maybe start a band?  Pour everything you have into team- or group-based assignments and exercises in school in order to learn how to work well with others and achieve common goals.

Do you want to get better at reading music?  Take a music theory class, study different pieces of sheet music as you follow along to a recording of the song.

Becoming proficient - or even good - at anything, requires discipline and commitment.  It also requires you to continually challenge yourself, to step outside of your comfort zone, and to always be looking for things that stir something in you and excite you.  Most importantly, have fun and do something you truly find joy in.  There is no better way to remain passionate about something when it's something you truly enjoy.

We are very excited to share another track with you from the Resound School Student Songwriters 2012 CD.  Aidan Drummond's "Seeing Things" is a heartfelt acoustic piece that deals with something most anyone can relate to, but isn't often spoken about.

When we asked Aidan what inspired him to write "Seeing Things," he had this to say:

"My inspiration for the lyrics of this song came from reflecting upon students who struggle to be heard and that are sometimes pressured by their pears in school. The song expresses the feelings one might have and what he or she tries to explain. They choose to keep these feelings to themselves, because they are worried about what others might think."

Student Songwriters 2012 is available for $20 by contacting the Resound School office, and all profits go towards providing music education to less fortunate children in the greater Langley area.