Guitar club creates ‘sense of belonging’

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This article was published 09/10/2020 (1831 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Students at Margaret Park School are trading in their recess for a chance to tune up their guitar-playing skills.

Taught by prominent classical guitarist Ryszard (Richard) Tyborowski, who is also a music professor at the University of Manitoba, a handful of students gather at guitar club every week.

“Richard is such a skilled musician, but he’s also a guy who sees kids and wants to bring out their feelings of confidence and to see themselves as skilled at something and able to try something new and learn,” vice-principal Jillian Green said.

“Not all of our families would be able to access private music lessons … so it’s a wonderful opportunity for kids to see that level of mastery of something is accessible to them and to be inspired by him.”

Guitars have experienced new-found popularity in schools since the COVID-19 pandemic rendered choral practice and wind instruments unsafe for the time being. Seven Oaks School Division, in particular, has purchased more guitars as a result.

“We’ve noticed that the guitar club gives kids a space to feel that sense of belonging, to develop passion, to try something new, to show their learning and their skill and their knowledge and wisdom in another way,” Green said.

“It gives kids a way to connect with their body and their mind simultaneously, which is a beautiful way for them to express themselves in their learning.”

Tyborowski explained his approach to music education is to keep students engaged and avoid getting bogged down in technical speech. Singing, clapping and dancing are all regular elements of his guitar club, he said. Though the club focuses on acoustic guitar, Tyborowski has ordered electric and bass guitars to give students a taste of other instruments.

“We’re learning through games, we’re learning through fun.

“Let them enjoy, first of all,” Tyborowski said. “Enjoyment is the most important thing because that’s what gives us power to continue.”

Grade 5 student Bhenery Awatin has been in guitar club for only a few weeks, but her parents already bought her a personal guitar for her birthday.

“I might be in a future band, because one of my mom’s friends plays guitar, so I might take over his job in the future,” she said.

Guitar club began in January and moved online when schools closed due to the pandemic. During that time, Grade 4 student William Fenn continued private lessons with Tyborowski.

“So we start working together over the internet once or twice a week,” Tyborowski said. “And he (made) really, really great progress, I think. We jumped up two grades during this time, so that was really amazing.”

Fenn, 8, said he has been playing guitar since he was five years old. In guitar club, he can be found balancing his guitar on one leg while leaning over to help his peers with their own.

“I teach them how to use the fingers,” he said.