INUVIK - Singing comes naturally for Grade 6 students Jennifer White and Paisley Vanvliet, but the budding divas attribute much of their success to their music teacher Cynthia Maynard.

"She makes it fun and exciting, she's patient and she gives us so many ways to express ourselves, " said White.

These Sir Alexander Mackenzie School students are all smiles as they share a piano session with their music teacher Cynthia Maynard. From left, Jaylene Ruben, Melanie Hopkins and Flynn Perry. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

For the first time, this year the girls, along with every other student at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, have their very own music program and teacher.

Maynard, who has 25 years of experience as a music educator, has been busy this year starting from scratch, introducing youngsters to the fundamentals of music while at the same time trying to instil a love for the art. They're surrounded and introduced to all kinds of instruments, including recorders, xylophones, tambourines, maracas and the piano.

But for Maynard it starts with the voice, which she considers the most important instrument of all. That's where her lessons begin.

"The first thing that kids have to do is find their singing voice," she said. "You'll hear a lot of kids or adults say, 'gee, I could never sing a tune,' but usually that's because they weren't at their young age shown how to find their singing voice. Every child has a singing voice. They have to find physically where the feeling of the voice is.

"If you go from there, you can transfer it to anything else."

On June 10, SAMS' music program was among only 13 elementary schools across the country which received the prestigious Kodaly Society of Canada's Music Education Excellence Award from the Canadian Coalition for Music Education. In order to qualify for it, schools had to offer students, among other things, at least 60 minutes of instruction per week, which includes exceptional quality, traditional and composed music from a music teacher with specialized expertise in the field.

Maynard said she was thrilled with the honour, adding it was a testament to the commitment shown by the school's administration.

"I think it's great for the school, not for me, but the kids especially. I really love working with the young voice. I just love it." she said. " A lot of schools have cut courses because music is considered a frill, which studies have shown not to be the case at all."

She's showcased the school's talent by organizing Christmas and spring concerts, as well as numerous other performances around town. Students of all grades regularly perform for each other throughout the year.

Maynard also puts great importance on teaching students to read music, rhythmically and melodically. Instruments are introduced. The Grade 3 class had been busy trying to master the recorder.

"They're learning hand-eye co-ordination so there's a lot to grasp but it's an easy instrument for kids. They get a lot of gratification from it."

Though she said her job can be tough at times, she admits she has a lot of talent to work with in Inuvik.

"I find the children here in Inuvik to have so much natural talent," she said. "They have a great sense of rhythm, which I think goes back to their cultures with, for example, all of the jigging they're exposed to. They have a lot of self expression."

Maynard will be back next year, when she'll try to develop the program even further. Ultimately she hopes to pass on her love for music.

"The goal is to instil a gift and a love for music that they follow through with for the rest of their lives," she said. "Maybe they'll join a community choir, or encourage their kids to pursue music. It's about the big picture."