INUVIK - The students of Sir Alexander Mackenzie School have been enjoying a rich music program this year.

Kathy Letham of Nelson, B.C., has been in Inuvik teaching music while regular teacher Dave Halpine is on leave. Letham arrived in November and was instrumental in organizing the Christmas concert held at the school in December. She is at the school until mid-February. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

The classes in the school have been learning from two instructors.

Regular teacher Dave Halpine is on leave from the school to be with his new family so someone new has been in his place since November.

Kathy Letham of Nelson, B.C., will be at the school until mid-February.

Letham has 25 years of experience teaching music and has been teaching new skills to the pupils in her class.

"I teach the regular music program as well as a dance class on Wednesday afternoons," she said.

Once her term at the school is complete, Letham plans on going on a vacation with her husband.

Letham was the co-ordinator for the annual Christmas concert last month.

"It was a great event and so many people contributed to make it a success," she said.

She added that the drum dancing was what made the concert special.

"It was fabulous," she said.

"I'd seen them practising in the school, but it was the first time I'd seen them in costume."

The music teacher said she teaches upwards of 80 students in a regular day at the school.

"There are a lot of students and I've been trying to remember their names and faces," she said.

Each class is roughly a half-hour session of music.

"We do a lot of singing and the dancing goes well with it," said Letham.

"We have a good time with that because we can put our personalities into it."

Taking a different approach to teaching music, Letham is a teacher who focuses on singing and dancing; the theatrics of the art.

"I told the students right off the bat that I was about singing," she said.

"They're lucky to have both methods of music, Dave's approach and my approach."

She said her students have been opening up and singing loudly in their lessons.

"They love singing," she said.

Letham says that singing and dancing is good for their creativity.

"It gives them a way to express themselves," she said.

Principal Janette Vlanich was instrumental in bringing Letham to the North.

"I knew her before she came here," she said.

"I heard that she ran an excellent music program."

Vlanich said the new teacher's role has been appreciated in the school and in the community.

"The children are responding extremely well to her program," said Vlanich.

"They seem to really like the singing and action."

Vlanich added that Letham has a group of students sing during regular assemblies.

"We enjoy her a lot," she said.