KINNGAIT/CAPE DORSET - About 24 students are finding their singing voice as Sam Pudlat School started its first choir in January.

Students taking part in the Sam Pudlat School choir in Cape Dorset are learning basic singing skills, O Canada and other songs. - photo courtesy of Sam Pudlat School

Grade 5 teacher Susan Smith, who sings, plays the piano and used to play trombone, started the choir last month with interested Grades 3 to 6 students.

The approximately two dozen students, both boys and girls, are learning the basic skills such as singing the scale, and are practising O Canada to eventually sing it for the school every morning. Once the basic skills are set, the choir will progress from there.

Smith said she noticed the students liked to sing but didn't know where to start.

"The kids are really having a good time. I am trying to get them to learn teamwork and working together as a choir seems like a way to do that," she said. "I just thought it would be something that would interest them and keep them out of trouble and keep them busy after school a couple of days a week. That's a talent that I have that I'd like to share with them and they seemed keen to learn."

As the choir just started, a purchased keyboard will be shipped from the south to help with the learning, hopefully in the next month, said Smith. She added students have gym classes but none for drama, music or dance, which was another incentive to start the choir. Smith said the students are enjoying it.

"The kids are having a great time and they even have some suggestions on what they want to sing and where they see it going," she said. "It's just an initiative I am taking to try and help the kids broaden their horizons. I think it's important to make sure their creative talents are also being developed. "

Under Smith's direction, a couple of classes sang a Christmas song for the Christmas concert.

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