RANKIN INLET
A packed gym of students from three different schools cheered on their friends and fellow classmates during the Music Monday concert performance at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) in Rankin Inlet earlier this month.

Keegan Burton, left, belts out the lead vocals as Avianna MacKenzie accompanies him on acoustic guitar during a Music Monday performance at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The MUI students were joined by youths from Leo Ussak Elementary School and Simon Alaittuq School for the nationally-held event.

Music teacher Darren Kools said Music Monday is a time for youths to come together and show both what they've learned and how music has affected them.

He said being able to share is very important for the youths, even if they don't realize it until they're actually on the stage.

"That's when it hits them how hard they've worked from the beginning of the year, when they hardly knew how to hold an instrument, to performing in front of students from three different schools," said Kools.

"It's amazing to see that recognition on their faces and in their actions.

"It makes me proud of them to see how far they've come and how awesome they are."

Kools said the support given to those performing by the other students is fantastic.

He said he's been touting respect to friends, colleagues and fellow students, and that message seems to have been received.

"Sometimes, especially at the beginning of the year in my class, I have to remind the kids mistakes are going to happen all over the place because it's music.

"However, music is a place where it's OK to make mistakes.

"I've repeated we're expected to make mistakes over-and-over again during my three years here, and the rest of the kids support the fact these students can actually get up on stage.

"They have enough guts to do that whereas, maybe, some of those in the audience aren't willing to."

Kools said the fact the students did get on stage to do the best they can made the event a huge success.

He said people have to realize local youths are never going to get close to the sounds they hear on the radio.

"What we hear on the radio, CDs and mp3s has been so altered, it's basically fake, while what we hear on the stage is a true performance.

"The fact they went from beginning to end is a total win.

"And the fact the audience recognizes that makes my heart melt."

Kools said the truth with any artist, no matter where they're from, is they get nervous before going on stage.

He said sometimes they feel like they're going to throwup, because they're so worried about how they're going to sound and what the audience is going to think about their performance.

"Our kids are no different and they're all scared of stage fright before going on.

"One student, Yvonn Aliyak, was talking about not showing up for weeks before the show, or, if he did, turning around and playing to the wall and not facing the audience.

"Yet, during the performance, he was one of the strongest singers, which a lot of kids shy away from become it's so personal.

"But Yvonn was there, and I was very proud of him when he sang the chorus to the Music Monday song, We Are One, in Inuktitut."

Kools said there were some children, however, who dropped out because they were so uncomfortable with the thought of performing.

He said one student spoke to him after the show about his reasons for deciding not to perform.

"I could feel he was a bit sad that he didn't push himself to go up and perform, but, you know, it's hard to push, but also be supportive.

"This wasn't his year, but we can feature him doing something on his own in the coming year.

"Sometimes it just progresses that way.

"It's important to remain supportive, even though you may feel differently about the decision."

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