Paterson says finding teachers who are also musicians is only part of the challenge of hiring for the program.
Most professional musicians teach private lessons in their own studios. Coming into a school and working with a group of kids of different ages, skills, and backgrounds adds complex demands to the job.
“It’s really hard work and they need to have the compassion to work with kids from a range
backgrounds,” says Paterson. “Sometimes it’s language skills with some kids from newcomer
families. Some of our kids are from families who have experienced inter-generational cycles of poverty. There’s a whole range of challenges that come with that.
“The thing about us is that we don’t like to focus on the challenges. We like to focus on the kids’ potential, the opportunities and growth. We try to have a strength-based approach. All of the kids, no matter where they’re coming from, have so much strength. They’re coming with more strength than I think I have. They amaze us every day. “
Part of the YONA experience is exposing kids from many different cultural backgrounds to the
music of other cultures. For example, a West African group comes in regularly to teach dance
or drumming and the choir sings songs from several cultures.
“We also have expressive arts and we’re starting a leadership council,” says Paterson. “That’s all part of the holistic approach, as are the choir and the drumming. This allows the kids to shine in different areas. Not all of them are great musicians but all of them can excel in something that we do here. We’ve seen a huge growth of confidence.”
YONA plays with the ESO at least once a year and while the program doesn’t aim to train
professional musicians, some of the kids are displaying the talent and discipline that could lead to careers in music.
Both Disha and Nayomi have experienced the thrill of playing at the Winspear with the ESO.
“When you hear yourself play, you can kind of figure out how you improved,” says Nayomi. “And it’s really nice to play with everyone else because you can hear how nice it sounds together.”
Disha shyly admits she does dream of playing with the ESO. She and her brother, who plays the clarinet with YONA, enjoy performing for their family and friends.
“It’s kind of overwhelming. They’re really proud of me,” Disha says.
For Paterson, her favourite outcome is seeing the impact that YONA has on families.
“In the first year, once we started sending instruments home with kids, we started hearing
feedback from their families, saying ‘Thank you. We’re now making music at home. It’s bringing
our family together.’ We’d hear things like ‘I used to play guitar in high school. The guitar has been sitting in the closet for 20 years. The other night I just pulled it out and we all sang
together.’
“The family bonding is something that we did not anticipate.”
YONA will next perform with the ESO on June 5 for Road to Joy, a free concert which helps
raise the nearly $500,000 annual cost of running YONA.
Playing with the kids at the Winspear is a highlight for Bergen.
“I know it sounds sappy but it’s like spring when you see the buds coming up. It really refreshes me. The concerts always bring tears to me because they work so hard together and the families are so supportive. There is a lot of joy there.”