CREATION STREAM
CREATION-BASED LEARNING
VIVA’s Creation Stream is a fresh and unique program in Canada, offering singers opportunities to explore and create music in digital audio workstations (DAWs) and traditional notation programs. We welcome musical creators of all ages and stages–from children to adults, and from beginners to experienced composers.
No experience is necessary to begin creating with VIVA’s expert facilitators in a collaborative and singer-centered environment!
At VIVA, we believe in the interconnection between creative expression and performance–and we are excited to stretch boundaries as we imagine what this might look like for the next generation of singer-songwriters, poets, arrangers, movers, shakers, and composers… in whatever form creation may take for you!
As part of VIVA’s regular in-rehearsal lessons, singers in our Preparatory and Junior choirs participate in Orff programming. The Orff Approach to Music Education is a holistic, process-based approach that recognizes all children as musicians through a variety of means. During Orff sessions at VIVA, choristers have opportunities to sing (of course!), move, dance, play, improvise, create, and perform.
In our Main Chorus, singers’ theory and literacy programming is creation-based, as singers learn to use the building blocks of music reading to write their own in rhythmic and melodic exercises, designed to engage singers creatively and provide opportunities to apply new skills and concepts derived from our more traditional theory programming components.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING
VIVA’s Creation Stream is an enrichment opportunity for youth and adults to expand upon the in-rehearsal creative work they are engaged in.
As a Creation Stream participant, you’ll not only benefit from composition lessons, hands-on exploration, and guided workshops – but you’ll also learn from Canadian guest artists, like renowned conductor Lydia Adams, C.M.; film composer August Murphy-King; and other special guests. You can expect to receive and apply feedback from peers and expert facilitators, before showcasing your art with the broader community.
In previous years, the composers have enjoyed scoring films created by fellow VIVA choristers, writing music in response to chorister-created poems, and having fun exploring!
Sharing opportunities have included hearing their pieces performed by professional musicians, playing compositions at VIVA’s Creation Showcase, inclusion of pieces at various VIVA concerts, and a choral score reading session with the JUNO award-winning Elmer Iseler Singers (VIVA’s Associate Choir).
Creation Stream programming takes place via Zoom from October-March on selected Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. 2023/24 Youth sessions begin Saturday, October 28th; Adult sessions begin January 20th.