An Original Music and Dance Performance.

YEAR END NEWSLETTER 2021

And just like that....another year has flown by! And while 2020 was a very challenging year for us (with virtually no music programs because of the ongoing pandemic), 2021 has kept us going full bore, and we’ve finally been able to bring back face to face instruction to local public schools!

As the kids went back to in-class learning this past May, we kicked off two new programs, starting with a program for the middle schoolers at Wolverine Public Schools. Our amazing Robin Lee Berry taught a class in Music Exploration, and the kids learned about different stringed instruments, different rhythms using percussion instruments, call and answer, and beginning ukulele skills. They even learned several songs on the ukulele and ended up performing for the year-end school talent show!

And in September, we launched our new Rock Jam program at Pellston Middle School. One of our generous donors recently gifted us with most of the instruments we needed for the Pellston rock program; guitars and guitar amps, keyboards, percussion pads and so much more. The students have been really excited and enthusiastic about the program, and their instructor (the very talented Chris Michels) has taught them basic skills on drums, guitar and bass, and even taught them to play “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes in only three days!! We are so proud of these kids!

The 2021/2022 school programs also included co-founder Pete Kehoe picking up where he left off, and continuing with Music Exploration classes for the special needs students at Gaylord and Cheboygan High Schools. Pete has done an incredible job with these kids, and they were so excited to have him back in the classroom in person, as he had been doing classes only virtually the previous school year.

Good year-end news you can use!

Friends, donors, supporters and musical family: It’s hard to believe that this year has come to a close! Big Water Creative Arts has had an amazing year of growth and we are grateful for all of the events and opportunities that have been a part of our journey. We feel blessed to be able to share the love, inspiration and good vibes that music brings to each and every one of us.

2019 saw us gaining more generous donors, sponsors and connections, culminating in a very successful 2nd annual fundraiser in June. We also had the pleasure of holding new adult songwriting workshops as part of the Bay View Association’s annual music festival in Petoskey, and on Mackinac Island in partnership with the Mackinac Arts Council. We also returned to Independence Village for the 2nd year in a row to teach music exploration and ukulele classes for the seniors there. And, we also took a new event for a test drive in December - Petoskey Community Sing, where we invited students from the Petoskey Montessori Children’s House to join together with the wonderful residents at Independence Village earlier this month. To the delight of all, it was a huge success (with over 25 kids and 35 seniors!) so much so, that we’re continuing on with an 8 week Community Sing program in early 2020. Joining generations together to sing is an amazing experience in so many ways. We couldn’t think of a better way during the holiday season to bring community together. We will be expanding this program in the future, offering the opportunity for others of all ages and walks of life to join us and sing in a fun and safe environment!

We have some great programs coming in 2020 that we can’t wait to get started! Big Water Creative Arts will be starting an 8 week Music Exploration class at Pellston Public Schools in Pellston on January 15th. Also in January, Pete Kehoe will be returning to Gaylord to work with the Michigan Arts Access group on our 2nd annual round of classes with the students at Gaylord High School. Additionally, we have programs in the works for Wolverine Public Schools in Wolverine, and classes in partnership with AuSable Artisans Village in Grayling. These programs will be starting in the first quarter of 2020.

All of us here at Big Water Creative Arts are so very thankful for the support of our generous donors and sponsors. Your support is crucial to our ongoing success and growth, and we’re so pleased to share our mission of bringing music to students, special groups, retirees, and the community at large with you. We wish you all happy holidays and look forward with anticipation to 2020!

Big Water Creative Arts

Welcome!

To those of you who are already in the know about Big Water Creative Arts and what we’re all about, this quarterly newsletter will keep you up to speed on our programs, our progress, and our fundraising events and concerts/performances. To those of you who are new to BWCA, you’re receiving this newsletter because you were a participant or supporter of the Mackinac Island Songwriters Workshop in years past. To you, we extend an invitation to join us in bringing music to the masses and supporting music education for all ages and all walks of life!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with how BWCA started and what we’ve done so far, click on OUR HISTORY and PROGRAMS for a little background on where we came from, and what we’ve accomplished so far.

BWCA has broadened its scope in the past year, providing music programs for developmentally challenged adults at the Bergmann Center in Charlevoix, as well as senior programs for music exploration and group instrumental instruction at Independence Village (an assisted care and independent living facility in Petoskey). Both were huge successes, and these programs are slated to become year-round programs starting in fall/winter 2018/2019. We’re also currently working with Independence Village on a plan to eventually provide these programs to all 17 of Independence Village’s facilities state-wide.