A group of Toronto high school students got the opportunity of a lifetime when they visited Warner Music Canada’s downtown event space to learn computer science and coding skills by remixing music from Indigenous artists.
The event was part of Your Voice is Power, a national initiative from charity TakingITGlobal, together with Amazon Future Engineer and Amazon Music. Your Voice is Power aims to ignite a passion for computer science in middle and high school students while engaging them in important discussions on the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis experience in Canada, including topics like Residential Schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action. Students learn the basics of coding by remixing music from Indigenous artists Jayli Wolf, Aysanabee, Dakota Bear, Samian, and Twin Flames using EarSketch, a free online code editor.
At the event, students participated in a live coding workshop and were also treated to an inspiring panel discussion about music, empowerment, and technology featuring leaders from Warner Music Canada and Amazon Music Canada alongside Indigenous artist Wolf Saga.
“I hope that every student in attendance today walked away knowing that there is a path open to them in the music industry, and that a background in computer science can open doors to incredible opportunities,” said Kerry Martin, Senior Music Curator at Amazon Music Canada. “Technology has democratized the music industry by allowing artists to reach new audiences, and it has also created new career paths that didn’t exist even a few years ago. Amazon Music is proud to help build the careers of local artists, and I hope that this event also inspired some young people about their future possibilities.”
“Music is one of the most powerful and authentic vehicles to share the Indigenous experience, and the fact that students can learn that perspective while building important new technology skills is the ultimate win-win,” said Wolf Saga.
All students who participate in Your Voice is Power have the opportunity to enter their remixes in a national competition to win one of two $5,000 scholarships. The deadline to submit entries to the 2024 student competition is May 31, and the winners will be selected in June. The competition judging panel includes leaders from the Canadian music industry and Juno Award-winning artist Aysanabee, whose song ‘We Were Here’ is featured in the Your Voice is Power curriculum.
For more information about Your Voice is Power, visit YourVoiceisPower.ca.
