A new teaching video series celebrating the musical diversity of Prince Edward Island.

ArtsSmarts PEI, in collaboration with Oliver's Song, is proud to introduce Our Musical Island, a new streaming video series featuring performances, interviews, and interactive learning experiences with local musicians and dancers from a variety of diverse musical traditions.

Through the ArtsSmarts PEI program, music teachers across Prince Edward Island were matched with local artists to develop a learning experience in which learners could explore a new musical tradition, participate in active music-making, and get creative. These experiences were then adapted and filmed in studio with the artists to create Our Musical Island.

Each artist filmed three videos: a performance, an interview in which they share their lived experiences and what their music means to them, and a teaching video, in which they take us step by step through basic dance steps, vocal warm-up exercises, rhythms, foot percussion, strumming patterns, or a detailed demonstration of their instrument and how it works. Each artist’s videos are accompanied by background information and suggestions for extension activities, making this a valuable resource for music teachers across the province, and adding richness and diversity to children's musical experiences in Island schools. Additional resources to supplement this video series can be found on the Oliver’s song website.

​​Our Musical Island was filmed at the Film PEI studio space by Hummingbird House Productions. This video series and accompanying resources are freely available for all to use and enjoy.

We are grateful to all of these artists for sharing their expertise, their music, and their stories for all of us to connect with, learn from, and explore.

​Oliver’s Song is a non-profit organization creating new opportunities for the children of Prince Edward Island to learn, grow, and share in arts education, in loving memory of Oliver Underhay, a little boy who loved to create. To learn more about their initiatives, visit www.oliverssong.ca.