Free Musical Improv workshop at Ontario Mennonite Music Camp, Waterloo.
Workshops
Encounter Music
Yes, music is entertainment — but it’s also discovery. It’s a space to explore self-expression, emotion, ideas, and community.
In these fun and interactive workshops, participants engage with music in surprising ways, fostering connection with their own creativity and expression.
Each workshop meets participants where they’re at, and are adaptable for diverse age groups and capabilities.
Host centres have included youth camps, schools and addictions centres.
I. Music Listening & Free Association Writing
Participants practice deep listening via free association writing.
Session opens with fun warm-up games for creativity and spontaneity. Participants then enjoy a concert while writing in free-association, as inspired by the music. Afterwards, all go to a large paper surface to draw/write ONE SURPRISING THING from their writing. To close, we take in the surprise collage and reflect with guided questions.
II. Free Musical Improv: Open-Instrument/Style
Participants practice free musical improvisation via improv theatre.
Session opens with a short improv performance on piano. Participants transition into musical improv games to warm up creativity and spontaneity. Groups are formed, and receive a slip of paper describing a specific scene. Within the time limit, they must strategize how to act out the scene under one condition: using only music for all sounds (ambience, dialogue, SFX). No speech or verbal sound effects allowed. To close, scenes are presented and enjoyed in order, to create a theatre piece!
III. Music Listening & Interpretive Art
Participants practice deep listening via interpretive visual art.
Session opens with fun warm-up games for creativity and spontaneity. Participants split into groups to enjoy a short concert. For each piece, one group goes to an art corner, while the rest enjoy the music in a listening circle. Groups rotate for the duration of the concert. Afterwards, art pieces are assembled into a gallery, and enjoyed by all. To close, the group reflects with guided questions.
“…such a surprising chance to be creative and collaborative! I loved watching them tell such expressive (and silly!) stories through music. I was impressed by how well it suited our wide age range (Grades 7-12) and musical abilities (no music reading ability to Grade 10 conservatory) represented at our camp.
This workshop was an innovative, fun, and formative approach to music-making that felt like such an essential part of our camp this year. I would definitely invite Becky back to our camp, and I recommend her to others as well!
—Mykayla Turner, Director | Ontario Mennonite Music Camp
IV. The Big Sing
Participants experience singing a cappella, in harmony.
In a variety of styles of music, the session guides participants to sing together in surprising ways, including hand and vocal percussion, and movement. Based on the “Big Sing” tradition practiced in the Iona Community in Scotland, UK.
No prior singing experience or ability required.
Becky Reesor
M.Mus (Piano Performance, B.Mus (Piano Performance & Music Ministry)
In her Grade 10 career studies class, Becky chose music therapy as her ideal career path, wanting to do something both fun and helpful in the world. Although she ultimately pursued performance, she did complete a double concentration in music ministry, creatively using music to inspire self-reflection and foster community music-making. During this time, she also produced an experimental concert series to explore new, interactive ways for audiences to engage meaningfully with classical music.
Her work eventually led her to Scotland’s historic Iona Abbey, where she served as Music Director for the Iona Community — known for its innovative community music and arts work. Becky also led community music and workshops in the surrounding region of Argyle and Bute and Sunbury on Thames, UK.
Since then, Becky has continued sharing her love of helping others encounter music through classical music, workshops and immersive concerts in churches, schools, camps, and addictions centres.