Invoking the Imagination: Connection, Inspiration, and Learning

with Samantha Whelan Kotkas

Samantha Whelan Kotkas shares successful strategies and ideas for collaborative, arts-based learning.  These community-building ideas support the development of a personal relationship to the arts in people of all ages.  All these videos were commissioned for the Music Alive Program with the National Arts Centre of Canada.

Samantha Whelan Kotkas is a performer and teaching artist based in Calgary, Alberta.  As a musician and storyteller, she has a gift for pairing music and story to create memorable and magical experiences.

Invoking The Imagination: Soundscapes with Samantha Whelan Kotkas

Subtitles available in English and French

In this video, teaching artist Samantha Whelan Kotkas explains how to inspire creativity and imagination with storyboards and soundscapes. As an example, Samantha demonstrates how sound patterns can be applied to personal experiences to create a piece of music. Samantha also shows how to bring student illustrations to life by creating soundscapes.

This video is part of a four-part series on invoking the imagination through the arts for students of all ages. In this series, Samantha shares different ways music educators can invoke the imagination of others, create an environment that supports the discovery of individual artistic voice, and help people articulate their ideas in and through an art form like music.

Invoking The Imagination: From Blue To Red with Samantha Whelan Kotka

Subtitles available in English and French

In this video, teaching artist Samantha Whelan Kotkas discusses the From Blue to Red project, in which Grade 10 to 12 students participated as story writers, composers, illustrators, documenters, or scientists. Co-produced with Ross McIntyre, this project helped students articulate their ideas and develop a personal relationship to the arts.

This video is part of a four-part series on invoking the imagination through the arts for students of all ages. In this series, Samantha shares different ways music educators can invoke the imagination of others, create an environment that supports the discovery of individual artistic voice, and help people articulate their ideas in and through an art form like music.

Invoking The Imagination: Cross-Cultural Collaboration with Samantha Whelan Kotkas

Subtitles available in English and French

Teaching artist Samantha Whelan Kotkas invites her cross-cultural teaching partner, Walter MacDonald White Bear, to talk about the work that they have done in many schools over the last six and a half years through the NAC Music Alive Program. Together they have shared music and stories inspired by the lessons of Turtle, Bear, Beaver, and Eagle.

This video is part of a four-part series on invoking the imagination through the arts for students of all ages. In this series, Samantha shares different ways music educators can invoke the imagination of others, create an environment that supports the discovery of individual artistic voice, and help people articulate their ideas in and through an art form like music.

Invoking the Imagination: Sharing Life Stories Through Music with Samantha Whelan Kotkas

Subtitles available in English and French

In this video, teaching artist Samantha Whelan Kotkas presents the approach and outcomes for an intergenerational community project. Sharing Life Stories with Music involves partnering high school students with elderly people in the community. Together they create a two-minute story to accompany a three-minute piece of music and give a final presentation for friends and family. Special thanks to the residents of United Active Living for their contribution.

This video is part of a four-part series on invoking the imagination through the arts for students of all ages. In this series, Samantha shares different ways music educators can invoke the imagination of others, create an environment that supports the discovery of individual artistic voice, and help people articulate their ideas in and through an art form like music.