Students in Dan Sonier’s music classes at St. Patrick’s High School might just see him as a teacher, but in reality, Mr. Sonier has many layers.
A graduate of SCITS with a love of music starting in grade 12, Sonier graduated from the music education and therapy program at Wilfrid Laurier University before attending Teacher’s College. After a stint teaching in a handful of elementary schools in the area, Sonier went back to Laurier for his Master’s of Community Music.
It was this program that “really fostered this collaboration with the community at large and how we can make music accessible to any individual,” he tells The Journal. “I just kind of ran with that. How do we bridge different age groups together in a music setting.”
Taking that love for bringing different groups together through music, Sonier has started an intergenerational choir at the Catholic high school, that is comprised of adults in the community with a love of singing, and St. Pat’s students.
“Every Wednesday we have adults come into St. Pat’s after school to work and sing with kids. This intergenerational piece is what I really love,” explains Sonier.
While this choir is currently comprised of enough of the adult component, St. Pat’s students are still encouraged to join. The choir does a wide variety of music – currently, they are working on an Andy Grammer song that will bleed into a Taylor Swift number.
“It’s so new right now but we are trying to do a gambit of music styles,” says Sonier.
And no need to be able to read music; just having an interest in joining is enough.
The intergenerational choir is just one way Sonier is trying to revamp the high school music program at the North End school. He says it’s tricky to get students interested in learning music or an instrument since they are required to take several courses, and music is now seen as an elective.
“For a school of 1,400 kids, there are only a handful of music classes that are being filled right now. I’m not sure how to get that excitement,” he says.
“Still, I’m hoping that doing things like musicals, coffee houses, and intergenerational choirs will help.”
He adds that they had the Lambton Concert Band come and play with the students at a winter concert, and the students loved it because they are “sitting with adults who are experts.”
“It elevated the confidence of the students and got them excited to see what they could be working towards,” Sonier explains.
And if you thought being a music teacher wasn’t enough, Sonier also runs a summer camp called Showtime alongside another musical educator Jen Brown Nead for three weeks in Corunna. The camp, currently at capacity, takes place at the beginning of July.
“I can’t believe how fast we fill up each camp,” says Sonier.
Each week sees a new set of students working towards performing in a themed variety show at the end of the session, teaching them the creative process that goes into creating an hour-long show.
In addition to all that, Sonier also does music direction at St. Giles Church, and plays piano in a group called Woods Strings Wind, alongside Caitlin Mason on violin and Tessa Catton on flute.
“We’ve [Woods Strings Wind] been doing three concerts a year for the last handful of years,” Sonier says. “We collaborate with local musicians and invite them to come be a part of our group for a concert, we are hoping to keep this up.”
While the group gears up for a concert at the Sarnia Library Theatre on May 5, and Sonier’s music students prepare for their spring concert on May 16, Sonier explains how he manages to keep track of everything.
“Honestly I really think you develop time management and learn to be super-efficient as a musician,” he says, adding that music is also great at teaching kids a variety of life skills in addition to learning an instrument.
“It is a great outlet to master,” he adds. “Aside from personal satisfaction, there are so many nonmusical skills that accommodate it – self-confidence, initiative, responsibility, respect, collaboration.
“There are all these life skills that you stumble upon if you’re in any sort of arts activity.”
How To Watch
May 5: Woods Strings Wind at the Sarnia Library Theatre at 2 pm - tickets at the door - $20 cash
May 16: St Pats music program concert at 7 pm - tickets at the door - in the St. Pat’s music room