“If you can do anything to raise a kid’s confidence – that sets them up for success in a big way.”
– Amy
How Sing Like A STAR is Helping Kids Find Their Voice
If you can do anything to raise a kid’s confidence – that sets them up for success in a big way.
– Amy
“There’s kids that excel at sports, there’s kids that excel in academics – every kid has their thing. Sometimes it takes a while to find it, but with the arts it’s a place where kids can feel like they belong and a place where they can express themselves.”
Amy Nelson, born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, is a recording artist, music educator, and registered service provider with Creative Kids. A one-of-a-kind program in Canada and partner of Youth + Us, Creative Kids connects children and youth to life-changing artistic and cultural experiences in their community, by providing financial support to Saskatchewan families.
Nelson created Sing Like A STAR, a program designed to help build the confidence of and teach music lessons to students in Regina and surrounding areas.
“I’m very sensitive to the fact that everything’s expensive, and I really don’t want that to hold kids back. So when I found out about Creative Kids, it was a no-brainer. I couldn’t imagine not being a part of it.“
Sing Like A STAR offers group singing lessons for kids, as well as one-on-one lessons for all ages. Nelson uses her background in formal classical training, but teaches the skills using music that students love to sing. The program focuses on popular music that students enjoy, helping them stay engaged and excited about what they are learning.
“When I run into parents they always say, ‘Your program’s great, they love the music. But their confidence – oh my gosh – they have finally come out of their shell.’ As someone that didn’t have a ton of confidence growing up, that gets my heart strings every time,”
– Amy
Through Creative Kids, Nelson has helped 43 kids through the years since she’s been registered. Kids that wouldn’t have had these important learning opportunities.
There are endless physical and mental health benefits to music. Nelson is lucky to get to see the benefits unfold first hand.
“One little girl had received funding through Creative Kids to come to us,” shares Nelson about one of her students. “She was in our group singing lessons for many years, and she was so shy. We could barely get her to talk, never mind get her up on stage performing. After she got comfortable with everybody her confidence got boosted a little bit. She eventually started doing a solo at the concerts, which is a small line, but it was a huge deal. Now, as I’ve watched her get a little bit older, she’s started taking one-on-one lessons and has sung a whole song in front of a room full of people. That is a pretty cool example of her life changing because she got this opportunity.”
Nelson has unlimited gratitude for Youth + Us, stating that without funding, programs like Creative Kids wouldn’t be possible. She sees the impact every day, and knows that it really makes a difference in the lives of kids.
“If you can do anything to raise a kid’s confidence – that sets them up for success in a big way.”
