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"Do what you want to do while you can do it." Inspirational words from the vocalist, teacher, and brilliant advertisement for New Zealand, Mina Ripia. A workshop entitled "Music and Creativity in Learning and Self Esteem" wouldn't necessarily be my first choice of event. However, when I actually made the effort to go it was more than worth it.
Mina Ripia, aged 35, truly opened my eyes to the reality that Aotearoa is a special place. "The workshop is definitely a challenge," stated Mina. But the general feeling from the vibrant bunch of approximately 25 students was that Mina had outdone herself and had produced three hours of educational entertainment.
The student attendance at this workshop was in one word, diverse. There were students from as far away as California to one girl from just up the road in Lower Hutt.
The main aim of the workshop was to get across the point that we are a unique race of people. The fact that Mina sings, and for the last three years has sung, all of her lyrics in Māori, evidently provided a base to work from the Māori perspective on life and whānau.
Mina also attempts to unite the country with the work she does in the music and one song, in particular, which she taught to the pupils, in both Māori and English was all about being proud of the fact that we are all Kiwis. No matter whether you're Māori or Pākehā or any other race, we are all unique from the rest of the world and the reality, is that the world loves our culture. The lyrics "one people, one culture, one harmony" represent the solidarity of the New Zealand culture and to hear 25 young people of different races harmonising and singing these words was a breathtaking experience.
Mina Ripia is a woman of vast experience in the music industry both in Aotearoa and abroad. She recently returned from a tour of Europe in which she played a gig in London, alongside Trinity Roots and Fat Freddy's Drop. This kind of experience was a huge aid in her ability to captivate the students at her workshops and pass on the valuable lessons she had to tell.
Mina is of Ngā Puhi and Ngati Whatua descent on her father's side and of Ngati Kahungunu descent on her mother's. Many of the songs she writes talk of the history of the Māori race and she uses this style of music to make sure that the people of New Zealand never forget about people, places and experiences from the past.
This workshop was an experience that is for sure. For all you people out there that couldn't make it to this event or to the festival at all, Mina has one message for you, "Take the opportunity to do things while you can. If you have a hunger for music, then take that opportunity to take yourself to that high level and make sure you enjoy life." |
